The Phoenix Suns may have made a number of roster moves this offseason, but none were as intriguing as bringing Nigel Hayes-Davis back from his European adventure. The 30-year-old having been named a Final Four MVP of the EuroLeague while with powerhouse Fenerbahce, and there was rumored to be interest in him from several other big clubs in Europe this summer too.
But it was the Suns who managed to convince him to come back to the United States to give the league one more crack - and after the departure of Kevin Durant - it is now clearer than ever why that is. Hayes-Davis can not only take some of the minutes vacated by the all-time great, he can also impart some wisdom on guys like Jalen Green, and remind them how quickly fortunes can change.
3-point shooting ability of Hayes-Davis a massive plus for Suns.
One of the lesser talked about aspects of Hayes-Davis' game is his improved 3-point shooting, with Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon bringing it up on their most recent Game Theory Podcast episode. Neither professed to have watched the player closely since he headed to Europe, but in six seasons with three different teams over there, he shot a shade under 40 percent from beyond the arc.
This is huge for the Suns when you consider he will play as a power forward, and will be able to stretch the court some for Green and Devin Booker to operate. Hayes-Davis wasn't brought in to try and replace Durant offensively in any way - that is literally impossible - but demanding less of the ball and being a willing 3-point shooter should make him a popular player for head coach Jordan Ott.
This team is going to have to collectively try and do what Durant could on his own, and Hayes-Davis will be an important part of that. He's not going to start any games - but if paired with the likes of rookie center Khaman Maluach - will again act as a release valve when possessions break down and the Suns need a veteran to bail them out of a broken play.
For all of the negative around the Suns last season - and all of it was deserved as they fell way short of expectations - they did manage to convert the third most 3-point attempts each night at 37.8 percent. Being elite at the most important skill in the league is going to translate to some wins, and it is clear Hayes-Davis can help in that department.
Which makes his addition on a minimum deal the smartest piece of business that the front office managed to get done. Not only because of what he will bring to the locker-room, but also with his ability to stretch the floor and enter into some intriguing two-man games with both Green and Booker. An amazing turn of events for a player who deserves another chance in the NBA.