Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Way too early predictions for the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns

By 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 14
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 6: Troy Daniels #30 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 6: Troy Daniels #30 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Troy Daniels

There is a chance that Troy Daniels is traded before or during the season, a mistake on the Suns’ part because of the value from the outside that he brings.

Troy Daniels is the most consistent 3-point shooter on the roster, draining 40.0% from beyond the arc last season and averaging over 40% for his career. As a backup shooting guard, Daniels’ outside shooting allows the team to continue to play offense even when the starters are off the court, a position he thrives in.

Granted Devin Booker missed 24 games, but Daniels drained 183 3-pointers last season, all but 46 coming off of the bench. That kind of shooting is exactly what the league is running on right now and players like Daniels are hot commodities.

Keeping Daniels and letting him continue to come off the bench to drain 3’s is especially advantageous for Phoenix with Ariza and Booker in the starting lineup. Keeping at least two of those three on the court at all times will make the team’s offense especially potent.

My bold prediction is that not only is Daniels going to shoot at a 40% clip from 3 again this coming season, but with the expectation that Igor’s offense being more uptempo then recent head coaches, he is going to set a personal high in 3’s this season draining over 200 (last season’s 183 was also a personal best).

Here is the kicker though: between himself, Ariza, and Booker, if two out of those three make at least 200 3’s this in 2018-19, it will be the first time in franchise history that two players have broken that plateau in the same year.

Home/Suns News