Phoenix Suns: Contract-expiring players the team should bring back

Jevon Carter

Behind Aron Baynes and Kelly Oubre, there may not be a bigger character on the team than Jevon Carter. The man who Monty Williams says eats rocks has been in a battle for the backup point guard role the entire season, before finally seizing it as his own right before the NBA suspended play.

Carter is notorious for his defensive prowess but found his 3-point shooting stroke late in the season. Do I think he is the answer to backup point guard next season if the Suns are to make a run?

No, I don’t. The Suns can find something better than 4.6 points and 1.3 assists in free agency, and they should.

However, can he step in and play with a fierceness few deep bench guys can? Absolutely.

What I’m trying to say is, Jevon Carter is a lot of things, but scared ain’t one. And there is value in that.

The Phoenix Suns can offer him a qualifying offer of $1.8 million, or he could venture into restricted free agency. For someone who was potentially going to be a training camp cut, bringing him back for another year at that price seems like a no-brainer.

There may be some buyers out there, but my guess is if the Suns can’t get him for that, they can still keep him for cheap.

I say, keep the bulldog in Phoenix.