It’s no secret that the Phoenix Suns have struggled at the point guard position this season, however a trade for a former Rookie of the Year could help.
Even before the Eric Bledsoe Twitter drama began, the Phoenix Suns saw a drop off at the point guard position. The Suns saw uneven play from both Mike James and Tyler Ulis after the Bledsoe situation began. Devin Booker is great and could be the team’s point guard of the future but as of now, he isn’t ready for that responsibility yet based on the sample size fans have seen this season. Trading for a point guard that has extensive point guard experience is a move that Suns’ general manager Ryan McDonough needs to do. One point guard the Suns could look to trade for that is low risk high reward is former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams.
It should be noted that the Suns can’t trade for Carter-Williams until Dec. 15, because he signed with the Charlotte Hornets this past summer.
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Now before the Suns’ fan base releases a groan in unison over the idea of trading for Carter-Williams, there are several reasons why the franchise should take a flyer on the point guard. Unlike the other Suns’ point guards, MCW has elite length at the point guard position standing at 6-foot-6 and has shown the ability to be a beyond average defender. The Suns desperately need defense as they currently give up the most points per game in the NBA. MCW averages 1.5 steals per game and has eight career Defensive Win Shares (DWS). With Carter-Williams, the Suns would have a solid defensive group of young players in MCW, Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender.
On the offensive side of the ball, Carter-Williams does have some positives to bring. When he was with the Philadelphia 76ers for a season and a half, he averaged 6.7 assists per game. The biggest knock on MCW is his lack of a 3-point shot. Which is a real reason why he has never become a legit starter in the league. The Suns’ don’t need him to be an offensive threat, they needed him to help set up players like Booker and T.J. Warren.
Carter-Williams won’t cost much for the Suns to acquire.
This trade would have to coincide with either the team waiving or trading another player. MCW is only on a one year contract, the risk for him is low. In the proposed trade, giving up a protected second round pick for a player that can run the point and defend is worth the price. If Carter-Williams shows not to be the answer then, the Suns can cut their losses at the end of the season and not re-sign him. However, if he can become the player he was when he first entered the league, then the Suns got a steal in the proposed trade.
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It’s miserable to watch the Phoenix Suns’ defense and play at the point guard position. Adding Carter-Williams will help the Suns’ defense and their 22nd rank for assists per game. This is a low risk trade the Suns should execute.