PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns’ 2024 offseason has been typically well-received, together with the minimal contract deal housebreaking Tyus Jones, however there may be nonetheless motive to be skeptical merely due to the restricted flexibility the franchise is hampered with by the second apron.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes felt that crucial factor delicate level The offseason was marked by a continued over-reliance on low-cost veteran expertise.
One of many classes we must always have discovered from the Suns’ 2023 offseason was that value-for-money minimal signings typically look slightly worse as soon as they’re thrust into roles past their capabilities.
Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Keita Bates-Diop and Yuta Watanabe all appeared like bargains final summer season, however Gordon was the one one who performed vital minutes — and he was overloaded with 27.8 minutes per recreation throughout his age-35 season.
Along with Jones, the Suns signed Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris and re-signed Bol Bol for the minimal value this time round. Jones is an outlier, however the different three may play larger roles than on most different groups.
– Hughes on skepticism of Suns’ choices
Whereas that sentiment is legitimate after final season’s debacle, the context round this technology of gamers on “minimal” contracts is far completely different.
Final season was marked by a lot of high-risk, high-reward signings. Sadly, solely a type of dangers turned out to be fairly worthwhile: Gordon is now gone.
Suns administration corrected a lot of final summer season’s mistake by specializing in confirmed commodities that naturally carried much less threat.
Plumlee is not the athlete he as soon as was, however he is extra constant than Drew Eubanks in key classes like rebounding. If he does not show himself, he may additionally play rookie Oso Ighodaro, it is that straightforward.
Bol had a restricted profession final season, however he proved to be a strong three-point shooter and backup defender whereas mitigating among the errors he made in his first few seasons within the league. He will also be anticipated to indicate additional progress in a extra modernized NBA offense whereas being surrounded by higher gamers on that finish.
Morris is considerably forgotten within the grand scheme of issues. As soon as thought-about among the finest, if not the very best, backup level guard within the league, he fell out of favor after a tough 2023-24 season. He ought to completely not be discounted in Phoenix if he returns to full power after a number of damage scares.
It stays to be seen how these gamers will carry out over the course of the season, however there are clear indicators that recommend extra optimism for this marketing campaign.
