Phoenix Suns: Who Deserves Minutes At Backup SG?

Sonny Weems

For a rebuilding team, playing the 29-year-old Sonny Weems over Goodwin and 18-year-old Devin Booker seems like a bad move, stunting the growth of two pieces that could be a part of the team’s long-term future. But for a team desperate to make it back to the playoffs, perhaps a more experienced touch is needed.

From an NBA perspective, it’d be easy to write Weems off since he hasn’t been in the league since 2011. But after spending three years overseas playing for CSKA Moscow and working to improve his three-point shooting and wing defense, there’s a good chance Weems is more prepared for playing time off the bench than anyone.

Weems was unable to show off much of the 3-and-D skill set that he brings to the table in preseason, but he was easily one of the Suns’ smartest cutters off the ball and a surprisingly adept passer, as his eight-assist game against the Denver Nuggets displayed.

His ceiling might not be as high, but he could be better prepared to help the Suns out right now. He shot 40.1 percent from downtown on 4.0 attempts per game in Euroleague and Russian league play last season after all, and he also played some backup point guard with Ronnie Price out due to illness.

Weems was nowhere near as up-and-down as Goodwin in preseason, nor was he as electrifying as Booker, but he did provide a steady hand off the bench despite only making 25 percent of his three-point attempts. He averaged a ho-hum 6.0 points and 3.8 assists per game, but also shot 46.9 percent from the floor and posted a +4.8 point differential.

He might be the least exciting option of the three, but Sonny Weems could wind up being the most consistent as well.

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