The Phoenix Suns hope to improve on last season's 45 wins and surprise playoff appearance when training camp opens soon, and they need to promote two players while leaving another pair on the bench to make that happen. Let's break it down.
Collin Gillespie - Bigger Role
The Suns rewarded two years of blood, sweat, and tears from point guard Collin Gillespie with a four-year, $48 million extension this offseason. It was more than deserved. Unfortunately for the former Villanova standout, it will not lead to him starting for this group.
Everyone can see that Devin Booker and Jalen Green cannot coexist in the backcourt, which is why Gillespie must be considered for a bigger role. If not as a starter, then as a closer alongside Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges.
Defensively, Gillespie gives up some size and can be picked on, but there is no doubt the Suns are at their best when he is running the show and allowing Booker to get off the ball more to pile up points.
Ryan Dunn - Garbage Time
Mark Williams' injury gave Ryan Dunn one final lifeline to save his career, but the reality is the roster has outgrown whatever potential he still has. The Suns now have Bridges, Brooks, Oso Ighodaro, Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, incoming rookie Koa Peat, and even Duop Reath all competing for minutes across the frontcourt.
Dunn doesn't factor into the equation at all. He is nowhere near consistent enough as a 3-point threat to sneak into lineups as a long, defensive-minded guard/wing hybrid. The Suns already have Jordan Goodwin for that unique role, and the numbers have already proven he is exceptional at it. Garbage time is the only occasion Dunn should be touching the court while the Suns are trying to win games.
Oso Ighodaro - Bigger Role
With Williams on the treatment table and Reath a third-string center, the time is now for Ighodaro to earn his biggest role to date in Phoenix. Let him start games as both a four or five, depending on the matchup, running the offense through him for small periods of the game.
The Suns simply don't have another springy and athletic forward like him who does all of the little things to help the offense get the looks they want.
Maluach is only 20 years old and not ready for prime time just yet, and the organization does not have another player who can do what Ighodaro does and who looks comfortable taking on more responsibility. The most important player on this list.
Jamaree Bouyea - Garbage Time
It is actually a positive that Jamaree Bouyea is being featured here because it shows the sneaky depth that the Suns have. He was impressive in spots last season but currently finds himself behind Gillespie and Goodwin on the depth chart.
That duo is also stuck behind Green (and, to a lesser extent, Booker), while Pat Spencer is also in the mix. Bouyea playing garbage time means that the roster is healthy, while Gillespie and Goodwin are simply better than he is and were both rewarded with extensions this summer.
This is a tough break for Bouyea (Phoenix is where he looks to have found a home in the league as an actual contributor), but he will have to make do with garbage time moving forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google