Gambo says the Phoenix Suns want a ‘combo guard.’ Four players make the most sense

Lonzo Ball

He has been mentioned in connection to the Phoenix Suns a thousand times since he left UCLA, a point guard that many fans have wanted on this roster because of his innate passing ability.

Averaging 7.2 assists his rookie season, that stat dropped to 5.4 last year, although at no fault of his own, due mainly to the offense being built around LeBron James and the struggles that went along with dealing with his presence on the court.

There is no doubt that adding a player of Lonzo Ball‘s capacity on the Suns’ current roster would help open up fastbreak opportunities for the number of slashers on the roster (if Josh Jackson is retained, he would receive the opportunities that Shawn Marion once had as a slasher with his great point guards, but has not had to date in his career).

Deandre Ayton too would be benefited in the half court game as Lonzo will more aptly be able to get the young center the ball in the right positions and situations, something that plagued him throughout his rookie year.

Obviously Devin Booker would benefit the most as he would not have to play on the ball the entire game, potentially taking some of the wear and tear off of his body that seemed to cause him to break down a little bit the last two years.

Now, Gambo said that the Suns wanted a ‘combo guard’ which implies someone who can shoot, the biggest flaw in Ball’s game to date. His awkward shot worked for him in college, however it has not converted to the NBA quite as well as the Lakers had hoped.

Although his shooting statistics rose last season from his rookie year, they are still a paltry 40.6% from the field, 32.9% from 3, 48.2% from 2, and a measly 41.7% from the free throw line – when Shaquille O’Neal averaged comparable free throw statistics, at least he was averaging 70% from within the arc as he was dunking  the ball the majority of the time.

Those kinds of shooting numbers are incredibly troubling and not the sign of a true combo guard.

If the Phoenix Suns managed to acquire Ball, there would have to be a full deconstruction of his shot by shooting coaches in the hopes that over the next couple of years they can get his shooting percentages up to at least tolerable numbers.

It is truly his shooting that makes him the number four player on this list, however, his age (he’ll be 22 at the start of the season) and contract (he’s still under a rookie contract for two more years), still should make him a very interesting target to fill this roster hole.