Suns strike to steal G League championship winner

The Phoenix Suns clearly believed they didn't have the depth to be serious contenders last season, and have gone into over-correction mode this offseason to make sure that doesn't happen again. Not only do they now have a point guard in Tyus Jones, they also have a backup in Monte Morris who may not even get regular game time.

With injuries unfortunately a part of the game and Bradley Beal limited to just 53 games last season - not to mention the fact Kevin Durant is soon to be 36-years-old - the Suns clearly feel like they can never have too many options. Great and all as Devin Booker is, he alone is nowhere near enough to contend in the Western Conference.

So the franchise have gone and gotten another guard.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Suns have to an exhibit 10 contract with guard Jaden Shackelford, who previously helped the OKC Blue win the G League Championship. Shackelford becomes the second player the organization have signed to this kind of deal in quick succession, with Mamadi Diakite also brought in recently.

The crux of these contracts is that they're minimum deals, but can be convered to two-way contracts. This has to be done before the start of the season, and this is surely the avenue the Suns are going to take with Shackelford. Whereas the Suns went and got Jones, Morris, Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington to handle the ball, Shackelford is more of a scorer.

This was seen in the G League by the 13.5 points he averaged with the Blue last season, while he is an above average 3-point shooter. Owner Mat Ishbia and the front office clearly taking an "he's better to have in our camp than yours" attitude to filling out their G League roster. With some guys who have tasted the league already there, guys like Shakelford certainly bring an element of hunger.

Really though it is hard to see where he - or any player from the G League - are going to be able to force their way onto the full roster. Shakelford is surely behind Jalen Bridges, the undrafted rookie from this year's draft class that the organization were quick to pounce on. Actual picks Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro will be looking to make some noise too.

This feels like the Suns knew they had limitations that guard position once Beal went out, and are now trying to put in place a Plan B, C and D to ensure that doesn't happen again. The history of draft picks and identifying talent might not be great in the last decade in Phoenix, but there's no harm in getting Shackelford.

Coming at this from another angle and this is the first season that the Valley Suns will be appearing in the G League. Considering Bronny James was being talked about as a young player with a known name to prop up the second-string squad, having a proven scorer in that league who could make the step up to the NBA from time-to-time again feels like a smart - albeit small - piece of business.