Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Way too early predictions for the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns

Adam Maynes|
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 7: Elie Okobo #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Frank Mason III #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 7: Elie Okobo #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Frank Mason III #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Elie Okobo

Many Suns fans are very high on French point guard Elie Okobo.

I am not one of them.

That is not to say that Okobo isn’t worthy of being an NBA player, nor that he was worthy of being drafted. I just do not believe that if he had been any good that he would have been available to Phoenix in the second round.

I don’t consider him a steal, I consider him selected right where he deserved to be with a ceiling as high as a Negele Knight.

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Because of this, and because of my expectation that McDonough is going to find a veteran point guard to back up Brandon Knight and that Shaquille Harrison is going to be a fine third point guard, Okobo is not going to get many opportunities with the big club this season and will wind up spending the majority of his time in the G-League (barring some sort of a major injury to one of the rotational point guards).

I hate to be so pessimistic, but I am, and from that is where I am going to draw my bold prediction.

I do think that there is going to be an injury or two to the back court that will allow Okobo some time to play, and hopefully shine.

Therefore I boldly predict that Okobo will appear in between 20-30 games with the Suns, and will have to play decent minutes (between 20 and 30) in about 10 of those games. In those appearances he will record at least 15 points and 10 assists once each  (in different games) enough to make fan’s lips wet and have high hopes that he can be the point guard of the future.

He can’t. But it will be fun to watch him try.

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