2. Patrick Beverley
Most certainly a divisive player, but if Patrick Beverley is good enough for the surging Philadelphia 76ers, then why not the Suns? Beverley is a known quantity around the league, and many would say his bark is worse than his bite. But he is also a player that opponents hate to come up against, and he has the work-rate, attitude and talent to continue to stick in the league.
Beverley has come off the bench 13 times for the 76ers already this season, and has averaged 15.6 minutes of game time. The absence of James Harden has helped that whole team to thrive together, and the continued growth of Tyrese Maxey is one of the key reasons for that.
Patrick Beverley vibing to Juicy pic.twitter.com/t7LuvjPSSc
— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) November 15, 2023
But Beverley is playing his part – albeit a small one – in what has been a 10-3 start for the team by backing up De’Anthony Melton. Like Smith before him, Beverley is also making roughly $3.1 million this season, although at this point statistically he is giving any group he is out on the court with very little.
Instead it is all about intangibles with Beverley, and he could have provided all of this to the Suns on the cheap. Like Gordon and Diop, he is also able to guard bigger players than him, although using this as any sort of long-term strategy for the Suns would have been disastrous. If you need a guard to back up Booker and be trusted by a coaching staff though, Beverley can be your guy.