Valley of the Suns
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3 players from the NBA Finals who could be realistic targets for the Suns next year

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 06: Gabe Vincent #2 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against Damion Lee #10 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 06, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 06: Gabe Vincent #2 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against Damion Lee #10 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 06, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 22: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 22: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) /

3 players from NBA Finals who could be realistic targets for Suns next year.

3. Thomas Bryant

Big man Thomas Bryant has barely gotten a look in since the Nuggets acquired him from the Los Angeles Lakers back in February. This makes sense, when you consider he is vying for minutes with the best player in the world right now in Nikola Jokic, a two-time league MVP.

Bryant is yet to play at all for the Nuggets during their run to the finals, and he also has DeAndre Jordan on the bench trying to find any time at all that he can on the court. Why then would the Suns be interested in a player who can’t get a look in with the Western Conference champions? Timing and location are everything in the NBA.

Current Suns starter DeAndre Ayton looks set to continue as the man in the paint next season, unless there is some unforeseen move coming this summer. This season he was backed up by Bismack Biyombo, and the impressive Jock Landale. In an ideal world, Landale would come back as the number two for next season on a cheap contract, while Biyombo would be let go.

Landale is also a restricted free agent this summer, so the ball is firmly in the court of the Suns. But Bryant is still only 25-years-old and has averaged over 10 points and five rebounds throughout his career. Landale certainly had his postseason moment, against the Nuggets in the final game of the season with Ayton out injured. He also comes across as an excellent teammate.

On that occasion he had 13 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes of acton, but he has played less games (123) than Bryant has started (134) in the league. The queue to acquire Bryant, who himself is an unrestricted free agent, is not going to be long this summer. But this is a player who only a few years ago was putting up 14 and six a night as a starter for the Washington Wizards.

If the Suns want to remain competent defensively, and not change their scheme up too much when Ayton is on the bench, or worse yet injured, Bryant looks like the ideal player to go after to have as the backup. He would bring the best of both worlds of Biyombo and Landale. A hard worker who doesn’t need a lot of touches and rim runs diligently on a team-friendly deal.

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