Valley of the Suns
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The Phoenix Suns should hire Channing Frye after he retires

By Khaleel Abdullah

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 5: Channing Frye #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers makes his entrance before the game against the Boston Celtics on February 5, 2019 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 5: Channing Frye #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers makes his entrance before the game against the Boston Celtics on February 5, 2019 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Channing Frye announced he will be retiring as an NBA player after this season. The Phoenix Suns should hire him after he hangs up his shoes.

On Friday, Channing Frye posted on Twitter that he will be retiring after this season. The former Phoenix Sun has played 13 seasons in the NBA, has had his role diminished to a reserve and is ready to move on.

“Im super excited to see the other side of the fence.”  That was the final sentence of Frye’s Tweet. When he signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers this past summer, he chose them because he knew this could be his last hurrah. He was a key piece of the Cav’s championship team in 2016 and couldn’t think of a better place to end his career. “I wanted to retire a Cav,” Frye said.

For that same reason, the Suns should hire him after this season in a front office role. It could be as an ambassador, or as a scout or as a player development coach, etc. There are many types of roles that he could step into and Phoenix should definitely consider him for one.

He played 304 games as a Sun, starting 246 of those, and he averaged 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks while making 2 threes per game on 38.9% accuracy. His best basketball came in a Phoenix uniform, from the 2009-10 to 2013-14 season. In 2009-10, he made 2.1 threes per game on a 43.9% clip. That was the best shooting season from downtown as a pro. He averaged a career high 12.7 points per game in 2010-11.

He sat out the 2012-13 season with a heart issue, but he showed the size of his heart by making a full comeback and playing all 82 games the very next season. He went on to play 6 more seasons in the NBA.

Frye was known as a great teammate and he is overall a humble, good guy. A teammate of James Jones in Cleveland, he would have a connection to the front office that would help him get a call. He should be contacted, his interest gauged and let known that a front office job is available for him after his retirement.

Channing could help with player relations and could also make a good scout. The only scout the team currently has is Ronnie Price. Back to player development, a lot of casual fans don’t realize how good of a player he truly was.

In his career, he made 1,043 triples on a 38.7% clip. That many treys ranks him 97th in NBA history. Only 21 players made more on a better percentage. Only 11 players had more threes and blocks. No player in NBA history had more blocks while making more threes on a better percentage.

The Phoenix Suns should put up a statue to Jerry Colangelo. dark. Next

He was the ultimate stretch big and his intensity and shooting alone would help Deandre Ayton. His veteran leadership would help the roster overall and his pedigree could help the front office. After he plays his last game, Phoenix should pick up the phone and let him know that he’d have a job here should he accept.

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