Suns let perfect player walk to defending champs despite having open roster spot

Despite being locked into the superstar trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Phoenix Suns have still managed to have an active offseason. Not only did they stock up on two players through the NBA Draft, they also took on some intriguing talent on two-way contracts.

With Royce O'Neale, Josh Okogie and Grayson Allen all back on new contracts as well - making them trade candidates down the road - there's more flexibility in The Valley then people would have you believe. Bol Bol is even back for a second year in Phoenix, and you know he's a good time.

The Suns do have an open roster spot though, and they missed a trick not signing Lonnie Walker IV.

It flew under the radar recently, but the Suns actually opened up a roster spot despite their offseason flurry of activity, as they waived Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell. The organization either unable to trade Little to this point or simply done done trying, but this did also allow them a small bit of breathing room in the second apron they firmly occupy.

There was some chatter on who the Suns could pick up to fill this roster spot - we're big Markelle Fultz guys around here - knowing the franchise only had the veteran's minimum to try and get a deal done. The same type of contract they've used to get amazing results this summer already, convincing Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris and even Tyus Jones to sign on that type of deal.

But Walker IV would have been an excellent addition, and he's now headed to the Boston Celtics. The rich get richer and all that. It is hard to know what is worse, than Walker IV could have filled an actual need in Phoenix, or that the Celtics have demonstrated an ability to add the right players in the past to what is now a title-winning group.

If you offered every organization in the league Walker IV or the recently waived Little straight up on a minimum, there would absolutely be takers for both. With Little's contract the main reason he was waived, picking up a better defender in Walker IV who made 38.4 percent of his 3-pointers last season seems like a no-brainer.

Still only 25-years-old, there were things to like about his time split between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets across the last two seasons. That year in L.A. he started 32-of-56 games played, and it's not like he has regressed massively since then.

Is Walker IV a limited player? Absolutely, but all the Suns would needed from him was some cover across the two and three spots on the second unit. As already mentioned, Okogie's time in The Valley looks like it could come to an end, while the combination of O'Neale and Allen are going to be spread across both the starting and second units.

For a player with actual experience playing for teams with postseason ambition like the Lakers, this feels like a missed opportunity. A great situation for Walker IV though, as the Celtics have used role players extremely well in the last number of years. The Suns better have an ace up their sleeve with this roster spot, hopefully not another buyout candidate who sticks to the bench.