Phoenix Suns: Projecting the Full Rotation for 2021-22

The Phoenix Suns put together a well oiled, 15-man machine last year that took them all the way to the NBA Finals. Their team chemistry never seemed to dissipate, even during a rocky season riddled with unexpected stops and starts due to COVID-19.

Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Deandre Ayton all headlined Phoenix’s 2020-21 rotation, coming together as its starting five. Cameron Johnson played the most minutes off the bench, followed by Torrey Craig, Cameron Payne, and then Dario Saric. Frank Kaminksy, Abdel Nader, E’Twaun Moore, and Jevon Carter filled in behind them nicely a depth options as well.

Last year’s Suns team certainly possessed some big names, which made assembling a rotation relatively easy. But still, Monty Williams took that and only built on it with his coaching expertise, moving each player around like chess pieces to strategically feature their talents in the most effective way possible.

He undoubtedly accomplished this, as the Suns posted the league’s third highest net rating en route to their NBA Finals return.

But over the past few weeks, the Suns lost some key contributors from that fruitful campaign a year ago. Craig chased more money with Indiana, Carter now finds himself allied withe Brooklyn Nets via a trade, Moore remains an unsigned free agent, and Saric looks to be out all year as he recovers from an ACL tear.

But at the same time, Phoenix also added some new weapons to their arsenal, most notably Landry Shamet and JaVale McGee.

Pulling everything together, the rotation will unfold this way for the 2021-22 season.