Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Breaking down the Phoenix Suns’ post draft roster

By Adam Maynes

PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 22: James Jones, George King, Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Elie Okobo, and General Manager Ryan McDonough of the Phoenix Suns pose together during a press conference on June 22, 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 - JUNE 22: James Jones, George King, Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Elie Okobo, and General Manager Ryan McDonough of the Phoenix Suns pose together during a press conference on June 22, 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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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 21: NBA Draft prospect, Mikal Bridges poses for a photo at the Mtn. Dew Kickstart Green Carpet on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 21: NBA Draft prospect, Mikal Bridges poses for a photo at the Mtn. Dew Kickstart Green Carpet on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Small Forward

Starter: Mikal Bridges

Reserves: T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson

While there has been no public announcement on the subject, prior to the draft, all signs had pointed to Josh Jackson becoming the Phoenix Suns’ starting small forward and T.J. Warren coming off the bench as the team’s sixth man.

However with the addition of Bridges, and an early expectation that he will immediately be slotted into the starting lineup, then Bridges might actually be the team’s starting small forward while Jackson slides over to power forward.

Why wouldn’t Warren start at small forward and Mikal back him up?

First off, that could still actually happen. Warren is a proven scorer with four years experience in the NBA and certainly did nothing to lose his role as the team’s starting small forward.

Yet unless Warren shows marked improvement in this 3-point shooting this offseason, Bridges is already a dagger 3-point shooter which will allow him to take over the starter’s role next to Jackson who, like Warren, is not a good shooter from the outside yet either. It just does not seem logical to have two poor 3-point shooters on the wing anymore and at least by placing Bridges in the starting lineup, his presence gives the ball-handlers another option to swing the ball out to beyond the arc.

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