Suns guard catches strays in ridiculous Hoopshype list

There's no doubt that the Phoenix Suns somehow managing to sign point guard Tyus Jones to a minimum contract was one of the signings of the offseason. An organization stuck in the second apron, somehow able to sign a player who was at one point the best backup in the league at his position.

Jones also demonstrated an ability to start games last season as well, averaging 12 points and over seven assists in 66 games (all starts) for the Washington Wizards. Interestingly, Jones himself has already stated that he expects to be given the opportunity to start, and it will be fascinating to see what that means for a player like Bradley Beal.

The good vibes stop there for Jones and the Suns though, as Hoopshype don't happen to think he's actually all that good.

In fact they don't believe Jones is among the 30 best point guards in the league ahead of next season. Really? Before looking at some of the ridiculous players who managed to squeeze by him, let's first start by pointing out that the top player on their list - Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks - perhaps isn't even a point guard at all.

Yes he has the ball in his hands most of the time - and he can do some truly incredible things when it's in his possession - but do you think of him as a floor general in the traditional sense? That's just one reason why Jones was left off, and it is not a good one. By that logic should Nikola Jokic be lurking in here as well?

It would be ridiculous to try and argue Jones is top 15 - even top 20 - so we're not going to. Great as he is at getting a team into their sets offensively and not panicking under pressure, he's still and undersized guard who is better suited to coming off the bench in bursts.

But can we really say Marcus Smart of the Memphis Grizzlies (number 26 on the list), should be above Jones after the 2023-24 season? There was rumored to be interest in the Grizzlies bringing Jones back to the place where he made his name prior to signing with the Suns, which should tell you all you need to know. Smart has been by far the better player, but he's also regressed considerably.

Similarly Mike Conley Jr. at number 27 is also at least a conversation. A fantastic player in his day, he'll be 37-years-old by the time the next regular season starts. His value to the Minnesota Timberwolves is similar to what Jones will bring to the Suns. Namely order and a chance to run the show when the game slows down.

Not only is Jones considerably younger at 28, he also managed more points and rebounds than Conley (11.4 points and 5.9 assists) could muster last season. Below that again is Terry Rozier III at 28, and Scoot Henderson at 29. Beginning with the latter, and Henderson is absolutely going to be a fine player in the league for a long time.

But his rookie season was rough, and at this moment if you needed one of him or Jones to close out a playoff game for you, you'd take the experience of Jones. Given the chance the Suns would likely rather Henderson because he's a long-term fit, but to win in their self-appointed two-year window, it's got to be Jones.

Rozier III is most definitely a better scorer than Jones, and the Suns would probably take Rozier III if given a choice between the two, except for one key fact. Although the Miami Heat thought they were getting a real one when they managed to add him last season, a neck injury prevented him from making much of an impact.

He's reportedly healthy and ready to go ahead of next season, but that's an added risk that Jones doesn't have right now. Plus Rozier III is more of a high volume scorer despite the point guard tag, something the Suns definitely do not need to balance out their starting five.

Really to see a guy who averaged the ninth most assists in the entire league last season - while playing in Washington no less - not make this list is criminal. When you talk about the term "point guard", there aren't many who fill that role as perfectly as Jones. He's going to make some people look very silly for leaving him off this list next season.