Former Suns point guard struggling badly with new team

The Phoenix Suns did such a comprehensive job of remaking their roster this offseason, that they now have four centers and sent a top preseason performer packing to Europe because of their increased backcourt depth. Although they've started off 1-2, head coach Jordan Ott has a lot of players at his disposal to try and turn into a coherent unit.

He's also yet to have Jalen Green so far this season due to a hamstring issue, while center Mark Williams is seemingly not going to play in back-to-backs. Through all of this, the thinking for many was that the front office missed a trick by not bringing in a veteran point guard to take that responsibility off both Green and Devin Booker, even though all three couldn't play together.

Former Sun Tyus Jones struggling badly with Orlando Magic.

One such name that could have been a solution for the Suns in this department is former player Tyus Jones, who left The Valley after one underwhelming season. The thinking a year ago was that he could help the team take care of the basketball, and set Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal up each night.

Then the Suns couldn't defend an AAU team and that idea quickly went up in smoke. Jones leaving for a fringe contender in the Orlando Magic, who on paper looked much better equipped to deal with his defensive deficiencies. It's easier to carry an undersized floor general when you employ Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Wendell Carter Jr. and even Jonathan Isaac.

Carry Jones is exactly what the Magic have been doing, and to this point he has been well below average for his new team. The 29-year-old has generally done his best work as a backup - yet despite only starting one game so far and playing less than 20 minutes each night - he has still failed to provide much impact.

If anything the fact the Magic have the same record as the Suns early on - despite being in the weaker conference - is a worrying sign for their ambitions this season. It also puts to bed the notion that the Suns should have tried harder to keep Jones in Phoenix for this season. They're now a rebuilding group, and youngsters need a veteran ball-handler to make their life easier.

Only we know now that wouldn't have happened - and given coach Ott's early desire to play veterans over young players - Jones likely would have been given a ton of time on the court to try and figure it out. That would have been a mistake and it wouldn't have made a difference either on the basis of what we have seen in Orlando, so it is just as well he is struggling elsewhere this season.