Evaluating HoopsHype’s top-5 FA PGs for the Phoenix Suns
By Adam Maynes
1. Kyrie Irving (UFA)
How ironic would it be if two years after refusing to add Josh Jackson in a trade for Kyrie Irving, the Phoenix Suns were forced to dump Jackson’s contract to as part of a series of moves to sign Irving this offseason?
It would be a sad, ironic twist that would be so Phoenix Suns, although one we probably won’t have to worry about.
Kyrie Irving would be magic if he signed in Phoenix.
Arguably the best overall point guard in the NBA, he is a superstar who’s acquisition would bring league-wide attention to the franchise in a way not seen since the trade for Charles Barkley in 1992.
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Placing him too in the Pacific Division where he will butt heads with LeBron James four times a year and potentially in the playoffs, would make those games nationally watched, and locally must see TV.
The backcourt of he and Devin Booker would be like wildfire. While it would be difficult to harness at the outset, once under control they would be a nearly unbeatable offensive duo that arguably hasn’t been seen since Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
Deandre Ayton in particular would see more alley-oop dunks than he could dream of, and while he predicted that his pairing with Booker would be the equivalent to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, swapping Booker(‘s name) out for Kyrie might actually make that comp a reality starting this season.
At still only 27-years-old, should he stay healthy (and both finds success and happiness in Phoenix), the stretch run he could start here might be one that could last nearly a decade.
Here’s the catch though: he is almost never happy.
He had a championship-winning situation in Cleveland, but wasn’t happy.
He could have had a championship-winning situation in Boston, but wasn’t happy.
He originally too said he didn’t want to be traded to Phoenix two years ago too and wouldn’t guarantee re-signing here if he was.
Would he find happiness here now?
All signs currently point him to signing with the Brooklyn Nets which actually gives HoopsHype’s third best free agent point guard coming to Phoenix, D’Angelo Russell, more validity.
He too could also take his talents to Los Angeles and re-pair up with LeBron creating the basketball version of the “Evil Empire”
Next. The Phoenix Suns got a good player in T.J. Warren. dark
That said, if James Jones was able to clear out the cap space necessary to offer Kyrie the max, there isn’t a better point guard available, and who knows: Monty Williams, James Jones, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton; the situation in Phoenix might not have looked all that hot to him two years ago, but maybe today it does.