Should the Phoenix Suns Trade Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender for Kyrie Irving?
In a trade that the Phoenix Suns could land Kyrie Irving the Suns could have to make a decision between trading Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender.
Recently, Darren Wolfson revealed that the Phoenix Suns are allegedly willing to trade Eric Bledsoe, Dragan Bender, and the Miami 2018 1st Round pick in return for Kyrie Irving. The actual story is not what I want to discuss but rather, let’s set the stage with a hypothetical conversation; keyword, hypothetical.
Cleveland Cavaliers Front Office in early July:
More from Suns News
- Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ 5 holiday games in 2023-24
- Zion Williamson gets compared to Phoenix Suns legend
- Suns player preview: Bol Bol can be the perfect role player
- Former Suns’ guard shows he is officially done with Phoenix
- NBA insider guarantees Suns’ rival won’t make blockbuster trade
“We are going in a different direction and are looking to move Kyrie Irving. Remember that he is the 2012 Rookie of the Year, a four-time All-Star, an All-Star Game MVP, an NBA Champion, who has no major injury history, and did we mention he’s only 25? We think it is only fair that we get Devin Booker who is improving but still largely unproven young player and Eric Bledsoe, because we need a replacement for Irving. This move should be a no-brainer. Irving is the player you need to get to the next level. He is the All-Star you have been searching for.”
Phoenix Suns Front Office:
(Phone muted) Excessive laughter for 30 seconds since there is no way Devin Booker is traded. Once they regain their composure they take the phone off mute. “I do not think that is going to work for us.”
Cavaliers Front Office, a week later:
“We realize our last request may have been a little over the top as you are attempting to build your team around the up and coming Devin Booker. We will take Eric Bledsoe and Josh Jackson for our young stud.”
Suns Front Office:
“That’s getting closer, but we are not open to trading Jackson. Many scouts had him rated as the best prospect in the recent loaded draft and we think he can be a defensive cornerstone and playmaker for years to come. Our version of Draymond Green. Sorry, no deal.”
Cavaliers Front Office, on August 4th:
“We understand that you are not willing to move Booker or Jackson, but we strongly believe that Irving would excel in Phoenix and help elevate your team to the next level. We need help as well, so we are going to give you some leeway in who you send our way. We want Eric Bledsoe to replace Irving; also because LeBron asked for him and he basically runs this team, the Miami 1st Round pick for 2018, and your choice of either Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender. Both are great young players who can help us get where we want to go.”
Who do we deal?
When I first read the headline that it was Bender and not Chriss being considered in the trade I was a little disappointed. However, if I would have read that five months ago I would have likely been ecstatic.
Let us take a look at their stats from 2016-2017.
| Rk | Player | From | To | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragan Bender | 2017 | 2017 | 43 | 0 | 13.3 | .354 | .277 | .483 | .441 | .364 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 3.4 |
| 2 | Marquese Chriss | 2017 | 2017 | 82 | 75 | 21.3 | .449 | .321 | .520 | .506 | .624 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 9.2 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/5/2017.
As it can see from the statistics Chriss had a better season in nearly every area aside from turnovers and fouls. He was rewarded by being selected to the All-Rookie 2nd Team. Chriss also has only been playing basketball since he was a Freshman in high school. That means he is only been playing organized basketball for 6 seasons, that’s pretty impressive.
Bender on the other hand, had a very underwhelming rookie season that was hampered by injury. Despite being the youngest player in the league last season, the expectations were higher for Bender than Chriss. This is because Bender has been playing high level basketball since the age of 14 in his native Croatia and professionally since he was 15 years old. Of course the Suns knew there would be ample work for Bender but, Chriss improved far quicker than anyone expected.
If viewing this in a vacuum, Chriss is the better prospect hands down. He had a great rookie season he has an NBA body, athleticism, jump out of the gym hops, and a developing 3-point shot.
Then why am I higher on Dragan Bender?
Currently Bender lacks the NBA body that he should have no problem developing; remember he is a 7 foot 1 19 year old. I graduated high school with a few 19 years old so he needs time to develop, but he displayed flashes of what could be. In Summer League, he showed moments of great promise and improvement over what fans saw just months ago last season. Chriss on the other hand just looked unhappy to be in summer league.
Basketball IQ guides a player to know when to make a pass, contest a shot, and where to be on the floor. Players with high basketball IQ always seem to do the right thing and be in the right place. Bender just seems to have “it.” Chriss lacks basketball IQ and falls victim to many pump fakes, which was a major factor in his perpetual foul issues last season. Bender with his superior instincts showed the potential to be a better defender and great offensive playmaker.
It is amazing to see Bender’s effortless shot from beyond the arce as well as his surprising ability to handle the ball for a player of his size and age. By contrast, Chriss lacks almost all ability to dribble and pass the ball. His two offensive weapons are alley oops and shooting corner 3-pointers. Devin Booker even commented during Summer League that Chriss is too quick to settle for those very same 3-pointers.
Marquese Chriss, if you are reading this I don’t hate you and I think that there is a high likelihood that you would turn out to be a great player. However, at this time at least for me as a Suns fan, Bender seems to have the higher ceiling. Sadly, that also means that he has higher bust potential.
Fans know what they are getting from Chriss. Fans are getting an athletic freak who can make the SportsCenter Top 10 routinely and will be a solid player for years to come. Sadly, I am not convinced in his ability to be an All-Star Phoenix desperately needs.
In Bender, fans see the potential for another great shooting big man from Europe. I am willing to give up Chriss for the potential of a Dirk Nowitzki or Kristaps Porzingis. I am not counting my eggs before they hatched, but the Suns need high level players and I think Bender might be just what we need.
I am happy to have both players and I am excited to see what they become but, I am slightly more “Team D”, so I vote we deal Chriss. Who do you vote for?