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Phoenix Suns Should Bring Back Mirza Teletovic

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Mirza Teletovic (35) celebrates after making the game winning shot in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Mirza Teletovic (35) celebrates after making the game winning shot in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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It may cost them a pretty penny, but the Phoenix Suns should strongly consider re-signing Mirza Teletovic in free agency this summer.

Phoenix Suns
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Mirza Teletovic (35) celebrates after making the game winning shot in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

For most of the 2015-16 season, the Phoenix Suns faced a logjam at the power forward position. Between the underperforming Markieff Morris, the sharpshooting Mirza Teletovic and the surprisingly well-rounded Jon Leuer, shelling out minutes at the 4 proved to be a constant challenge for head coach Jeff Hornacek and even interim Earl Watson for a short stretch.

But even after the Markieff Morris trade alleviated the situation, Watson has since opted to go with a Twin Towers starting lineup of Alex Len and Tyson Chandler, putting a strain on how many minutes Leuer is seeing off the bench. With the way that Teletovic had been playing, why wouldn’t the Suns just insert a more traditional power forward into the starting lineup?

The simple answer is the Suns wanted Teletovic in a sixth man role, but the full answer is even better.

"“So when we traded Markieff, we needed to start someone, so in the game we had to start Jon Leuer,” Watson recalled. “In shoot-around [earlier that day], I go, ‘Ok, first five out.’ Mirza runs out on the court. “I look at Mirza and I walk up to him and pull him aside and I said, ‘Listen, are you sure you want to start?’ And Mirza’s pacing, he says, ‘Yeah yeah yeah, I want to start. What do you think?’ I said, ‘Well, if you come off the bench, you’ll get more shots.’ He said, ‘Oh…JON! [gesturing to Leuer to come out onto the court.]'”"

Related Story: Pros And Cons Of The Suns Hiring Earl Watson

That anecdote — one that made Watson laugh telling it weeks after the fact — tells you everything you need to know about Mirza Teletovic, a player the Suns will have to consider re-signing this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Next: Teletovic's 2015-16 Season

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