The Phoenix Suns for sure need to upgrade the point guard position, but they should hold onto the ones they currently have on the roster.
It is no surprise statement to say that the Phoenix Suns need to upgrade their point guard position this summer. That is one of the two main positions they need to focus on, along with improving at power forward. This year they have seriously struggled at the lead guard spot BUT that doesn’t mean they should give up on what they have.
Barring immense improvement from one of these two over the off season, neither De’Anthony Melton or Elie Okobo is the answer next year at the one. Both showed they are absolutely NOT ready to start at this point in time and if they’re all the team is rolling out of the gates with after the off season, then it was a complete disaster and the Suns are NOT going to be much better.
Phoenix Suns
Elie has played in 47 games this season, shot 37% from the field and 27% from downtown, while averaging 5.3 points, 2.4 assists and 0.6 steals in 17.8 minutes per game. De’Anthony has played in 45 games, shot 38% from the field and 31% from deep, while averaging 4.8 points, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 19.5 minutes per game.
However, both have shown promise and enough upside that the team should not give up on them after just their rookie seasons. Let me put some emphasis on that word, rookie, as it’s rare that even a top talent point guard as a rookie has a huge impact on their club.
Also, it isn’t their fault that they were thrown into the fire like they were. This duo came to Phoenix as young players that could develop and hopefully be rotational pieces down the stretch. If you look at them as starting point guards, you will see pure failures, and that just isn’t fair. They need to be analyzed as the second round picks they both are and when seen in that light, both have shown a little something.
In 9 appearances in the G League, Elie averaged 18.1 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. In 6 appearances in the G League, De’Anthony averaged 18.5 points, 7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. It’s only the G League but those aren’t the numbers that rookies with no potential put up, even there.
Okobo and Melton were the 31st and 46th picks, respectively, in the 2018 NBA Draft. Both were projected by some to be first round picks and they have shown some signs as to why this season. Both are raw and inconsistent but Okobo has shown enough on offense as a promising shooter and Melton has shown enough promise to be a gritty defender at the very least.
They are both worth keeping around, as the team needs to develop them and watch them grow before making a decision on either one.
Speaking of shooting, Okobo has had 6 NBA games with double digit scoring including an 18 point game on 9 shots where he hit 3 treys and got to the line 6 times on October 28th in a 7 point loss to the Thunder. The team nearly completed a comeback win and he was a big reason why with 14 points in the fourth quarter. He also had 7 assists in that game.
Speaking of assists, he dished out a career-high 11 in a 6 point loss to the Hawks on February 2nd. He’s had 16 games with at least 4 assists. If he can just hone in on his shooting, scoring and play making, he has a future in this league.
Melton is a bit more raw but has even more upside potential in this league. His offense needs work but he’s shown streaks, he has had stretches where he shows off his play making potential and his defense is already a solid factor in this league.
A lot of his future can be seen in two stretches from this season. The first is from December 4th to the 11th, a 5 game stretch where he shot a 43-38-83 split, made 1.8 threes per game and averaged 14 points, 5.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 28.6 minutes.
The second is from January 8th to the 15th, a 4 game stretch where he dished out 8 assists, swiped 2.8 steals and swatted 1.8 blocks in 27.8 minutes per game. He also ranks in the top 25 in deflections per game, which shows his potential is already close to fruition on the defensive end.
No, neither is the current answer at the starting point guard spot and if you look at them as such, then you will be disappointed and they will be part of the frustration. Again, though, that isn’t fair to them as they need to be seen as the second round picks that they were, and in that light, they have a lot of promise. Barring their inclusion on a solid trade, the Suns would be smart to hold onto them and watch them grow.