Phoenix Suns: 2016 Offseason Grades

The Phoenix Suns may not be a playoff team in 2016-17, but they spent their summer building for a brighter future. Here are their complete 2016 offseason grades.

Mired in a franchise-record six-year playoff drought, the Phoenix Suns entered the 2016 offseason searching for answers. Was their 2015-16 campaign simply derailed by injuries, or was the team’s core just too incompatible to be in the playoff picture?

When general manager Ryan McDonough first took the job in 2013, he tried to set the Suns on the path to rebuilding through the draft, but the surprising success of his first team — 48 wins, just shy of a playoff berth — set the franchise on the unfortunate path of rebuilding through the middle ever since.

With four picks in the 2016 NBA Draft and little to no chance of wooing the summer’s marquee free agents, McDonough’s quiet but efficient summer represents the positive change and long-term planning this organization needs to get back on the path to prominence.

Featuring an active draft night and a few subtle, nostalgic free agency signings, McDonough’s summer has given Phoenix’s fanbase reason to have faith in this team’s future once more. Here’s a look at the Phoenix Suns’ complete offseason grades for every move they made.

Next: Draft Pick No. 1

Draft Pick No. 1

From the fans to the front office, the Phoenix Suns were pretty split on whether to use the fourth overall pick on Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss. But since the Suns managed to get their hands on both, it’s safe to say McDonough nailed his first lottery pick.

A 7’1″ stretch-4 who modeled his game after fellow Croatian Toni Kukoc, Bender was known as this year’s international man of mystery, drawing unfair comparisons to Kristaps Porzingis for his outside touch, his lanky frame and his ability to defend multiple positions.

"“I guess just versatility on both ends of the floor,” Bender said when asked what he brings to the table. “Defensively just being able to switch a lot of positions on the court, and then staying in front of the guard on the perimeter.”"

Bender is a bit shorter than the 7’3″ Porzingis, but he brings a lot of the same versatility to the table. The Suns’ biggest area of need entering the draft was at the power forward spot, and taking Bender with the No. 4 pick represented the safer option between him and Chriss.

As the youngest player in the draft, the Suns have now added the youngest player in each of the last two drafts (Devin Booker in 2015).

Though Sarver is probably yearning for an imminent playoff return, Phoenix’s draft strategy of building for a brighter future was all too apparent.

A look at the stat sheet doesn’t inspire much optimism, since Bender averaged only 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game last season for Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Though Bender looked confident letting the ball fly and made some great passes at NBA Summer League, he only averaged 8.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game on dismal .275/.265/.500 shooting splits.

However, one should keep in mind that he’s only 18 years old, that youngsters typically struggle to earn real minutes overseas, and that many of his Summer League misfires were good shots that just wouldn’t fall.

The fact that Bender has been playing professionally since age 15 stands out, much like his passing and ball handling abilities do. Best of all, this youngster seems to be motivated, focused on the future and ultimately likable, which hasn’t always been a trait to describe recent Suns players.

"“[My parents] were crying and everything, but the first word they told me was to be humble about it,” Bender said of his parents’ reaction to their son being drafted. “This is just one night and this is the beginning and it’s time to prove yourself on the big stage.”"

The “Croatian Sensation” will be a work-in-progress, but he has the size, skill, versatility, shooting ability and rim protection to be a great player in this league. The fact that he doesn’t turn 19 until November only helps his case.

Will Bender help the Suns return to the playoffs in 2017? Probably not. But chasing the eighth seed should not be the goal, and by taking something of a shot in the dark over selecting a more established prospect, Phoenix further committed to an unintentional youth movement that’s rapidly gaining momentum.

Grade: A

Next: Draft Pick No. 2

Draft Pick No. 2

If Dragan Bender was the international man of mystery, Marquese Chriss represented the biggest domestic swing-for-the-fences pick. Some of the fan base questioned the Bender pick at No. 4, only because Chriss’ immense upside was still available at that point.

Luckily, McDonough was able to orchestrate one of the best trades of draft day, sending the No. 13 pick, the No. 28 pick, Bogdan Bogdanovic and a 2020 second round pick to the Sacramento Kings for the No. 8 pick, which was promptly used on Chriss.

Unlike the Boston Celtics, who saw their myriad of assets put to use on ill-fated selections, draft-and-stash prospects and not the superstar trade everyone was waiting on, the Suns were able to package their second and third picks of the draft into another mid-lottery selection to snag their other favorite player.

Chriss turned 19 years old a few weeks ago, making him the fifth youngest player in this year’s draft class. As another boom-or-bust prospect, Chriss has the raw makings of a future franchise player with one of the highest ceilings in this draft, but he also has very clear areas for improvement.

At 6’10”, 233 pounds with a 7’0″ wingspan, Chriss possesses the rare kind of athleticism that would help someone reach the NBA despite playing the sport for the first time at age 14, when he was nearly cut from his high school’s freshman team.

