Phoenix Suns: Dario Saric vs. 2020 free agent power forwards
By Kenny Glenn
Power forward options the Phoenix Suns should NOT consider
Before we look at the best options for the Phoenix Suns to potentially fill the starting power forward position, let’s talk about the players that the fans and media will want the Suns to consider, which I don’t think the Suns should.
Davis Bertans: Washington Wizard forward Davis Bertans is an offensive wizard and a great shooter but does nothing else well, with below-average rebounding, assists, and defense. However, he will go get signed for $15 to $17 million because of his shooting. Shooting is not a problem for the Suns who are 10th in the league in offense, it is their ranking of 20th in defense that is the problem.
Derrick Favors: Pelicans’ Derrick Favors is more of a center now than a power forward. He is a good defensive player, good team player, and leader, but unlike Bertans, he cannot shoot the 3, and in today’s NBA, power forwards must be a threat from 3-point range.
Marcus Morris: The next “no” player might give Suns fans a headache, and if he wasn’t such a headache he might be worth considering. Marcus Morris has some dog in him which the Suns need, and he has grown to be a productive player. I said grown, not matured. He still has personal issues with the Suns and would only use them to up his price and they wouldn’t want him anyway.
Recently Morris turned down a $13.66 million offer from the Clippers. The Clips have $18 million to throw at him, but they would rather not, whereas Morris probably has $20 million per season in his mind. He’s not a Monty Williams type of player for those reasons he’s not even a consideration.
Montrezl Harrell: Montrezl Harrell from the Clippers may well be the 6th Man of the Year this season, but I feel that he is overrated. My overriding reason for not bringing him in is that he cannot shoot from just about anywhere outside of a dunk. He is not worth the $15 million to $18 million that Miami may throw at him.
Danilo Gallinari: No, Gallinari is not one of my best options. At 6’10”, 233 pounds, he is 32 years old and is not worth twice the cash that you’d have to pay him compared to Dario Saric. This season, he averaged 18.7 points on 43.8 field goal percent, 40 percent from 3-point, and grabbed 5.2 rebounds. His projected contract would be between $15 million and $20 million.
Plus, I would put Gallinari on the “We don’t have an interest” list for the Suns.
So what free agents are worth a look?