Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From The Lost 2015-16 Season

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Apr 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Mirza Teletovic (35) drives the ball against the Utah Jazz at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Teletovic Is Interested In Returning

I’ve already covered why the Suns should bring back Mirza Teletovic in depth, but here’s a quick crash course: Whether Phoenix blows the roster up and commits to youth or banks on a healthier roster competing for a playoff spot, Teletovic is the kind of player who can help either situation.

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On a young team, he’d be a veteran presence providing regular entertainment for the fans who’d have a hard time deriving any joy from the growing pains that’d come with a full-scale rebuild.

On team with playoff aspirations, Teletovic’s skills as a sixth man speak for themselves after he just set the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single season among bench players at 179, bypassing Chuck Person‘s prior record by 14.

A season ago, Teletovic was fighting for his life because of blood clots in his lungs. A year later, he’s coming off a career season in which he averaged 12.2 points per game on 39.3 percent shooting from three-point range. Under Watson, Teletovic’s itchy trigger finger was embraced and he was given the perpetual green light.

It’s no wonder, then, that Teletovic is open to returning to Phoenix, with a heavy emphasis placed on Watson earning the full head coaching gig.

"“Very interested, very interested,” Teletovic said when asked if he’d consider re-signing with the Suns. “For me to come back, it’s keeping the same coaching idea. I think Earl [Watson] set an unbelievable mindset for this team and it’s very important to consider having him like a coach. “I think it’s the right way to coach. It’s the right way to be. It’s the right way to win. Having him and the way we played the last three months with him — offense, defense, team chemistry, honesty between each other — I think that will be very important for me.”"

Teletovic didn’t mince words about how much he enjoyed the head coaching switch from Jeff Hornacek to Watson. In 47 games and 847 minutes under Hornacek, the third-year stretch-4 averaged 9.7 points and 7.9 field goal attempts in 18.0 minutes per game, tallying a grand total of 156 made field goals and 96 made three-pointers.

In just 32 games under Watson, Teletovic’s numbers ballooned to 15.9 points and 12.7 field goal attempts in 26.2 minutes per game, with a total of 176 made field goals and 85 made threes. In 15 fewer games under Watson, Teletovic played just eight fewer minutes than he did for Hornacek.

So yeah, it’s no wonder Tele would like to see Watson return, since the interim embraced his identity as a gunner from day one.

"“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.]'”"

After a career year in a sixth man role, contenders this summer will notice Teletovic’s skill set as an unrestricted free agent who can get hot in a hurry. With the NBA’s salary cap skyrocketing to a projected $90 million, the Suns may have competition on their hands unless they make him a generous offer — and retain Watson, of course.

While Teletovic is not some blue chip free agent whose whims must be catered to, according to Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic, the team is already leaning toward bringing Watson back anyway. If that’s the case, it certainly doesn’t hurt that his acceptance of the full-time job will make it easier for the Suns to re-sign such a useful reserve.

Next: No. 3

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