Shaq Harrison extension likely spells end for Ulis

With news that Shaq Harrison has been inked to a multi-year deal to stay with the Phoenix Suns for the rest of this season and potentially beyond, it seems that Tyler Ulis’ days are numbered.

Ironically, well before Shaq Harrison broke onto the scene, I had begun to write a post in which I argued that Tyler Ulis was going to be out of Phoenix following this season. Having not played since February 14, the final game before the All-Star Break (and having not appeared in the two games prior), back injury or not, Tyler Ulis was not looking at all like he was going to be a player that Phoenix would feel compelled to retain for the future.

Ulis had two claims for Phoenix retention prior to this season. The first, of course, being that he is a close friend of Devin Booker. Going back to their time in college at Kentucky together, Booker lobbied for the Suns to draft him in the second round in 2016, a request that Phoenix obliged. Keeping their star player happy whenever possible is a necessity, and with the team needing a backup point guard anyway they were willing to take that plunge.

Phoenix Suns

Ulis followed up that support of Booker in the final 15 games of 2016-17, all starts, where he averaged 16.1 points, 8.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. His shooting was poor, only 42.1% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc, but with his other attributes (including a clutch game-winning 3-pointer against the Boston Celtics on March 5), there was no reason to think that he couldn’t be the backup point guard of the future – especially when playing for a very affordable second round contract.

Unfortunately for both he and the Suns, Ulis’ 2017-18 season has been a step back highlighted by his ever worsening shooting. It would be one thing if as a non-starter he wasn’t scoring as many points per game as last season (which he is not, down .5ppg), but not only is his FG% down to an abysmal 37.8% from his already poor 42.1% rookie year, his scoring per-36min is down from 14.2pts to 10.9 while his per-36 assists are down from 7.2 to 6.5 as well.

Not exactly stats that one would argue should be kept around.

Now, his contract truly is affordable. Earning only $1.5M+ next season, that’s the kind of money that is certainly very manageable to retain, even in the face of a potential roster face lift through trades and free agency. Ulis too is one of Booker’s best friends.

Plus, while he had a down year, 2017-18 is Ulis’ sophomore season and slumps in such a season is certainly common and somewhat predictable. There is every possibility in the world that Ulis is able to improve his shot this offseason and return to the team a different player, an impact player, someone that management would be foolish to release or trade.

Then again, if that doesn’t happen ad he was still retained, where and when would he even get the opportunity to play?

With the announcement that Shaq Harrison has been signed to a “multi-year contract,” which as of this moment has not been clarified to mean through next season or beyond, if the Suns are expecting him to be a part of the roster for at least next season, then there really isn’t any place for Ulis.

We do not yet know who the Suns’ future starting point guard will be, whether Elfrid Payton or someone else, and Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough will likely look to pursue a veteran free agent option for the backup role. Thus, Harrison should be slotted third in line, with Devin Booker too playing ahead of him in those lineups that Booker takes the point guard duties (still something that I argue should be the offense of the future anyway).

While not a terribly special offensive point guard (Shaq has attempted only 32 shots in 9 games, draining 43.8% of them), Harrison does provide a defensive aspect that has been tremendously exciting to watch. The best defensive point guard the Suns have employed in some time (probably since Jason Kidd?), Harrison has proven adept at stealing the ball at a far better clip than any other point guard on the roster including Ulis, a rate of 3.6 per-36 minutes.

Therefore, while Harrison will not be counted on as a starter or backup, having that tremendous defensive skill-set does separate him from Tyler Ulis, and now with this extension, likely predicts Ulis’ departure.

Next: Second round center prospects for the Suns to consider

If this is the case, it will have been a fun two-year run with the former Kentucky point guard, although a disappointing one. After ending his rookie campaign on such a high note, it seemed that the sky was the limit for the diminutive friend of Phoenix’s lone star.

Yet no one can deny that this season has been a downer for Ulis, and while only nine games into his tenure, Shaq Harrison has once again breathed life into the team’s backup point guard position.