If there is one area the Phoenix Suns struggled mightily last season, it was with the lack of an established point guard on the roster. The departure of Chris Paul never properly rectified, with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal never truly clicking as dual ball-handlers on any given night.
Credit to Booker - he managed a career high 6.9 dimes per game - but the inability of Beal to stay healthy early in the campaign ruined the potential for the duo to create some chemistry. He was limited to 53 regular season games, and even when he was back out there, not having a point guard to run plays and get the Suns into their sets was a massive miss.
With free agency chugging along nicely, the organization have finally addressed this glaring issue with the additional of Monte Morris.
Morris was last seen playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first round sweep of the Suns in the playoffs. The news was broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic, although it is unclear at this moment what the figure and number of years will be. Armed with only the veteran's minimium to attract free agents, it is most likely going to be that.
Free agent guard Monte Morris plans to sign a deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns lock in a reliable point guard entering his eighth NBA season. Morris has averaged 10 points, 39% 3-point shooting and 3.8 assists over career. pic.twitter.com/d1AUNCYIKm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2024
Morris came over to the Timberwolves from the Detroit Pistons at the deadline - and although he wasn't really a factor in the postseason success in Minnesota - he didn't look completely out of his depth either. Now 29-years-old, the veteran leadership qualities he will bring to this roster will be needed right away.
This is why the Suns didn't go after a point guard at the NBA Draft - and although there were perhaps other options they should have pushed for - Morris is a fine addition on very little money. He may not start of finish games next season, but that's not the point. New head coach Mike Budenholzer needs somebody who can run some plays, and Morris fits the bill.
It is also highly likely that Beal is going to miss time again through injury moving forward, and the Suns now have a player in Morris who can fill in much more capably. Last season everybody from Jordan Goodwin to Isaiah Thomas was pegged as a solution, but all that served to highlight was how far the Suns were away from contention because of their lack of established point guard.
Morris goes some way to fixing this, and the 42.4 percent he shot from deep with the Timberwolves is a nice bonus. With Eric Gordon heading for pastures new, the franchise needed a known commodity to come in and take those minutes in the rotation. Morris isn't nearly the defender Gordon is but that doesn't matter. They have their floor general, and are moving in the right direction.