Suns unsurprisingly waive point guard straight out of Phoenix

In a move that came as a surprise to absolutely nobody, Shams Charania of ESPN reported prior to the weekend that the Phoenix Suns have waived Cole Anthony.

The former Orlando Magic draft pick, who came to them via the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, sent packing having never set foot in Phoenix.

Anthony was intriguing player at wrong time for Suns

Although this was a financially motivated decision, the Suns save money getting rid of Anthony both now and heading into the offseason, he was an interesting pickup in the first place.

The 25-year-old having once filled a Dillon Brooks role of sorts in Orlando, albeit in a different way, as the emotional leader of an up-and-coming group there.

Only that's not what this version of the Suns needed with Brooks in town, while he also landed at a time when their point guard depth is as good as it has been all decade.

Collin Gillespie is going to get brought back this summer if the front office gets their way, while the combination of Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea have massively exceeded expectations.

It says it all that the calf strain that has Goodwin out at the moment is part of the reason why Phoenix is struggling post All-Star break. He has become that important to the second unit.

It would have been interesting to see Anthony in Bouyea's spot for example, but he's a smaller guard less interested in defending, even if there is some sneaky explosiveness around the rim.

The time to get him was last season, when the Suns struggled through a disastrous Tyus Jones experiment and with no depth behind him to handle the ball.

With Devin Booker and Bradley Beal trying to co-exist and Jones doing his best to get his teammates going, Anthony could have changed the vibes completely.

Instead his future in the league is uncertain, although it seems harsh that this could have been his last stop in the NBA.

He would have been ideal in Phoenix, he just arrived two years too late. Anthony doesn't exactly look like a top European player either, although he may yet head overseas.

Credit the Suns' front office though, because this is the kind of forward thinking move that was lacking during the first few years of owner Mat Ishbia's time in charge.

The organization creating some financial breathing room and space on their roster by getting rid of a player they never needed in the first place.