The Phoenix Suns are loaded at small forward with young players, but is too much youth a bad thing? Trading for a veteran could benefit the younger guys.
With players like Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren and Derrick Jones Jr., the Phoenix Suns should be set at the small forward position for the foreseeable future. However, the Suns missed one important aspect when developing young players and that is that there is no veteran small forward on the roster. Yes, the team has Jared Dudley who played small forward earlier in his career, but now almost exclusively plays power forward. Getting a player that currently plays small forward to help mentor this young core of wings is an important move the Suns should make.
Al-Farouq Aminu
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Let it first be said that the only way the Portland Trail Blazers trade Al-Farouq Aminu to lessen their salary cap situation. Still, the Phoenix Suns could capitalize on trading for the defensive wing. Honestly with a career average of 7.2 points per game, Aminu will probably never bring anything on the offensive end, but he will help develop a defensive identity on the perimeter that Phoenix desperately needs. The other nice thing about Aminu that the Suns could benefit from is that he plays both forward positions. Only problem is that there is a good chance that Aminu would take away playing time from one of the young players.
Kyle Singler
The former Duke Blue Devil is known as a shooter which is another aspect the Suns need on the perimeter. Kyle Singler has had two different stories to his career that his stats clearly communicate.
| Season | Age | Tm | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 24 | DET | SF | 82 | 74 | 28.0 | .428 | .350 | .464 | .483 | .806 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 8.8 |
| 2013-14 | 25 | DET | SF | 82 | 36 | 28.5 | .447 | .382 | .492 | .525 | .826 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 9.6 |
| 2014-15 | 26 | TOT | SF | 80 | 58 | 21.8 | .386 | .398 | .371 | .493 | .769 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 6.0 |
| 2014-15 | 26 | DET | SF | 54 | 40 | 23.8 | .400 | .406 | .393 | .509 | .806 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| 2014-15 | 26 | OKC | SF | 26 | 18 | 17.5 | .333 | .370 | .286 | .438 | .688 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 3.7 |
| 2015-16 | 27 | OKC | SF | 68 | 2 | 14.4 | .389 | .309 | .452 | .457 | .659 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| 2016-17 | 28 | OKC | SF | 32 | 2 | 12.0 | .410 | .189 | .587 | .452 | .765 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| Career | 344 | 172 | 22.5 | .419 | .362 | .460 | .494 | .793 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 6.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/8/2017.
After being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the life of his career has been slowly drained out of him. It will be harder to get playing time with the Thunder this season after Paul George and Carmelo Anthony were added to the team. If the Suns choose to trade for him, it could be just the new scene he needs to get out of this funk.
Wesley Johnson
It is usually never a bad idea to bring back an older player that used to play for a team back to help mentor the younger players. Former Phoenix Suns and current Los Angeles Clippers small forward Wesley Johnson could be a solid veteran wing to help mentor the young team. He can run the floor and is somewhat of a two-way player.
| Season | Age | Tm | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 23 | MIN | SG | 79 | 63 | 26.2 | .397 | .356 | .427 | .473 | .696 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 9.0 |
| 2011-12 | 24 | MIN | SF | 65 | 64 | 22.6 | .398 | .314 | .461 | .465 | .706 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 6.0 |
| 2012-13 | 25 | PHO | SF | 50 | 21 | 19.1 | .407 | .323 | .461 | .470 | .771 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 8.0 |
| 2013-14 | 26 | LAL | SF | 79 | 62 | 28.4 | .425 | .369 | .466 | .502 | .792 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 9.1 |
| 2014-15 | 27 | LAL | SF | 76 | 59 | 29.5 | .414 | .351 | .451 | .480 | .804 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 9.9 |
| 2015-16 | 28 | LAC | SF | 80 | 9 | 20.8 | .404 | .333 | .510 | .504 | .652 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 6.9 |
| 2016-17 | 29 | LAC | SF | 68 | 3 | 11.9 | .365 | .246 | .537 | .438 | .647 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| Career | 497 | 281 | 23.0 | .406 | .337 | .461 | .481 | .743 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 7.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/8/2017.
That is not to say that Johnson is a quality two-way player, but simply that he has skills on both sides of the ball. Having a combo of Johnson and Dudley mentor the forwards on the teams just seems to be a good idea. Johnson had one of the better seasons of his career while in Phoenix and he could also help fill in at shooting guard as well if needed.
Next: Phoenix Suns: Three possible trade targets at the point guard position
These veterans could help develop this young promising core of small forwards if the Phoenix Suns decide that a veteran is needed. However, that decision is completely up to general manager Ryan McDonough.