Suns fans must trust Jordan Ott to do something Mike Budenholzer refused

The Phoenix Suns may have made some massive roster changes this offseason, but just as important was their willingness to finally hire a head coach who they hope can grow with the organization. That would be Jordan Ott, previously an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers and who arrives with an excellent reputation.

Ott is going to have his work cut out in trying to make sense of a roster that has question marks at the center position and starter calibre point guard, but it is also an exciting puzzle to try and put together. It is also why the front office has smartly avoided a veteran like Russell Westbrook to this point - as well as Chris Paul if you believe the rumors - so that Ott's voice can be the loudest in the room.

Ott is going to lean on bench in ways Mike Budenholzer never did.

One of the more encouraging elements of Ott's tenure in The Valley is going to be using his bench and role players more frequently. Something which we never really saw either from previous leading man Mike Budenholzer or Frank Vogel prior to that. Both were tasked with winning a championship, and neither was provided with the depth to try and do so.

Instead they had to ride Devin Booker and Kevin Durant into the ground, plus Bradley Beal whenever he was healthy. But with the Suns now having three rookies in Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea and Rasheer Fleming, Ott is going to give each of them a chance to impress. We never would have seen this from coach Budenholzer, and it makes the loss of one role player in particular a painful one.

Bol Bol is now gone from Phoenix, but coach Ott is exactly the kind of guy he could have gotten a proper chance player for if he was still on the roster. Instead it is 18-year-old South Sudanese compatriot Maluach who could even start for the franchise if he hits the ground running, although the prospect of that actually happening right now appears low.

This is also welcome news for Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, who both got a look in under coach Budenholzer but only after it was clear the season was going sideways. Dunn did begin the season on a tear, but cooled off considerably with injury derailing his progress. They too are going to get their chance, both because that's what the Suns are now trying to do and because Ott will use his bench.

So although the losses are going to come thick and fast next season, fans in The Valley can at least be content in knowing coach Ott is going to give everybody a chance to impress. Collin Gillespie is now the backup point guard, and if that isn't a sign that the bench and what modest depth they've put together is going to be used frequently, then nothing is. A positive change.