The Phoenix Suns return from the All-Star break eleven games over .500 and with two superstars in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker who are hitting their stride. Both appeared in the midseason exhibition, while Bradley Beal is expected back from the hamstring issue suffered just before the break soon as well.
On the other end of the scale, there are several Suns players who are fighting for their spots in this rotation as the postseason begins to loom on the horizon. Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks serving as an ideal opportunity for some of these guys to stake their claim for a bigger role going forward.
It won't be easy for them however, as the Suns' newest recruit is in line to make his debut for the franchise on that night as well.
The player in question is Thaddeus Young - who last played for the Toronto Raptors and who has yet to clear waivers and officially sign with the team - but who it is known is going to sign with the organization when he is able to. At 35-years-old, Young will arrive with the intention of forcing his way into the playoff rotation under head coach Frank Vogel.
Per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Young could be with the Suns as soon as Tuesday, and should in theory be available to then face the Mavericks. A team who - as a result of the past chatter between Booker and Luka Doncic - have become perhaps the Suns' biggest rival in the NBA right now. Certainly the main rival of this version of the Suns' roster anyway.
Welcome to Phoenix, Thaddeus Young. pic.twitter.com/X1EihusMIe
— Ant (@ant2shiifty) February 13, 2024
If Young wants to make a strong impression for his new team, then showing out against the Mavericks would be a great way to so do. They made a couple of moves themselves at the trade deadline, but the Suns also bolstered their roster by going out and getting Royce O'Neale and David Roddy. O'Neale looks like an ideal fit in The Valley, while Roddy has only appeared once so far.
So the arrival of Young should help the frontcourt rotation, especially with Chimezie Metu having been moved in the O'Neale deal, and both Drew Eubanks and Udoka Azubuike limited in what they can do on the court. Young gives the Suns another look, because he's not quite a traditional big - although he can spend some minutes at the five - and is instead a bruising forward.
It may be that Young can give Durant some extra rest once Beal is back by playing alongside those two, but the smart bet is on Young and Durant playing together as the Suns go smaller against some teams. Young has never been one to stretch the floor - he's right around 33 percent from deep throughout his 17-year career - but he is going to make more than Eubanks or Azubuike.
What he can do is offer help on the defensive end and a veteran desire to try and win what would be his first championship. Young has also started 33 of the 57 playoff games he has appeared in, and Suns fans would be much more comfortable with him on the court when it really matters compared to the likes of Eubanks or Bol Bol. A solid pickup by the organization from the buyout market.