Yuta Watanabe
Suns fans were excited to see Yuta Watanabe join the team over the summer. In his lone season with the Brooklyn Nets, he became a fan favorite as he was a knockdown shooter from the three. Watanabe shot 44.4 percent from beyond the arc on 2.3 attempts a game.
However, with the Suns, he hasn't been a threat from deep. The Japanese star is making 31.5 percent of his shots from long range. What's concerning is that he has more attempts this season, with 2.9.
At the beginning of the season, Watanabe had ample playing time, averaging 19 minutes in his first ten games. He started missing games due to injury and has never been the same. Players like Keita Bates-Diop and Eric Gordon have stepped up, earning more minutes in the rotation.
While the Suns continue to experiment w/ role players, I say give Yuta Watanabe another shot.
— Zona (@AZSportsZone) January 22, 2024
The entire thought process behind his addition was the clean looks he'd get playing alongside the Big 3.
He has struggled this season, but it's been in such limited minutes in odd… pic.twitter.com/UhXIdlEy9y
Rumors have started to spiral that the Suns are going after a versatile wing this season. With that, Watanabe's stint with the team might be over soon. He hasn't played well, which could be a factor in his diminished value in the trade market. But if Phoenix convinces other teams that the forward can still be a significant factor in any system, they could get a valuable return package.
It would be painful to watch him leave. However, if trading Watanabe could give them a consistent shooter and veteran like Malik Beasley, the Suns should take the shot.