Delon Wright could be a RFA PG target for the Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns need point guards and current Memphis Grizzlies point guard Delon Wright would be a solid option in free agency.

While the Phoenix Suns search for long term solutions at starting point guard, they need also to add veteran backups who can help anchor the bench’s offense, keeping the flow of the game intact, specifically when playing alongside Devin Booker.

Current backup’s Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton provided very little in the way of overall offense for the Suns last season, and while I personally would not be opposed to the retainment of one of them as a third, developmental point guard, Phoenix needs a solid, above-average distributor, a piece they seriously lacked in 2018-19.

The Memphis Grizzlies are almost an embarrassment of riches right now at point guard with a number of good options already on the roster. They too are likely to add another in Ja Morant come the Draft, potentially giving them four good point guards on their roster.

Luckily in sports from the rich can the poor go shopping, and Phoenix Suns General Manager James Jones should pull up his cart and throw in Delon Wright.

Recently turned 27-years-old, Wright is a 6’5″, 185 pound veteran of four years who would perfectly fill out the bench with his offensive ability.

Acquired from the Raptors in the Marc Gasol deal (how unfortunate on his part to be thrown into that one), Wright took the opportunity to play extended minutes (he averaged 30.8min per game in 26 appearances – easily the highest of his career), and displayed exactly what he could provide a team with some playing time, which is exactly what the Suns so desperately need.

Wright put up 12.2 points with the Grizzlies, but most importantly dished out 5.3 assists (with a secondary plus of grabbing 5.4 rebounds) per game.

Granted, only a limited set of games in which he started 11, however, those numbers should not be ignored as Wright had been capable of a solid contributor in Toronto had he not been behind both Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.

For his career,  Wright has averaged 14.2 points, 6.2 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per-36 minutes, yet he has only had limited opportunities due to who was playing in front of him.

Check out the highlights of Wright’s career night against the Dallas Mavericks in which he put together a fantastic triple-double (quiz question: how many Phoenix Suns players had a triple-double last season? The answer is Zero).

But more than just the highlights themselves, listen too to the gushing that the Grizzlies broadcast team does in regards to Wright as a player (specifically the quote “if I am a wing player I want to play with Delon Wright,” immediately following a drive and dish for a corner 3), and don’t tell me that you wouldn’t want him on the Suns’ roster right away.

While an all-out-hustle-type player, Write does have a particular flaw to his game, and not only is it noticeable, but he realizes it too (which is obvious during that highlight clip).

Write is not a good outside shooter, and not only does he only average 33.2% from 3 for his career, but he shot a meager 25.6% with the Grizzlies on 78 attempts.

For a Phoenix Suns team that needs to improve it’s outside shooting in the worst way, this is a significant flaw that must be remedied in all possible ways.

To be fair to him, it’s not like he has been an awful shooter his entire career, it’s just that he has been very hot and cold. In 2017-18, Wright attempted 153 3’s and made 36.6% of them – a very respectable percentage.

However, in 75 games last season between Toronto and Memphis, he attempted 168, draining only 29.8% total (making 33.3% with Toronto on 90 attempts – obviously something changed when he put on a Grizzlies uniform).

Wright makes up for this flaw with his willingness and ability to drive and post up, something that for a 6’5″ point guard he does very well – which in a way he reminds me of Jason Kidd, with that particular skill and understanding how to avoid his most prominent flaw.

Presuming that the Grizzlies will draft Ja Morant, they still may not be able to trade Mike Conley, and with Avery Bradley under contract for one more season, Delon Wright might be the odd man out in their backcourt, easily stealable away with a slightly larger offer in restricted free agency than Memphis can match. James Jones could probably sign him at about $5 million a year for three-years, giving the Phoenix Suns the perfect backup point guard, one easily capable of starting, when needed.