Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Ranking the 2017-18 Phoenix Suns Rookies and Sophomores

By Khaleel Abdullah

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 20: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 20, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 20: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 20, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The 2017-18 season has come and gone for the Phoenix Suns. Over the campaign, 12 different first and second year players suited up in purple and orange. TWELVE. That paints the clearest picture of this rebuild. Who has shown what? Let’s take a look.

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 20: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 20, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 20: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 20, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Rebuilds can be an icky business – especially when it is focused entirely on rebuilding with young players who have very little college or pro experience.

The Phoenix Suns have focused almost entirely on building with young payers, attempting to find diamond in the rough talent through the draft that can grow together to form a cohesive core until for many years to come.

The problem with this is that that talent does not have enough time to thresh itself out and therefore can fail miserably pulling the entire team back and ending the year with a lot of losing. Unfortunately that is exactly what happened this past season, as the team was filled with first or second year players, 13 total to be exact, and with that was the franchise’s second most losses ever, 61.

Sadly though, even though watching young players develop into hopeful stars, one of the best parts of this season for Suns fans is that it’s finally over. The team had blow out losses by point totals you only see in video games. There was so much drama that one could probably make a show about it. But, there were also youth trying to make a name for themselves and climb up the totem pole on the team and in the league. Where they rank after 82 games is something one must look into further.

Without further ado, let’s start with the first players featured in this piece.

THE DEPARTED

OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Josh Gray #14 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket on JaVale McGee #1 of the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at ORACLE Arena on February 12, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Josh Gray #14 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket on JaVale McGee #1 of the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at ORACLE Arena on February 12, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

12. Josh Gray

Called up from the G-League in the middle of the season on a 10-day contract, Gray showed some solid defense to start. However, his overall shooting was horrid and after a second 10-day deal the team decided to pull the plug on the Gray experiment. He finished with a 27-23-63 shooting line and averages of 6.4 points, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 17.2 minutes per game over 5 different games.

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 18: Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns reacts as he walks down court during the second half of the NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 18, 2017 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 18: Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns reacts as he walks down court during the second half of the NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 18, 2017 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

11. Derrick Jones Jr

‘Airplane Mode’ had some vicious, jaw dropping slam dunks that helped him quickly become known among fans during the 2016-17 season but was buried down the depth chart and only saw six games of action this season before ultimately being released. He shot 50% from the field and totaled 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block in 33 minutes. Don’t worry fans, if you miss him he can be seen in the playoffs on the Miami Heat. The postseason needs some of his dunks.

PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 22: Mike James #55 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 22, 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 – NOVEMBER 22: Mike James #55 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 22, 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) /

10. Mike James

Signed before the start of the season, he was initially projected to be further down the depth chart than he ended up being. He was a pleasant surprise early in the year, lighting it up with a 44-48-94 shooting line and a 13 point per game average over the first seven games. After Eric Bledsoe was traded, James fought Tyler Ulis for control of the starting point guard spot. His shooting dropped off though and in the 25 games he played starting November 1st, he only made 21% of his 3’s, but continued to take three per game. It’s safe to say he shot himself off the roster.

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