Why it was smart for the Phoenix Suns to bring back Isaiah Canaan

On a Friday afternoon in an August barren of NBA news the Phoenix Suns made a move announcing that they are re-signing Isaiah Canaan. Even with the roster nearly full, there are still some reasons why this was a smart move to make.

Coming into August it was obvious to most that the weakest position on the Phoenix Suns’ roster was at point guard.

Although Isaiah Canaan may not be the answer to their problems, there is no downside to have him in the mix.

It is most likely that he competes with Shaquille Harrison for the third point guard spot on the team. With Harrison moving to a two-way contract if Canaan bests him.

One important attribute that Canaan brings is that he is an experienced veteran player who knows his role and will be consistent. This is especially important for a point guard and adds to a group that includes two players who have played less than 30 NBA games – not to mention that the roster as a whole is very young an inexperienced.

Although Canaan does not jump off the page statistically, he did have an impressive run with the Suns last season, all things considered.

In the 19 games he played the Suns went 8-11, along with a positive personal plus/minus rating. Given the small sample size and overall body of work for Canaan it is unfair to hope that Canaan can continue to make such a large impact. However, it is encouraging that he played well in his time.

The other positive factor that can’t be overlooked is the positive public relations that will come from this move. Fans and players around the league will notice and value the loyalty and generosity of the Phoenix Suns organization after his re-signing.

This is amplified due to the gruesome nature of the injury Canaan is coming back from. If you happened to be on Twitter during that unfortunate January evening, you would have seen the tremendous outpouring of love for Canaan with fans immediately proclaiming that he had at least earned a shot at the roster with a training camp invitation.

The Suns were forced to waive Canaan the week after the surgery, but by bringing him back for this coming season, they have shown a level of loyalty that is often lost in the professional sports world.

With a move like this there is very few outcomes where the Suns will end up losers.

If Canaan ends up preventing Shaq Harrison or Elie Okobo from proving themselves this season, then it means that Phoenix is probably winning and he is a part of the team’s success.

But outside of potentially blocking the two younger players on the depth chart, it is still important that they keep a well-liked teammate who has been training with the team around for awhile longer- as well as veteran insurance in case of poor performance or injury to Brandon Knight.

After all the work Isaiah has put in (shown in the video found here) hopefully the relationship can be mutually beneficial for both he and the Suns!