Grading the Phoenix Suns' starting five at the halfway point of the season

Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen has been the real success story of the Suns' season so far. He leads the league in 3-point shooting percentage at a career high 48 percent, and recently made an absurd nine in that aforementioned win over the Kings. Better again, Allen was knocking these shots down when none of his superstar teammates had it going.

He was hardly a throw-in as part of the Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic deal - coming over from the Milwaukee Bucks in that three-team trade - but nobody saw this coming from the player. He's started every game he's played in for the Suns so far this season, and the truth is there are times they would have been lost without his production.

So good has Allen been, that the Suns may now be priced out of bringing him back beyond this season. He is an unrestricted free agent, and although the organization have his Bird Rights, they would be doing well to get him at a figure per season that also fits within their already maxed out cap sheet.

It goes beyond the shooting with Allen though, and although that is by far his greatest asset, crucially he is not a black hole on the defensive end. The Suns can afford to have him out there in big moments because he pulls his weight, and almost always knocks down the open shot when presented with the opportunity. The Suns' third best player, he is the only one to receive an A grade as well.

First Half Grade: A+