The Phoenix Suns are a basketball franchise neck deep in rumors, scandal and controversy. Dealing with the insistent trade demands of Jae Crowder, right before training camp begins, would be enough for any NBA executive to lose a bit of sleep.
General manager James Jones is certainly in an unenviable position. Nevertheless, the job doesn’t stop for anything or anyone. Right now, the Suns front office should still be hunting for a point-guard that can play behind Chris Paul.
As I made very clear in my last article, the best course of action for the Suns would be getting a veteran point-guard on the roster. It is important to have a guard that you can trust to run your offense if Paul faces injury problems again during the postseason.But what if the front office decides that putting all their eggs into the Paul basket isn’t the best option.
The stated goal of the Phoenix Suns is to win it all this season, but they can simultaneously compete for glory and still prepare for life after Chris Paul.
Remaining flexible while being committed to the players currently on your roster is the name of the game in the NBA. It’s the only way to do business. There is no seeing into the future, so the Suns need an insurance plan on the Paul experiment.
He’s 37-years-old and has missed major time in almost every postseason since 2015. I think it’s safe to assume that Paul’s body failing him is just a part of who he is as a player.
So keeping that in mind, it would not be a bad idea for the Suns to look for a young point-guard that can grow and learn from Paul. Since he won’t always be here, this hypothetical young guard can be his mentee and take over the reins from Paul once he retires.
Unfortunately, the Suns don’t have a lot of bargaining chips to entice other teams with. The other front offices around the league already know Jae Crowder is available, but his stern demands have diminished his value as the Suns now have to move as quickly as they can. Besides, the Suns are competing for a championship, they will be very hesitant to let any of their core players go.
All of that said, if the Suns want to trade for a young point-guard, it’s more than likely he’ll be coming to town with some baggage. Phoenix may not have the assets to land the biggest fish in the ocean, but they can still find what they need.
The Suns need an aggressive minded guard with plenty of room to grow and the willingness to learn from Paul and Monty Williams. Luckily, point-guards in the NBA are plentiful. There is a constant supply of talented but flawed floor generals that have not quite panned out the way most fans expected them to. A good front office can pick through the litter and find which runt can be a show dog with the right change of scenery.
Here are two young point-guard options for the Suns to consider.