Small Forward
Kelly Oubre, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson vs Harrison Barnes and Trevor Ariza
What was once a position of not only over-abundance for the Phoenix Suns, small forward is now a position that not only has the perfect amount of depth, but is manned by the best player the franchise has employed at the three arguably since Shawn Marion.
When James Jones incidentally acquired Kelly Oubre last season, little did anyone know the breath of fresh air that the young three would provide the franchise.
With his acquisition (and for a brief period, a sudden spike in excitement and wins), Oubre became the heart of the “Vally Boyz” trend that with his re-signing this offseason will be continued for at least the next two more seasons.
A potential 20 point scorer this season, if his 3-point shooting percentage can rise closer to the the league-average (about 35.0%), Oubre will become one of the best 3-and-D small forwards in the league.
Of course behind him will be second year player Mikal Bridges, who essentially has the same skill-set as Oubre minus the outward exuberance.
If he too can raise his 3-point shooting average to about 35%, their combined shooting and defense will make the position one of great strength for the foreseeable future.
The Sacramento Kings do not have a young small forward to build around like the Suns do, instead employing veterans Harrison Barns and Trevor Ariza.
Ariza was more of a depth addition who does not figure into the franchise’s future, however Harrison Barnes is only 26-year-old, already an above-average scorer, a 37.4% career 3-point shooter (and 40.8% last season with the Kings), and while not an above average defender, he is far from a liability.
In truth, the Kings can be equally as happy with Barnes for the next few years as the Suns can with either Oubre or Bridges (and due to Barnes’ shooting over his Suns counterparts, probably even a little bit more bullish).
However, where Sacramento has one, Phoenix has two, and if the Suns’ two players only raise their outside shooting averages by a modicum of an amount, two definitely outranks the Kings’ one.
Oh yeah – and I haven’t even mentioned Cameron Johnson who was one of the best 3-point shooters last season with North Carolina. If he is anywhere near the player in the professional ranks that he was last year, the Suns will have something very special brewing.