The optimal 2018-19 Phoenix Suns starting lineup

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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: DeAndre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Center

Primary Starter: Deandre Ayton

Primary Reserve: Tyson Chandler

Secondary Reserve: Richaun Holmes

If Deandre Ayton doesn’t start on opening night against Dallas, that means one of three things happened between now and then: Ayton got hurt; Ayton looked terribly out of place during training camp and the preseason; or Tyson Chandler made it known that he would never be a backup (something I cannot ever see him demanding).

Ayton will start, which will be most optimal for the Suns this season for two reasons: he is a much better scorer than Tyson Chandler and therefore he will be one of five players in the starting lineup who can score on any given play, and moving Chandler to the bench allows him to play less and rest, which will potentially allow him to appear in more games this season (in three seasons with Phoenix he has played in 66, 47, and 46), becoming arguably the best defensive backup center in all of the league.

Ayton will take his lumps, but he is skilled enough on both the offensive and defensive ends to hold his own, hopefully having a statistical rookie season similar to Karl Anthony-Towns.

I have predicted that he will average a double-double, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to do so, good enough to warrant being the team’s optimal starter from the beginning of training camp and throughout the year.

As noted above, having Chandler as the primary reserve means that his minutes are limited hopefully allowing him to remain healty, but also means that the offensive focus for the reserve unit can stay on Canaan, Daniels, and Warren.

Chandler can thus continue to focus entirely on defense, and if he can average 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block per game off the bench, that will be more than enough to help the team remain competitive.

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