Phoenix Suns: Finding a long term point guard is priority one
By Dan Volpone
The Phoenix Suns need to figure out how they’re going to handle their point guard situation going forward, and they have quite a few options.
The Phoenix Suns have a lot of question marks entering this season, but the biggest is at point guard.
Already thin at point, the Suns shipped their presumed starter in Brandon Knight to Houston along with Marquese Chriss. In return, they got back Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton, the 46th pick in this year’s draft who is also a point guard, but he’s far from a guarantee.
The guys left on the roster leave a lot to be desired. Shaquille Harrison is an undrafted second year guard with just 23 games under his belt. Elie Okobo and Melton are both second round rookies. Isaiah Canaan is an NBA journeyman who might not even make the final roster. That’s an extremely unassuming group.
Luckily, there’s a good amount of potential there. Okobo was drafted with the first pick in the second round, and the team clearly thinks he has a great deal of potential. Some experts had him as high as a late lottery pick and a top five point guard in the draft.
As for Melton, the team also views him as a long term piece. He was the major return from the trade with the Rockets, and he projects as an excellent fit alongside Devin Booker. Melton is a great defender and an improving shooter, and he, too, was seen by some as one of the draft’s top point guards. After a tremendous Summer League, his stock is as high as ever.
The Phoenix Suns should make finding their point guard of the future their highest priority. Hopefully Okobo or Melton stands out as a solid, well-rounded point guard with high potential, making teams look silly for passing on them in the first round. But if that doesn’t happen, the Suns will have to look elsewhere.
Next. The Phoenix Suns should NOT pursue Jimmy Butler. dark
Maybe it’s ten day contracts or a trade. Maybe it’s intense scouting of the upcoming draft class or setting their eyes on a future free agent. But no matter how they do it, it’s clear what needs to be done. Finding a point guard of the future should be number one on the Phoenix Suns’ to-do list.