Flooded with talent from top to bottom, the Phoenix Suns carry several options to fill several positions heading into the 2021-22 season. A good problem to have, but nonetheless one that might complicate things for the Phoenix coaching staff.
Last year, the Suns began their season the same way they ended it, with a starting five featuring Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Deandre Ayton. Each player within that lineup averaged double-digit scoring numbers, allowing themselves to become the 11th most fruitful offensive starting group. This squad actually tied the fearsome Brooklyn Nets’ starting five for first place in field goal percentage, hitting at a collective 50.9 percent clip.
For 12 games though, they went big and started either Frank Kaminsky or Torrey Craig over Crowder. Monty Williams also experimented with some “small ball” by sliding out Crowder for Cameron Johnson during three contests.
But heading into the upcoming season, Paul and Booker have a firm grasp on each starting guard position, as does Ayton at the five. No reason exists to permanently dismiss Crowder or Bridges to the bench either, at least for now.
But who comes off the bench first as a sixth, seventh, or eight man? Will anyone once again steal away some coveted starting minutes? Only some gritty and competitive position battles within the team can answer those questions, likely to take place throughout training camp and within the regular season’s first few weeks.
Of course barring any future injuries that might remove one or two player’s from the roster, these three internal competitions for rotation spots strike as very intriguing, and worth paying attention to as we move closer to tipoff.
Phoenix Suns Battle for Third String Center: Frank Kaminsky vs Jalen Smith
Jalen Smith barely played last year, and when Frank Kaminsky did—things turned ugly almost every time out from a defensive standpoint. That makes this a battle for not just the third string center spot, but also one for future standings with the team.
The Suns used the No. 10 overall pick during the 2020 NBA Draft to select Smith, proving that at least at some point, they valued him substantially. But that clearly changed while the 2020-21 season played out, as he suited up for just 27 games—far and away the fewest amongst any other lottery player.
Smith did play exceptionally well during the Summer League, even making the All-Summer League First Team. But as a second-year player already taken so highly during the prior draft, a performance like that is something to be expected rather than celebrated. At the end of the day though, Smith remains incredibly young, making his potential upside still a notable asset which the Suns carry.
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Kaminsky instead knows his way around the block. Playing his sixth NBA season last year, Frank “the Tank” averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He logged only 15.2 minutes per contest, splitting backup reps with Dario Saric.
But once Saric’s injury occurred during the NBA Finals and Ayton’s foul troubles arose, coach Williams had no choice but to thrust Kaminsky onto the court more often, where he struggled exponentially. Without much agility or strength, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis all took turns abusing him down low en route to victory.
So basically, this position battle features two players with completely opposite assets. On one hand, Smith maintains heavy upside, but also comes as an incredibly high-risk person to play due to his slow development and inexperience. But on the other, Kaminsky plays consistently—just not very well.
Given the minimal expectations for both guys as back-end rotation fillers, only one or two improvements from either player could easily decide this one, making it the team’s least noteworthy, but perhaps most competitive face off.
Phoenix Suns Battle for Starting Small Forward: Cameron Johnson vs Mikal Bridges
Last year during the postseason, Cameron Johnson let everyone know about his readiness to heavily contribute toward a winning team effort, even despite his young age.
Johnson averaged a solid 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while playing only 21.1 minutes per game. More importantly though, he shot an exceptional 50.0 percent from the field and 44.6 percent from deep. He also contributed with timely stops as a defender to frequently spark some much needed fast break points with either Booker or Bridges resting.
His best game occurred during Phoenix’s efforts to close out the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Finals, where he dropped 14 points after going 3-3 from outside, while also coming away with three steals. But his best moment of course came during the NBA Finals when he almost put PJ Tucker through the hardwood with a posterizing Game 3 dunk.
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Providing such efficient, clutch, and exciting production even as a second-year player, Johnson certainly deserves to start for an NBA team. When you look along the wing, Booker remains untouchable, but Bridges has a looser hold on his starting spot—opening up this positional battle.
Unfortunately for Johnson, Bridges’s starting case is very similar to his own. As another young player, even drafted just one year before Johnson, Bridges possess an extraordinarily high upside, having played also well despite his age. Fielding 32.1 minutes per game, Bridges averaged 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds during the postseason. He shot 48.8 percent from the field, and 36.8 percent on triples.
With their numbers looking nearly identical minus Johnson’s far more impressive 3-point percentage, the extra year under Bridges’s belt likely stands responsible for his position ahead Johnson in the rotation. But at what point does that aspect lose its luster? The difference between a two-year player and three-year player feels big, but essentially no difference exists between an eight and nine-year player.
With it being Bridges’s fourth and Johnson’s third years as pros next season, Monty Williams might begin to start putting them on the same level. If that occurs and Johnson keeps up his superior 3-point shooting while managing to match Bridges’s defensive prowess, he might push himself into the starting small forward spot.
Phoenix Suns Battle for First Guard off the Bench: Cameron Payne vs Landry Shamet
Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet come together to form a very solid backcourt off the bench. Payne resembles a true point guard, while Shamet can operate from both spots, prompting the Suns to likely play him at the shooting guard to run beside Payne.
But despite their compatibility with each other, one player will likely serve as the team’s sole “sixth man” if Phoenix’s offensive tendencies from last year carry over into this coming one. More often than not during the 2020-21 season, the Suns subbed out Paul before Booker—allowing Payne to take the floor before any other backup guard.
However, this past season Booker showed off his much improved ability to run the offense, making a second unit which slides Booker up to point guard and Shamet in at shooting guard a serious possibly, especially if the Suns find themselves wanting to stretch the floor.
The Suns will likely start the season by just simply swapping Payne for Paul. Shamet is still a newcomer to this team, and quite frankly, Payne earned this position last year after playing superb during Paul’s COVID-19 related absence.
But at some point down the line, watch out for a Booker and Shamet backcourt to formulate on the court. If it works well, then there will be no stopping it, allowing Shamet to become Phoenix’s new first guard to come off the bench, rather than Payne.