Don’t Sleep on Phoenix Suns swingman T.J. Warren

The Phoenix Suns are overstocked with wings, and many people think that means T.J. Warren is the odd man out. He shouldn’t be.

With a plethora of forwards now on the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns roster, the word is that there has to be an odd man out. And with the new guys brought in plus the style the team wants to play, the general consensus makes that odd man fifth-year small forward, T.J. Warren.

Well, don’t sleep on him. He just might surprise you.

Personally, I don’t see why there is so much lack of respect for Warren, but it’s very visible that that is the case.

It’s a little insane, really. He’s a lot better than he gets credit for, and he’s a quiet guy that works hard every day. He has a natural knack for scoring and has improved his points per game average each season in the league thus far, earning the nickname “Tony Buckets”.

One would think those attributes would draw fans towards him.

Unfortunately, in today’s game and the modern style of play, not being either a shut down defender or having a hot hand from distance gets you spurned.

That pair of shortcomings has been his downfall and the reason why he’s become a forgotten piece of the young core.

That being said, his defense has improved. He’s still not the guy you would put on the opposing team’s best player, but that’s what the likes of Josh Jackson, Mikal Bridges, and Trevor Ariza are for.

He has  improved on that end and was actually solid defensively last season – though the numbers won’t show it due to the overall team play being absolutely abysmal. He truly was very focused and stayed in front of his man.

Those are good signs for a developing defender.

On the 3-point front, he’s shown the ability to hit from downtown, although not at a rate that suits the modern 3-and-D wing, draining them at only a 28.7 percent accuracy – 74 made triples over the last three seasons.

That’s far from what you want in a wing and not a guy you can count on from that range.

That said, he has shown he can hit the occasional shot. Also, with new Head Coach Igor Kokoskov, that could be improved and brought out on a consistent basis.

Kokoskov has worked with so many guards on their shots and if he can make Ricky Rubio into a respectable shooter from distance, why can’t he do the same with Warren?

In the six seasons prior to last year, Rubio had made a total of 238 treys at a 31.5 percent clip. Last season, he made 96 long bombs on 35.2 percent accuracy, including over 40 percent after the All-Star break. That’s quite the jump.

Warren was the 14th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft as he had just led the ACC in scoring. He was taken after such guys as Dante Exum, Nik Stauskas, Noah Vonleh, Elfrid Payton and Doug McDermott and is arguably much better than all of them.

This season begins his 4-year $50 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns. If you look at the contracts given out over the last few years, that’s actually a bargain.

Especially for a player of Warren’s caliber.

Last season, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1 steal per game. Only nine other players averaged at least that many points, rebounds and steals – Russell Westbrook, Paul George, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jimmy Butler, Victor Oladipo and James Harden.

That’s quite the good company.

Warren shot 49.8 percent from the field. Only three of those players (LeBron, Davis, and Giannis) had a higher accuracy.

His constant movement without the ball makes him one of the best cutters in the league which opens up the court for the rest of the team and the style Phoenix wants to play.

In that sense it’s very reminiscent of Rip Hamilton of the old Detroit Pistons.

Remember, Kokoskov was an assistant coach on that team. He knows how much Rip’s presence helped.

Also, the only player in the league that had more fast break points than Warren last season was Russell Westbrook.

At only 24-years-old, that equates to a very bright future. He’s not someone to just be swept under a rug or given to another team to become a key piece there instead of in Phoenix.

Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr praised him, calling him an old school forward and a very good player noting that he recognized the “hell of a year” Warren was having.

Phoenix needs a second scorer next to Devin Booker. Warren scored at least 24 points in 20 games this season, at least 30 points in five, and even put up a career high 40 points on November 1.

That lead to wins.

Even on a lowly 2017-18 Suns team, when Warren scored at least 25 points, Phoenix had a 10-4 (.714) record compared to a 11-57 (.162) record when he didn’t. His presence is felt on the court. When he played at least 30 minutes the Suns were 15-20 (.429) compared to a 6-41 (.128) record when he didn’t.

That’s quite the difference.

The team is so much better with him.

Unless the Phoenix Suns get a legit star at point guard, their current biggest position of need, the Phoenix Suns should keep Warren and watch him as he develops, especially under their newest head coach.

He’s still only 24-years-old, and his best years are ahead of him.