Chriss has terrific speed, length, leaping ability and a developing jump shot. He set a school record at Washington for blocks in a single season for a freshman, he displayed plenty of skill finishing around the basket as the roll man and in the future, he’ll have NBA three-point range.

With so much bounce in his step, Chriss also brings some positional versatility to the table, and may even be able to play the 3 or the 5 in the future.

A player with this much upside is a steal at No. 8, especially since all the Suns had to give up was the 13th pick (Georgios Papagiannis), 28th pick (Skal Labissiere), the rights to a promising Serbian shooter who won’t come over until next season, and a future second-rounder.

That being said, there’s a reason Chriss was such a polarizing prospect entering the draft: the disparity between his sky high ceiling and alarmingly low floor. It’s also worth noting just how much the Suns gave up to get them to this point.

Averaging 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season for the Huskies, Chriss’ exceedingly low rebounding numbers are worrisome. In fact, he finished with the worst defensive rebounding percentage among all big men in this year’s draft class.

In Summer League, he lived up to the part of a long-term project, but he put up awfully strong numbers at the same time: 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in three appearances.

Though Chriss only shot 33.3 percent from the floor, missed all eight of his three-point attempts and committed 3.3 turnovers per game, he also had a 15-point, 14-rebound game that showcased what he’ll be able to bring to the table when he’s at his best.

Chriss can switch well on screens because of his foot speed, but his basic defensive principles need work as well. As with any 19-year-old rookie, he’ll need to get stronger, but he’ll also really need to cut down on his fouling problem, since he committed 4.1 per game last season and 5.5 per game in Summer League.

The good news, even for a guy with an awful 26-69 assist-to-turnover ratio in college, is that he got better as the season went on. Chris has barely been playing basketball for five years, and as The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks laid out in full detail, he got better as his first collegiate season went on.

We won’t know how great this draft-day trade was until 2-5 years down the line, but between Bender and Chriss, the Suns now have two versatile, promising stretch-4s to couple with Devin Booker as the franchise’s new building blocks.

Grade: A-

Next: Draft Pick No. 3

Draft Pick No. 3

Bender and Chriss have incredible potential as high-upside picks, but perhaps one of the biggest second round value picks came at No. 34 for the Suns when they selected the 17th Kentucky guard on their roster, Tyler Ulis.

If not for his tiny frame at 5’10”, Ulis probably would’ve been an early first round selection. After averaging 17.3 points, 7.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in his junior season with the Wildcats, there might not be a more complete guard in this year’s draft.

Despite being noticeably undersized, Ulis uses a unique blend of lightning quick speed, high basketball IQ, defensive prowess and outright charisma to outwork his competition on both ends of the floor. The move also reunites former Kentucky teammates, Ulis and Devin Booker.

“I felt it had been too long since we drafted a Kentucky guard,” McDonough joked after the draft, in reference to Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Archie Goodwin ALL being former Wildcats guards.

Though Ulis had a brutal semifinal against Summer League MVP Tyus Jones in the semifinal game (11 points, four turnovers, 5-of-21 shooting), he was easily one of the best and biggest surprises of Las Vegas, earning All-NBA Summer League Second Team honors.

In six appearances, Ulis averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game — not bad for the smallest guy on the court at 5’10”. Had Booker, Bender or Chriss played in the semis, the Suns might have advanced to yet another Summer League title game despite Ulis’ off night.

Though Ulis will need to work on his perimeter shooting (5-for-16 from three-point range overall), he rarely turned it over and finished with a 38-11 assist-to-turnover ratio. He had a pair of games with five or more steals, a 20-point outing in a win over the Miami Heat and a deep game-winning three-pointer to beat the Denver Nuggets at the buzzer in overtime.

Ulis is an excellent ball handler, possesses exceptional court vision, can knock down threes, enjoys harassing opponents on the defensive end and makes up for the size disadvantage by outsmarting his man.

For a team like the Suns that needs a backup point guard, Ulis is an exceptional value pick and second round flyer.

What this means for unrestricted free agent Ronnie Price remains to be seen, since having his veteran poise and experience would be useful on this Suns team, especially to mentor Ulis. But even if Price leaves, adding Tyler Ulis represents the cherry on top of the Sunsdae (get it?) of this year’s draft.

Grade: A-

Next: The Return Of J-Dudz

The Return Of J-Dudz

With a roster full of young players, two point guards whose 2015-16 seasons were ended by injury and a couple of aging veterans, the Phoenix Suns’ addition of a fan favorite like Jared Dudley would be easy to misconstrue as a PR stunt to sell a few extra tickets.

On paper, signing a 30-year-old stretch-4 to a three-year, $30 million contract is an odd way to go about accomplishing those goals, but make no mistake about it: Jared Dudley and these young Suns are as ideally suited for each other now as they’ve ever been.

