Phoenix Suns roster weakness: Point of attack perimeter defender off the bench
Off the bench, Torrey Craig operated as Phoenix’s best attack point blocker last season. A disciplined veteran, Craig specialized as a disruptive isolation defender who often guarded his opponent’s best perimeter player.
He did this most notably during the Western Conference Finals, when he locked up Paul George. Even as a feared offensive weapon, George shot just 3-12 during the series with Craig defending him.
While Craig was far from only a point of attack defensive specialist, as he often worked as a small-ball center and 3-point bomber, those areas remain covered to a fair extent by Phoenix’s already established roster. However, the Suns need another perimeter isolation defender aside from Mikal Bridges.
This need grows even stronger when facing off against the league’s best teams, who all possess at least one serious offensive threat along the wing.
The Suns will have their hands full with players like LeBron James, Klay Thompson, a much improved Andrew Wiggins, and George again next year. They need to add someone who partially mirrors Craig, and makes things difficult for them at the very least.