In the simplest of terms: the Phoenix Suns signing of Patrick Beverley would be a massive pickup and help the young team in a multitude of ways.
The point guard position over the the past few years for the Phoenix Suns has been…an issue to say the least.
The Suns in a span of five years have gone from having three starting caliber point guards to none heading into this offseason. The last of that trio, Eric Bledsoe, famously got traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and since then the Suns have had a revolving door at the position.
In an offseason where plenty of floor generals are available, Patrick Beverley stands out as a player who would make an immediate impact.
Beverley helps in two key areas the Suns have been struggling in for years; 3-point shooting and defense.
Just this past season, Phoenix ranked dead last in 3-point shooting clocking in at 32.4%.
Out of the remaining players on the roster to end the year, only two players shot above the league average of 35.0%: T.J. Warren & Troy Daniels.
Beverley is a career 38% shooter from deep and has two seasons where he shot 40% from deep (for both the Houston Rockets & Los Angeles Clippers).
To go a little further, with attention being drawn towards Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, Beverley could make teams pay on the perimeter.
According to NBA.com, Beverley shot 41% on catch & shoot 3’s on the year, which beats out everyone on the Suns aside from Warren.
As far as how he would help the team on defense?
Adding a player who made two all-defensive teams in the past speaks for itself.
As a team that ranked in the bottom five in defensive rating four of the last five seasons, the Suns could simply use a player who has the reputation of a very good defender while also backing it up.
The Warriors and Clippers Semifinals series reinforces that. While the Clippers eventually fell to the Warriors, they gave the former NBA champions a good fight. Beverley played a pivotal role in the 31-point game two comeback alongside backcourt mate Lou Williams.
That series also included a masterclass game five from Beverley as well.
A team as young as this one needs a veteran whose personality can uplift the team to do better. Not only would the Suns welcome his services on the court on both ends, but he would be the grown up the team needs in the locker room.
There are plenty of directions the Phoenix Suns could go in terms of improvement in the backcourt this summer. You can’t go wrong with some of the options available. However, the addition of Patrick Beverley to this young team would pay dividends as he’d create an impact immediately.