Recently there has been a lot of local talk that the Phoenix Suns should acquire Avery Bradley, a lockdown defender formally of the Detroit Pistons, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, and an unrestricted free agent this summer.
For many Suns fans, the idea of adding Avery Bradley to the roster boosting the defensive side of the ball that currently does not have a defensive stopper in earnest, is an incredibly enticing scenario that would help to both keep Devin Booker at the point guard spot in perpetuity, and take some of the defensive pressure off of him as the team’s current best backcourt defender.
However, I would argue that while having a defensive stopper in Bradley would be nice, for a team still in a rebuild mode, even if they do make strides towards the playoffs next year, he is a luxury that does not make sense for Phoenix to acquire – especially at his potential price point.
On the other hand, Tyreke Evans, who at this moment is on the trade block and will never play for the Memphis Grizzlies again, could be the more perfect addition for Phoenix, even for a team not in the running for a championship as of yet. While a year older than Bradley (he is currently 28), there may not be a better unrestricted free agent backcourt compliment to Devin Booker than Evans.