Suns' dream offseason addition is still sitting there for them to sign
By Luke Duffy
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Considering the difficult space the Phoenix Suns' front office was operating in this offseason, they have done a nice job of replenishing their roster. Two players came via the draft, with a third in Jalen Bridges signed after nobody picked him out of Baylor.
On top of that, the organization found a capable point guard in Monte Williams, and a backup big in Mason Plumlee who more than makes up for the departure of Drew Eubanks. Each of these nice pieces of business in their own right, not to mention Bol Bol coming back on another one year deal.
Yet a week into free agency and Kyle Lowry is still sitting there, and the Suns should be enquiring about his services ASAP.
Lowry last played for the Phiadelphia 76ers, although their own successful offseason appears to mean he is surplus to requirements there. Now 38-years-old, the former NBA Champion certainly wouldn't start in The Valley, but he could do a discount version of what Chris Paul once did for the franchise.
Namely come off the bench and share some minutes with Morris - who for all the positives he will bring to the Suns - has bounced around the league some at this point. The Suns wouldn't even need to play Lowry more than 10 minutes a game during the regular season, instead saving his legs for what it is hoped will be an extended playoff push in 2024-25.
Best Free Agents currently :
— HawksMuse (@MuseHawk) July 9, 2024
Tyus Jones
Markelle Fultz
Gary Trent Jr.
Isaac Okoro
Lonnie Walker IV
Luke Kennard
Precious Achiuwa
Kyle Lowry
Saddiq Bey
Spencer Dinwiddie
Gordon Hayward
Josh Okogie
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Dennis Smith Jr.
Paul Reed
There's no doubt at this point he could be gotten for the minimum - and even though a guy like Markelle Fultz would be a much better get - realistically that is just not going to happen. Much more likely is a player like Lowry, in the twilight of his career, identifying this as one of his final opportunities to get a second ring.
As recently as last season he was giving the 76ers 4.6 assists per game, which for some context would have been the third highest on this Suns team behind their "Big 3" of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. That would appear to be the main problem here, that there is nobody else to tee these three guys up when the game slows down.
Again Morris has been brought in to do this - and he'll do a fine job - but Lowry has been in deep waters before. Even having him in the locker-room to mentor both Morris and the recently added Collin Gillespie makes a ton of sense.
Defensively he's as slow as ever, but really head coach Mike Budenholzer is a more offensive-minded coach who is going to build a team around the high-powered scorers at his disposal. If Lowry could come off the bench and set the table - which we all know he could - then this would be a valuable addition.
Next. Suns gifted perfect big man target after fellow contender is forced to waive. Suns gifted perfect big man target after fellow contender is forced to waive. dark
It is also highly likely that Beal misses time through injury next season - that's just who he is now - and expecting Morris to come in and take up all of those minutes is a massive risk. Better to have Lowry, as well as Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale for that matter, to split the time between them.
The Suns should be looking to get this deal ASAP, and bring in an experienced point guard for the back end of their roster. It was their most glaring need last season, and it was exposed badly in the postseason. At little cost to the organization they can bring in a player who still has a little bit left in the tank, and who like the Suns is in pursuit of a championship.