Phoenix Suns midseason grades

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: The Phoenix Suns huddles before the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Jared Dudley

PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 9: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on December 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 9: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on December 9, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

This grade is very difficult to come by because Jared Dudley plays so infrequently. The fact that he is paid like a regular rotational player is not his fault (and in fact, that’s a blessing for him), as his real value comes from his leadership off the court.

Like Chandler, Dudley was brought in partially as an additional coach on the court and a good veteran example for the younger players. For this I am sure that he has done an exemplary job, and I would expect nothing less of a man of such high class.

On the court though, as he has not played that much, there is just so much left unseen that it is incredibly hard to judge. He has certainly not had a bad  year, per se, it’s just that he hasn’t had minutes due to the other, younger, players who have rotational positions ahead of him.

I’m going to be polite and give him a B, although honestly, like Tyson Chandler, what more could you ask, or expect, of him?

Midseason Grade: B