Breaking down the Phoenix Suns’ post draft roster
By Adam Maynes
How the lineup looks as of now
Again, we will have to wait and see what moves are made this offseason, at least one of which could end up being very splashy.
Might we see a trade for a star point guard, for instance, like Kemba Walker or Marcus Smart? Or even a surprising free agency signing such as Jabari Parker or Aaron Gordon?
Either in tandem with or as a repercussion of any potential moves too will be the loss of players still on the rosters, most notably T.J. Warren, Troy Daniels, Marquese Chriss, and Dragan Bender. Losing players will shake the depth chart up and move players around into spots that at the moment they do not see themselves in.
That being said, let’s take one last look at the depth chart as it stands now (projected starters in ALL CAPS):
Point Guards – BRANDON KNIGHT, Tyler Ulis, Elie Okobo
Shooting Guard – DEVIN BOOKER, Troy Daniels, George Reed, Davon Reed
Small Forward – MIKAL BRIDGES, T.J. Warren
Power Forward – JOSH JACKSON, Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, Jared Dudley
Center – DEANDRE AYTON, Tyson Chandler, Alan Williams
If this ends up being the starting lineup for opening night this season, the Suns will be running out another very young team with two rookies as starters, although at least with Bridges as a 22-year-old rookie with four years of college experience and two National Championship victories under his belt.
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One good thing about this roster as it stands now though is it’s veteran depth. Each one of the starters has a player with at least two seasons of NBA basketball under their belts (Chriss being the youngest according to this depth chart), and the two rookie starters with the most veteran depth, specifically Warren (entering his fifth season), and Chandler (entering his 18th).