Phoenix Suns: Has Brandon Knight Found A Home?

Brandon Knight was born in Miami and played his high school basketball at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was named the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year twice as well as being Florida’s Mr.Basketball both his junior and senior years.

Signs Point Towards “Yes”

Knight didn’t really thrive in the 11 games he played for the Suns. He suffered a left ankle sprain on March 9 that eventually led to shutting him down for the remainder of the season. Because of the short duration of playing time with the Suns and the fact that it came midseason after a roster shakeup, not much can be gleaned from it in regards to determining his future with the team.

There are two main signs that point towards Knight at least signing a long-term deal with the Suns, even if he doesn’t necessarily play out the entire deal in Phoenix.

1. The Suns gave up too much to get him to let him walk away.

The Suns traded rookie point guard Tyler Ennis (drafted No. 18), center Miles Plumlee (a solid rotation big) and the Lakers’ protected first-round draft pick to get Knight from the Bucks. Teams can’t trade that much for 11 games of so-so production.

That Lakers pick is the piece of the trade that pushes the cost so high (potentially) for the Suns. It is top-five protected this year and top-three protected in 2016 and 2017. The pick then becomes unprotected in 2018 if it hasn’t been conveyed yet.

With the Lakers finishing 21-61, bad enough for the fourth-lowest record, there is a 17.2 percent chance that the Lakers pick drops out of the top five and the Philadelphia 76ers get it. However, that means there is a 17.2 percent chance that the Suns traded a top-five pick for Knight.

There is also a scenario in which the Lakers win the draft, nail the pick, make the right choices in free agency, maybe make a coaching change and find themselves back in the playoff mix and the pick becomes a non-lottery or late first-round pick.

Ennis, Plumlee and a late first-rounder isn’t such a high price for Knight, but still probably high enough that it wouldn’t make sense to let him walk. That scenario is rather unlikely though.

What is most likely is that the Lakers keep their pick this year and then in 2016 or 2017 give the 76ers a mid-to-late lottery pick, similar to where Knight (No. 8) was drafted himself.

No matter what scenario eventually unfolds in regards to the Lakers pick, successful teams don’t give that much away for a rental. Whether it was the right trade to make or not, the team basically has to re-sign Knight to avoid losing him for nothing.

The only other potential outcome is a sign-and-trade, but the Suns would need to get something pretty nice in return to justify it.

Two teams have already deemed Knight expendable enough to trade, so until he puts together another run like he had with the Bucks to start the season—good enough for some to label him an All-Star game snub—it is not likely teams will be busting down the door with offers for Knight.

Dec 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. He wants to stay and it “sounds like” the Suns want him to stay.

From Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic,

"Unlike Bledsoe’s non-committal approach to free agency after last season ended, Knight expressed a desire to return to Phoenix on Wednesday when the Suns met as a team and had individual exit interviews with team brass.“If it can be quick and easy, that’s the best thing,” Knight said. “You don’t want to go through a fight or anything like that or you don’t want to drag it out as well. Definitely don’t want anything that leads up to training camp. For me, it’s just about doing what’s best for me and my family and the Suns will do the same. I’m optimistic about the situation. I like it here. I like the way I’ve been treated so far. Top-class organization. I’m looking forward to a future with the Suns.”"

Even though Bledsoe was described as being “non-committal” in a similar situation last year, he was eventually signed to a five-year, $70 million contract.

It wasn’t just Knight speaking as if he would be returning to the Suns. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said as much as well.

From Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic,

“I think we saw enough positive things in what he does, even on the side when he was hurt, trying to pay attention to everything, try to put his two cents in there,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “He’s got leadership qualities that will be great for us.”

Michael Dunlap pointed out that one of the reasons the Suns struggled this year was a lack of accountability, stemming from a lack of leadership. While a veteran player or two would be the best way to address this issue, Hornaek and Knight himself think he can be part of the solution as well.

Also from Paul Coro,

“When you start from summer and move forward, it’s definitely easier to be vocal versus coming in at Game 60 and guys already have a set rotation set,” Knight said. …You got to come and try to be a voice. That’s pretty tough. You have to pick and choose your times. When you start with the guys in the trenches, it’s easier to communicate with them because you’ve been there from the jump.”

Knight also seems like he could develop into something resembling an off-guard because of his scoring mentality and the fact that he is a more efficient and prolific 3-point shooter than Bledsoe is, or Goran Dragic ever was, for the Suns.

Whether the Suns choose to offer Knight a contract or allow another team to offer him one and then choose to match it remains to be seen. Either way, it is a good bet that he will be back with the Suns next year.

Can he bring leadership and other needed qualities (see: defense and shooting) to help the Suns make the playoffs? That is the bigger question.

Next: Phoenix Suns: Top 25 Players in Franchise History

Signs Point Towards “Yes”

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