Is the Core-Four now the Core-Three?
Entering the 2017-2018 season many Suns fans referred to the combination of Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss, and Dragan Bender as the “core-four,” meaning that these would be the four players that the Phoenix Suns would build around moving forward. However, 54 games into the season, is it time to start asking if Marquese Chriss is closer to being out of the league than to becoming a franchise building block?
Many scouts viewed Chriss as a raw, uber-athletic, talent with sky-high potential coming out of college. There are nights were Chriss puts his athleticism on display with gravity-defying alley-oops, devastating shot blocks, and ferocious put-back slams. However, those highlight plays are few and far between these days. Foul trouble has always been a struggle for Chriss to stay on the court, but Chriss found himself out of a game earlier this season for a different reason. Chris Haynes of ESPN tweeted about Chriss’ suspension:
Phoenix Suns plan to suspend forward Marquese Chriss for a game stemming from a verbal confrontation with an assistant coach, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 3, 2018
Not long after the suspension, Chriss was rumored to be involved in trade discussions near the deadline. Although John Gambodoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reported the rumors as false,
In regards to Marquese Chriss trade rumors - totally false. No truth to it at all. Suns have not discussed trading Chriss. They like him and I don't see them moving him.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 7, 2018
I still believe when there’s smoke, there’s fire. There are some signs that ‘Quese has fallen out of favor with not only the coaching staff but management as well. I am holding firm to the hope that Chriss is going through a rough patch in his second year and will eventually figure it out. I’m going to view him as part of the core-four for now but the reality is, for how much longer?