The slow part of the offseason is the perfect time to project the possible depth chart at point guard for the Phoenix Suns.
The Phoenix Suns have a history of great point guard play such as Goran Dragic, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and Kevin Johnson. Fans have been blessed with such great lead guard play over the years. This group for the Suns for this upcoming season should not be easily overlooked either. It is important to note the rank of the current depth of point guards in Phoenix.
The Starter
The unquestioned starter for the Phoenix Suns at point guard is Eric Bledsoe. Originally traded from the Los Angeles Clippers, Bledsoe has proven to be an above average starter. In fact, last season was the best of the 27 year-old point guard’s career.
| Season | Age | Tm | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 21 | LAC | 81 | 25 | 22.7 | .424 | .276 | .470 | .457 | .744 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 6.7 |
| 2011-12 | 22 | LAC | 40 | 1 | 11.6 | .389 | .200 | .448 | .413 | .636 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.3 |
| 2012-13 | 23 | LAC | 76 | 12 | 20.4 | .445 | .397 | .453 | .473 | .791 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 8.5 |
| 2013-14 | 24 | PHO | 43 | 40 | 32.9 | .477 | .357 | .517 | .522 | .772 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 17.7 |
| 2014-15 | 25 | PHO | 81 | 81 | 34.6 | .447 | .324 | .491 | .489 | .800 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 17.0 |
| 2015-16 | 26 | PHO | 31 | 31 | 34.2 | .453 | .372 | .482 | .502 | .802 | 4.0 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 20.4 |
| 2016-17 | 27 | PHO | 66 | 66 | 33.0 | .434 | .335 | .477 | .485 | .847 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 21.1 |
| Career | 418 | 256 | 27.1 | .444 | .334 | .481 | .486 | .800 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 13.1 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/12/2017.
Bledsoe is entering the prime of his career right now. He is still young enough to lead this young core that the Suns have into the playoffs. Bledsoe does have injury history which could worry Suns fans. If Brandon Knight did not get severely injured this summer, then fans would not be worried at all. Even with the loss of Knight fans should not worry about the depth at point guard if Bledsoe were go down for an extended period of time.
Primary Backup
As previously mentioned this job would have fallen to Knight if not injured, however now the reins fall to second year man Tyler Ulis. Ulis had a solid rookie campaign averaging about 7 points and almost 4 assists per game. Ulis has the potential to become a very solid back up for the Suns this season.
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/12/2017.
His per 36 stats shows he can be a solid contribute to the Phoenix Suns. It reveals that Ulis has scoring and playmaking potential that the Suns coaching staff hopes that he can tap into this upcoming season. With Knight out, Ulis will have every opportunity solidify his role as the primary backup for the future. However, if he does have a sophomore slump, the Suns do have other options at point guard.
Third String
This will be the first season in the NBA for third string point guard Mike James. This does not mean that James has no professional experience prior to this season. Before signing a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns this summer, the point guard has had three years experience playing in Europe.
| Season | Club | League(s) | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 22.4 | 4.2 | 9.5 | .445 | 1.3 | 3.8 | .335 | 3.0 | 5.7 | .519 | .513 | 2.7 | 3.1 | .859 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 12.4 | |||||
| 2014-15 | Kolossus Rodou | Greek A1 | gr | 8 | 33.6 | 7.3 | 15.9 | .457 | 2.5 | 6.3 | .400 | 4.8 | 9.6 | .494 | .535 | 4.0 | 4.5 | .889 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 21.0 | |
| 2014-15 | Laboral Kutxa Baskonia | Liga ACB | es | 24 | 23.0 | 4.6 | 10.0 | .460 | 1.5 | 4.2 | .360 | 3.1 | 5.8 | .532 | .536 | 2.1 | 2.4 | .879 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 12.8 | |
| 2015-16 | Laboral Kutxa Baskonia | Liga ACB | es | 34 | 20.0 | 3.4 | 7.9 | .429 | 1.0 | 3.3 | .315 | 2.4 | 4.6 | .510 | .494 | 2.3 | 2.9 | .814 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 10.1 | |
| 2016-17 | Panathinaikos | Greek A1 | gr | 16 | 20.9 | 4.0 | 9.1 | .441 | 0.9 | 3.3 | .269 | 3.1 | 5.8 | .538 | .490 | 3.6 | 4.1 | .892 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 12.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/13/2017.
Even though it does not appear that James will not be a huge playmaker for the Suns, he can provide scoring off the bench when called upon. If fans watched the NBA Summer League, they saw the type of heart he played with and that he was one the main leaders on the roster.
Fans will see James with the Northern Arizona Suns the majority of the season because of how the two-way contracts are set up. Still when he is called upon he should able to help the team in small stretches. If James proves to be unable to handle the responsibility of being the third string point guard, the Suns do have one more option available.
Alternative Option
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Devin Booker could see time at the lead guard position. The Phoenix Suns could try Booker at the point at a semi regular basis, both James Harden and Michael Jordan had switched from shooting guard to point guard in the past. Granted Jordan played the position for a short time and now that Chris Paul joined Harden in Houston, Paul could cause Harden to shift back to the off guard position. Still fans should not count out Booker as a point guard option.
Scott Bordow of Azcentral sports wrote a very compelling piece in April 2017 of why Booker could become the Sun’s point guard of the future. Bordow quoted Watson’s belief that Booker could be like Harden. Bordow provided stats showing Booker’s improvement in assist after Bledsoe was done for the rest of the 2016-2017 season.
Before the All-Star game this past season, Booker averaged 3.2 assist per game and after the break he averaged 4.1 assist according to ESPN Stats Splits. Obviously this uptick does yell lead point capability, but it does show he has the potential for it.
Not just a scorer, you guys. pic.twitter.com/DOs5oeZ0wH
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) March 26, 2017
The play above shows that Booker has the potential to become a great play maker, he is still young and still needs time to develop the skill. Booker gives the Suns flexibility at point for the Suns to experiment at the position.
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Fans should feel more than confident with the group of point guards that are on the roster currently. The potential of possibly adding Kyrie Irving should not distract fans from the great quality the floor generals on the current roster. Even without acquiring Irving the Phoenix Suns still have really have solid depth at the point guard position.