5 Free agents who should be on Suns' summer wish list
By Will Eudy
In the Phoenix Suns' first season employing their star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, there have been plenty of ups and downs. A team touted as one of the favorites to win the Western Conference has had their fair share of struggles, yet they still find themselves with a chance to earn homecourt in the playoffs with a month left in the regular season.
In a stacked West, Phoenix has weathered the storm of injuries to hold the sixth-best record in the conference. They currently sit just three and a half games back of the Clippers for the fourth seed. Regardless of what happens for the remainder of the current season, the Suns will have their eyes set on the upcoming summer so that they can make the right moves to remain a contender next year.
Phoenix is of course set when it comes to lead scoring and playmaking wings. But there are other spots they can afford to improve in, and several players who are set to become free agents this offseason should be on the Suns' wish list.
Taurean Prince
Up until recently, Taurean Prince had been starting for the Lakers in the frontcourt all season. When LA Head Coach Darvin Ham opted to roll with Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup starting in the first week of February, it was Prince that wound up as the odd man out coming off the bench.
In the end, it is a role that has suited him and the Lakers well. Hachimura has brought more of what Ham had hoped for to the starting unit, while Prince has been able to more effectively play his role primarily against reserves.
Going forward, there is no guarantee the Lakers will want to retain Taurean. Coming over from Minnesota last summer, he is currently playing on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Since the Suns only have enough capital to hand out minimum contracts this summer, Prince is one cost-effective option they could look at for another three-and-D type contributor.