Suns Off-Season To-Do List

After reaching the 2021 NBA Finals, the Suns have a few things to address if they want to go that deep in the Playoffs again this coming season.

Like all teams in the NBA the Suns will be looking to improve over the Summer. There will be lots of difficult decisions for them to make and it all starts tonight.

The Draft

Tonight is the NBA Draft and the Suns only pick is the 29th, so the penultimate pick of the 1st round.

With the Suns in win now mode, I'd be surprised if we wake tomorrow with a rookie taken with that 29th pick. So what could James Jones look to do?

I think it's likely that Jones will trade the pick along with maybe Jalen Smith & Jevon Carter to bring in an established NBA player, maybe a backup big to help bolster the team.

To be honest though, you can never tell what Jones will do, look at 2019 for example and even last year. I thought he'd make some sort of trade, but instead he simply drafted Jalen Smith.

Free Agency

Our Own Free Agents

The following players either are or have the ability to become free agents this off season:

Chris Paul (Player Option)

Cameron Payne (Unrestricted FA)

Torrey Craig (Unrestricted FA)

Frank Kaminsky (Unrestricted FA)

E'Twaun Moore (Unrestricted FA)

Langston Galloway (Unrestricted FA)

Abdel Nader (Unrestricted FA)

Ty-Shon Alexander (Unrestricted FA)

I think it's fair to say, after seeing so much batted around in the media, that Chris Paul will opt out of his contract this Summer. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as all indications are that CP3 loves being in Phoenix, enjoys being around this team and of course it's very clear that the Suns will want him back. The rumours are that he will opt out and sign a longer term deal with the Suns at a lower salary, therefore giving them flexibility to make any changes to the roster, without being hamstrung by his large salary figure ($44 million if he doesn't opt out).

Cameron Payne has been excellent for us, however that excellence is likely to have drawn interest from other teams. I think we would be willing to give him a similar amount as what we gave Crowder and Saric last off-season, somewhere around the $8-10 million mark, but if it goes higher than that I fear we'll lose him. Maybe after the opportunity James Jones and Monty gave him, he'll give us a discount?

Torrey Craig was acquired at the trade deadline from the Bucks for cash. He played well for us, hustling on defence, grabbing offensive boards and being an overall energy guy. If we can sign him for similar money as last season, which was a minimum contract at $1.6 million, I can see him returning.

The rest of our free agents, I believe, will not be back with the team next season. Maybe we bring back 1 of either Galloway or Moore. If that does happen, I think it'd be Moore, who is able to play point guard minutes in a pinch.

The Free Agent Market

As we saw in the NBA Finals (& I spoke about it a lot throughout the season) we need an additional backup big, especially now that Dario is out maybe all next season with a torn ACL. Although we had Cam Payne playing the combo guard role, we were missing an additional playmaker, someone who can score for themselves and create for others. Someone in the mould of Jordan Clarkson or Derrick Rose, so let's have a looks at who is available this Summer.

We'll start with the big men.

JaVale McGee

I shouted about McGee before the start of last season and at the trade deadline. He would fit in with our team so well, grabbing boards, blocking shots and finishing lobs. Not only that, but he brings championship experience having, winning titles with the Warriors and Lakers. At this point in his career he's also a minimum guy, so can be picked up at a great price.

Dwight Howard

This one might be a bit out of left field, but think about how there'd be no defensive drop off from the centre position when Ayton goes to the bench. He did a great job backing up Embiid this past season, so why not come back out West and back up Ayton? Howard is on the down side of his career, but is still a very athletic guy and of course he's once again an NBA Champion.

Nerlens Noel

Another athletic, defensive centre, but one who has experience playing with Chris Paul. They were a great duo while playing in OKC together, just go and find some clips on YouTube, infact here's The Timeline's Free Agent Scouting Report on him - it's great.

Gorgui Dieng

Dieng was a name that popped up on Suns fans radar at the trade deadline, as the Grizzlies bought him out allowing him to go to whatever team he wanted. Though not the defensive presence as the rest of the guys on this list, Dieng is a legitimate 7-footer and has a sweet stroke from 3. His spacing and pick n pop ability would open up the lanes for Booker, CP3 & Payne to do damage or pass it to him for a nearly unguardable 3-point attempt.

Blake Griffin

Would Griffin and CP3 want to play together again? I don't know, but Blake became a role player with the Nets and excelled. I hated the amount of fouls he drew from flopping when the Suns played the Nets, but I know I'd love it if he was on my team. Blake would fit in well with Monty Williams' .5 offense as be can shoot out to 3, dribble and pass very well. I see him as a slightly better Dario Saric.

Now on to guards and wings.

DeMar DeRozen

This one's a long shot, but imagine this guy coming off the bench or playing the 3, with Bridges sliding over to the 4. DeRozen has been an All-Star, had deep Playoff runs and has carried a team's offense for many years. He's brilliant in the mid-range and has improved his 3-point shot in recent years.

Patty Mills

Another Spur, but I love Patty Mills. He's getting on in age now, but still has a lot left in the tank, as you see in the Olympics at the moment. Mills is a spark off the bench and is able to drain pull-up 3's like they're lay-ups.

Derrick Rose

I mentioned him in the intro to this section, but it's be awesome to see Rose in the Purple and Orange. I think we all know by now what Rose brings to a team and he deserves to be on a team that can make a deep Playoff run.

Malik Monk

I mentioned Monk last off season as a trade target. He's an athletic wing in the Kelly Oubre mould, but seems to be without the ego. My attention got drawn to him last season when he played against us and droped a 20-piece on our heads. There's a catch with Monk though, if Charlotte extend a qualifying offer, he'll be a restricted free agent and I don't think we have enough space to offer a contract that Charlotte wouldn't match.

Austin Rivers

He snubbed us once, but after being knocked out be us in the Playoffs, I think he'd like to be with us rather than against us. Rivers can come off the bench, but also fill in as a starter when needed. He's nothing special, but is a solid hand that can knock down shots and create for others. He's a terrible defender, but our overall team defense can cover for that.

Extensions

Both Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges are eligible for contract extensions this Summer. The extension doesn't have to be completed this Summer, it can wait till next year, but that's the situation that Atlanta was in this year with John Collins and they had to put up with trade rumours all year. That can't be good for team chemistry.

Before the Playoffs started it was widely thought that the team would extend Bridges this Summer after his impressive season, but give Ayton another year to prove himself. As I said that was before the Playoffs, where Ayton established himself as a top 5 centre in the NBA. Now it looks as though both guys will get their extensions this Summer and both will be wanted a max contract.

Finally I want to talk about Dario Saric. Firstly I love the guy. Loved him in Philly, so was over the moon when we were able to pry him away from the Timberwolves on draft night 2019. He had an odd year, lots of ups and downs and I thought that he may have been used in a trade to help improve the team. Now he's injured though I'm not sure what they're going to do. I'm always against trading a guy that injured himself working his arse off for the team, but with him out there is a massive hole at the position that needs filling.

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