While it’s always tough to glean anything meaningful out of NBA preseason play, it remains abundantly clear that the Phoenix Suns’ lack of depth at the point guard position is an issue the franchise needs to address.
Instead of building up that need during the offseason via trade, the Suns dealt for Charlotte Hornets power forward Miles Bridges—a lateral move that, for many pundits, was the least popular of the entire offseason. After that deal was finalized, the Portland Trail Blazers opted to add yet another point guard to their roster by trading for former Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant.
Morant has had more than his fair share of off-court antics throughout his young career, but he was near the top of the list of NBA players in need of a change of scenery. At least early in the preseason, we’re seeing flashes of the old Ja. The Suns could have potentially used a piece like that.
Suns could have benefited from a high-reward piece like Ja Morant
While the Suns undoubtedly needed to shore up the frontcourt and address their defensive rebounding woes from a season ago, the Bridges trade left a lot to be desired. Unlike Morant, Bridges has never made an All-Star team in his career. Phoenix also gave up two solid role players—Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale—in the trade, along with an unprotected first-round draft pick, to get him.
By contrast, Portland only had to give up Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to take Morant off Memphis’ hands. The Trail Blazers even got cash considerations in the deal.
The buy-low upside was worth it for Portland’s brass despite the fact that the Trail Blazers now have a loaded backcourt with Morant joining a healthy Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday.
The Suns re-signed breakout point guard Collin Gillespie this offseason, but their point guard depth outside of him remains former two-way player Jamaree Bouyea and 30-year-old veteran Pat Spencer, who was signed to a two-way contract this offseason. Bouyea has been getting plenty of run in preseason, but as our Luke Duffy wrote, head coach Jordan Ott may be giving him too much leash.
Bouyea’s stats have looked pretty solid at a glance. He scored 15 points, dished out eight assists, and added four rebounds in an Oct. 14 preseason loss against the San Antonio Spurs, and also scored 12 points off the bench in an Oct. 16 loss against the Utah Jazz. But where his impact really leaves fans wanting is in the plus/minus department. In five preseason games thus far, Bouyea’s collective box plus/minus is a paltry -52. In other words, the Suns have been outscored by 52 points when Bouyea plays. His box plus/minus has been negative in all five games.
That’s certainly due in part to the supporting cast around him during these preseason contests. The Suns are playing young guys and getting their conditioning up to snuff, but it doesn’t reflect well on Bouyea regardless.
Morant has been heating up for Portland
Meanwhile, in an Oct. 16 preseason loss against the Golden State Warriors, Morant showed why he was an All-Star-caliber player in the past. He scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting while splashing all three of his 3-point attempts, dishing out three assists and adding three rebounds. He did, however, finish with four turnovers and four personal fouls—so there’s still plenty to clean up.
But assuming Morant uses the trade to Portland as a means to hit the reset button and show a new fan base why he should still be considered among the best guards in the game, that deal should pay off handsomely for a Trail Blazers team that could finish ahead of the Suns in the standings once again.
Maybe the Suns can give Portland's front office a call when their backcourt logjam gets even more convoluted when Shaedon Sharpe returns from injury. As it stands, though, Phoenix clearly could have benefited from targeting a capable point guard instead of pushing all their chips in for Bridges.
Time will tell which Western Conference squad is better positioned when the playoffs roll around.
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