The Phoenix Suns are in need of a high-level point guard, and although D'Angelo Russell was recently waived by the Memphis Grizzlies and has established ties to Devin Booker, signing him would be a massive mistake.
Suns should wait for better solution to appear
The franchise continues to sign floor generals, recently revealing Kennedy Chandler will be brought to training camp, but Russell would be a bad fit in The Valley. Although he is technically a point guard, his game is closer to Jalen Green's than that of any other guard currently on the roster.
He is a willing passer but is just as comfortable taking big shots himself. That attitude is part of the reason why he has not worked out elsewhere. Truthfully, he is a rung or two below where he thinks he stands in the pecking order league wide.
If Dillon Brooks is only the 76th best player in the NBA, then Russell is rightly nowhere near that particular list and with good reason.
The Suns look set to start Green to begin the season, and until they make the brave call and bring him off the bench, having backup guards populating the back end of the roster is all they can do. Russell would join and immediately want touches and shots, whereas Collin Gillespie is content to continue grinding for his opportunities, even after signing an extension this summer.
There is also the issue of what would come of Jordan Goodwin, another guard who received a contract to return to Phoenix and is a much better fit on this roster. He defends at an elite level and defers to Booker always in much the same way as Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea.
These are the kinds of guys you want vying for that starting spot, not a 30-year-old who has bounced around three teams of varying situations in the last two seasons.
Russell's lack of defensive ability key reason to avoid
If the former Los Angeles Laker was a can't miss offensive talent, then the front office would surely consider bringing him in. Instead, he's a streaky shooter who cannot defend, and that is not the kind of player Head Coach Jordan Ott can work with.
They are approaching the second apron, and would be foolish to pump any more money into the backcourt until they have decided what they are going to do with Green.
There is also the little matter of Duop Reath needing to be signed coming out of training camp, and the organization going to have to waive somebody to make that happen. Short of also deciding time is up for Ryan Dunn, a decision they could come to soon, there is no space for Russell.
The Booker links are cool, but this is a bad idea all round.
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