Free agents the Phoenix Suns can target with the veteran minimum
By Matt Escobar
Free agents the Phoenix Suns can target with the veteran minimum.
3. Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley on the Suns would’ve seemed like a ludicrous notion before this offseason, but with his nemesis Chris Paul no longer on the team, it seems much more feasible. Of course, he’s still gotten into it with just about every other player on the team, Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker included, but if Beverley and Russell Westbrook can bury the hatchet, anything is possible.
Beverley would give the Suns a guard defender that they’re in desperate need of. He’s also an underrated shooter and playmaker which makes him a perfect fit next to Cam Payne on the bench unit. Maybe most importantly, Beverley would give the team a mean streak and irritant, something they’ve been lacking in recent years.
Patrick Beverley:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 17, 2022
“When I pushed Chris Paul, why didn’t his teammates do anything? Ain’t nobody pushing me man. If somebody push me on the team, the Timberwolves is going up. If somebody push me when I was on the Clippers, it’s going up.” pic.twitter.com/NbhGr1nmXe
If the Suns are going to embark on a deep playoff run next year, they are going to need role players to step up in crunch moments. Beverley certainly falls into this category, and it may be the intangibles that he brings to the table, alongside being a player they can slot into their guard rotation, that ultimately lands him in Phoenix.
Beverly has been vocal about wanting another big contract, but as a soon to be 35-year-old, the minimum might be more realistic. He hasn’t averaged double-digits in scoring since 2017-18, and over 35 percent from deep since 2020-21,