Does barely used Suns role player have elite talent?

There's no doubt the Phoenix Suns have improved their roster heading into the 2024-25 season. The introduction of an actual point guard in Tyus Jones alone enough for enthusiasm. Bringing in Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee is just the icing on the cake for the front office.

This team will only ever go as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant - and depending on your point of view Bradley Beal - can take them, but there's no doubt having a deeper bench will matter during the regular season. Even individuals such as Josh Okogie will play their part once the season gets underway.

Yet according to Ralph Sampson, the Suns have "elite talent" elsewhere on their eoster.

Sampson spoke with Dana Scott of the Arizona Republic recently, and while also believing that there's no such thing as traditional positions on the court anymore (try telling that to the point guard-less Suns last time out), his attentions were drawn to second year Suns player, Bol Bol. An individual he shares similarities with in terms of build, something that is not said often.

"But Bol Bol is an elite talent. I played with Bol Bol’s father, Manute, and he didn’t have the same talent that his son has. He can change the game if he wants to, but he’s gotta want to get it done, and you gotta have that grit."

That's high praise from Sampson, and it may be tinged with the fact he both played with Bol's father, was an assistant coach in Phoenix during the 2012-13 season and shares a similar frame to the player. It is also nice to see somebody who had some success in the league - but much more at the collegiate level - have nice things to say about Bol.

Where Sampson may have gotten off track is in how he compared Bol to Victor Wembanyama, something that others such as Shaquille O'Neal have also done in the past. That's a lazy comparison to make, and it needs to stop now. Bol is never going to get close to Wembanyama's ceiling, and he's not yet an elite talent either.

The Suns must think the big man who is not a center has something though, and bringing him back to The Valley made sense for both parties. But as we have already discussed, it is unlikely at this stage that Bol even cracks the second unit. Bol will be 25-years-old soon after the regular season begins, and that makes it even less likely this elite talent lurking beneath is ever exposed.

What the Suns can hope to get from Bol is a guy who might as well be thought of as a wing player who can't defend. He can shoot the 3-pointer at an above average rate, and his length alone gives lesser talented offensive weapons nightmares. If head coach Mike Budenholzer can somehow put that with a group he hopes are above average on both ends of the court, the Suns will have something.

"You gotta find your niche and you gotta make it to the basket, you gotta score. And that’s what the learning development of the game should be. It’s gonna take some years to do that, but if they can do it and put the work in, they’ll be really good".

Bol has managed less than a free-throw attempt per game throughout his career to date, so Sampson might actually be onto something here. He's actually got really nice handles given his size and gangly frame, but taking on the responsibility to drive to the basket when you're teammates with Booker, Beal and now Jones is always going to be a hard sell.

Combine that with just over three rebounds per game throughout his career, and it's like Bol never truly gets involved in the paint on either end, preferring to try and have an impact on the wings. If he can become that bit more aggressive - and be willing to take some more contact inside - Sampson could ultimately be proven right here. He'll probably never be elite, but he can help the Suns.