3 expectations for David Roddy and Royce O'Neale with the Suns

The Phoenix Suns took the chance to acquire two key rotation pieces during the NBA trade deadline. Although the Suns had to give up a few decent players, adding David Roddy and Royce O'Neale, two versatile wings, could play a significant role in the team's quest to contend for a title.

Phoenix parted ways with Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, Keita Bates-Diop, Jordan Goodwin, and three future second-round picks to get Roddy and O'Neale.

In their previous game against the Golden State Warriors, fans saw O'Neale play for the first time, but he wasn't very productive since it was only his first game for the team. The 6-foot-6 forward only had three points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.

However, many expect him to find his rhythm in the second half of the season. On the other hand, Roddy suited up for the first time for the Suns but registered a DNP.

Before they traded for the two forwards, the Suns had plenty of games where the team's defense was exposed by opposing teams. The team is 15the in defense and could use a bit of improvement in that regard. Adding two scrappy guys could help them improve their 2023-24 campaign.

The two additions could take time to adjust to the new system.

Learning a new system has never been easy for any player, even for All-Stars. Looking at how the Suns started the season, most players had difficulty adapting to head coach Frank Vogel's offensive sets. The beginning was sluggish as the players learned how to execute their offense.

Even until now, the team has struggled mightily and often commits a generous amount of mistakes. For this reason alone, fans shouldn't pressure the new guys to adapt to the system quickly. It will take time until everyone on the team knows how to play together smoothly.

However, that doesn't mean fans shouldn't set expectations for Roddy and O'Neale. The front office traded for them for a reason, which is to help the Suns in their playoff journey. Therefore, here are three expectations fans should have for the new guys on the team:

3. Space the floor on offense

Both Roddy and O'Neale are reliable shooters from beyond the arc. Comparing the two, the former Brooklyn Nets forward is a more confident outside threat. His offense is similar to that of former Suns forward PJ Tucker. Although he can create shots, he's a helpful offensive player when waiting for the ball behind the arc.

In his two seasons with the Nets, the 6-foot-6 forward shot 38% from beyond the arc. This season, he went almost 40% from the three for Brooklyn during the first 49 games. While he played for the Utah Jazz for five seasons, O'Neale was a lethal threat from the arc as he also shot 38%.

His consistency from beyond the arc could improve with the Suns, as they have three ball-dominant All-Stars in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.

As for Roddy, his willingness to improve from the three has been noticeable. In his first season with the Memphis Grizzlies, the 6-foot-4 forward only shot 30% from deep. There is hope, however, that with the help of playing alongside the Big 3, he can be a reliable shooter from the outside. He is willing to be a better shooter from the three. He isn't afraid to attempt shots, which is a positive sign, but it also has its disadvantages.

2. Make scrappy plays

One of the reasons why the Suns pursued a trade for both forwards is because of their enthusiasm when it comes to playing rough. Both forwards are scrappy players ready to sacrifice their bodies to win 50-50 situations.

Roddy is 6-foot-4, and despite being shorter than Devin Booker, the forward is a physical player. When pursuing the ball, the 22-year-old sophomore doesn't keep his eyes off the ball. He averages 1.1 offensive rebounds while player while playing 23 minutes off the bench. He also grabs 4.2 rebounds, showing his aggressiveness on the boards.

The other forward, meanwhile, is a smarter defender than Roddy. O'Neale is slightly taller, at 6-foot-5, but has a smaller frame. That doesn't hinder him from outperforming his matchups defensively. The Suns need players who are willing to dive for loose balls and sacrifice their bodies when the game is on the line.

Having Roddy and O'Neale on the team is like having two PJ Tuckers, which is a significant advantage.

1. Improve the team's perimeter defense

Phoenix ranks 18th in the league when it comes to perimeter defense. The Suns need to make certain improvements in that department to be an effective team in the NBA. The players they had at the start of the season weren't enough to improve their offense, which is why they traded for two tough defenders.

Roddy has a wide frame that helps him to stay in front of whoever he's defending. He's also played the power forward the majority of the time with the Grizzlies.

He's quick on his feet and has the intelligence to lock down the offensive player. Looking at what he's done with Memphis, the forward is smart when it comes to locking down ball handlers and doesn't commit a ton of unnecessary fouls.

The same thing goes for O'Neale, who's a versatile defender around the league. At his height, he can defend point guards until power forwards.

The product of Baylor University isn't afraid of any matchups and can take on bigger and more talented players than himself. He's aware of positioning himself to have a better advantage, which tends to throw off whoever he's defending. Like Roddy, he doesn't commit fouls that are not needed.

The two forwards can help address the needs that the Suns have had since the season started. As long as they reach these expectations, there's hope that Phoenix can have a deep postseason run.