"“What I told [the Suns] was there’s no one more perfect for this job,” he said. “You could find a better basketball player at the power forward position, you could even have an All-Star, but you’re still gonna need guys to groom these young guys. “We all were on the same page where my contract is not just for what I do on the floor; it has to do with the locker room, weight room, training room and helping show these guys how to be a pro.”"

As a mentor, terrific teammate and model stretch-4, Dudley will set a great example for Bender and Chriss as they begin their NBA careers. Dudley wasn’t just brought in to babysit, however.

Coming off a season in which he played 81 games for the Wizards and shot 42 percent from three-point range, Dudley will serve a tangible purpose on the court as well.

His presence saves Bender and Chriss from a trial by fire from day one, easing the pressure that might have been laid on two unprepared teenagers who figure to be projects more than immediate contributors.

"“People don’t understand, there was a reason why this franchise at one point, even when I wasn’t even here, was one of the best franchises, with Nash and all of them,” Dudley said. “It has all the ingredients, it’s just you’ve got to draft correct and they’ve got three good picks here. “Now it’s my job and the coaching staff’s to develop them and take this franchise back to what it once was.”"

Grade: A-

Next: Bringing Back The Brazilian Blur

Bringing Back The Brazilian Blur

When the Suns agreed to sign Dudley, it was seen as a commitment to providing the team’s young core with a positive veteran influence, landing a capable starting power forward and giving in to the youth movement as the bigger name free agents were never really in play.

With Phoenix set to bring home Leandro Barbosa on a two-year, $8 million contract, McDonough seems to be all in on a youth movement accompanied by nostalgic, feel-good signings of former fan favorites.

Coming off what should’ve been a second straight championship season with the Golden State Warriors, the 33-year-old Barbosa averaged 6.4 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the floor and 35.5 percent shooting from three-point range for a 73-win team.

In the 2016 NBA Finals, Barbosa was one of the Dubs’ most reliable bench contributors, averaging 8.2 points in just 13.2 minutes per game while shooting 18-for-28 from the field (64.3 percent) and 5-for-10 from three-point range.

Though he’s not quite as speedy as he once was during his prime years with the Suns, he could still be a useful reserve for an inexperienced Phoenix team as someone who can play spot minutes, knock down a few threes and entertain the crowd with a throwback burst of speed every now and then.

In what will be Barbosa’s third stint with the Suns, the Blur is returning to a franchise where he enjoyed his best individual years despite not winning a championship until joining the Warriors.

In eight seasons in Phoenix — including the first seven of his career — Barbosa averaged 12.4 points per game on .467/.396/.827 shooting splits. He quickly became a fan favorite, delighting the crowd with his speed attacking the basket, which was always accompanied by his patented hunched over dribbling stance.

Like Dudley, Barbosa is hardly the kind of sexy free agency signing that will get Phoenix back to the playoffs, but the move is encouraging because it reaffirms the front office’s commitment to the full-scale rebuild this franchise has needed since McDonough first took over in 2013.

His mentorship for the younger players will aid Phoenix’s rebuilding process, though his fit on a roster already stacked with guards is a bit questionable with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, Archie Goodwin, Tyler Ulis and John Jenkins all on the books.

Grade: B-

Next: Overall

Overall

Heading into the draft, the Phoenix Suns needed help at the power forward spot, they needed to cut down on the four draft picks they owned, but most of all, they needed to commit to the emerging youth movement centered around Devin Booker.

By using two top-eight selections on perhaps the draft’s biggest boom-or-bust candidates, by trading two of their four picks to move up to No. 8, and by selecting two stretch-4s, the Suns checked off every box.

In fact, with the selections of Bender and Chriss, the Suns may have found the perfect yin and yang to complement each other. Bender is a terrific defender, skilled player and more well-rounded shooter; Chriss is a high-flyer who will rely on his quickness and athleticism to begin his NBA career.

They are only 18 and 19 years old, both project as versatile players who can play multiple positions, and both will be stretch-4s who can learn from the returning Jared Dudley.

While McDonough wouldn’t fully commit to changing his strategy to revolve around youth, it seems hard to believe that drafting two teenage power forwards is the path back to the playoffs in 2017.

"“We didn’t want to be too young,” McDonough said. “I think people look at our team and the 23-and-under crowd and we have five or six guys in that group now, but we wanted some veteran leadership, we wanted some experience. We expect to be a lot more competitive next year than people outside of our organization feel.”"

With that in mind, bringing aboard Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa won’t help Phoenix bump up their win total, nor will it resonate around the league in a summer filled with blockbuster trades and marquee free agency signings.

More hoops habit: Denver Nuggets: 2016 Offseason Grades

But even if the Suns fruitlessly chase the eighth seed next season rather than bottom out for another high draft pick in a loaded 2017 NBA Draft class, they’ve set themselves on the right course for a proper rebuild between Booker, Bender, Chriss, Ulis, T.J. Warren and Alex Len.

Grade: A-