The Phoenix Suns surprised everybody by signing Pat Spencer to a two-way contract this summer, and head coach Jordan Ott is quickly going to realize he is too good for the G League once the season begins. He will almost certainly find his way into the rotation.
Spencer will steal minutes from other guards in Phoenix
The 30-year-old former Golden State Warrior is exactly the kind of feisty lead guard that coach Ott will love, and his ability to play off the ball, willingly defend anybody, and give this team around seven points and three assists when he is available will lead to some tough decisions being made.
In theory, that is the role of Jamaree Bouyea on this roster, as he has the longer frame and is the better defender. He could be particularly impactful when combined with Jordan Goodwin in some funky lineups that Coach Ott had great success with last time out.
Yet, Spencer will not only take Bouyea's spot in the rotation when he is not with the Valley Suns, but he will also steal minutes from Goodwin and even Collin Gillespie when he gets the opportunity. Many have said that Spencer is the next Gillespie in Phoenix, but he's three years older and not nearly as good a 3-point shooter or passer as his new teammate.
What Spencer can do, though, is manage the game for small periods, and he does so in a way that is different from anybody else on the roster.
Spencer could unlock best version of Jalen Green
There is the exciting prospect that pairing Spencer with Jalen Green could get the best out of the duo at a crucial time for both. Green and Devin Booker haven't worked to this point, and the pressure is on Green to prove he should have been a second overall pick.
But Spencer handling the ball and setting up Green before getting out of the way and defending the better guard on the other end of the court feels much more like it.
Even if this happens as part of a bench unit or featuring youngsters like Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming, it is worth exploring. If Green can show signs of the player the Suns gave up Kevin Durant for, and if it happens next to Spencer, his value will rise rapidly.
All that is holding him back is that pesky two-way tag, but like Gillespie before him, if Spencer is good enough, he will figure out how to excel anyway. That will happen, and he will give Coach Ott another underrated weapon in the process.
Add us as a preferred source on Google