Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, New Youth Result In New Direction

The Phoenix Suns have several veterans on the roster, but it’s the youth on the roster that will eventually determine if they’re moving in the right direction.

When discussing young cores, it’s rather easy to leave the Phoenix Suns out.

You tend to look at teams with stars. Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best players in the league, and thus, the Minnesota Timberwolves get more love. Ben Simmons was the first overall pick, Nerlens Noel is a defensive nightmare and the Philadelphia 76ers get more love.

The combination of Brandon Ingram, D’Angelo Russell and Los Angeles gives the Lakers more love.

But the Suns, a team trying to get back to the heights they experienced just three seasons ago, have to hope that their core can rival that of Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Denver.

Ever since the 48-win season led by Jeff Hornacek, the Suns have been in a tailspin. Goran Dragic demanded a trade and got one to Miami, Isaiah Thomas was moved to Boston.

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Markieff Morris became even more of a malcontent and was shipped to Washington and Hornacek, thought to be the man bringing the Suns back to glory was dismissed mid-way through the 2015-16 season.

There have been mistakes along the way. Signing Tyson Chandler for $48 million in hopes of luring LaMarcus Aldridge was one. Moving a top-three protected Lakers’ pick for Brandon Knight, then re-signing him for $70 million.

Chandler looked to be on his last leg at points last season; we’re not sure if Knight is a point guard or a shooting guard at this point.

Still, what has been bubbling beneath the surface is Phoenix adding and getting some production from their youth.

Last year’s first-round pick, Devin Booker, was a bright spot for the Suns. Coming out of Kentucky, Booker appeared to be nothing more than a shooter.

However, he flashed the ability to create and run pick and rolls, creating close to 20 percent of his total points as a pick and roll ball-handler. He’s a perfect fit next to both Knight and Bledsoe — capable of being hidden on defense alongside Bledsoe and operate the offense next to Knight.

The ability to be deadly off the dribble and a dynamic shooter from beyond the arc are key for Booker ascending as an offensive threat. And at 19 years old, the sky’s the limit for Booker and his overall game.

Along with Booker, Phoenix’s youth extends to some of the guys still figuring out their spots in the league — Alex Len and T.J. Warren. Both just 22 years old, Len and Warren have some experience in the league now, albeit vastly different.

Entering his fourth season, Len saw his minutes increase, and thus, his overall production jump as a sophomore.

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However, the numbers dipped in his third season.

All of them, outside of a slight tick in rebounding rate and his assist rate — soaring from 3 percent to 8 percent in his third season, though dubious because of how much he can do that with an actual creator on the floor — Len struggled in every other area.

And for Warren, the goal is to just stay on the floor. Over the last two seasons, Warren has played just 87 games. Known for getting buckets at North Carolina State, Warren has done some of that in the league, shooting better than 50 percent in two seasons.

He’s even flashed a three, shooting 40 percent on 70 attempts. Still, the No. 1 ability is availability and Warren has yet to show that he can play more than 50 percent of the games in a regular season yet.

And lastly, there are the new guys the Suns brought in.

The trio of Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis only add to Phoenix’s young group of talent. Bender is the best of the three, providing similar skills to that of Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green.

Bender is potentially an above-average shooter from three, he’s a big man who can defend both at the rim and around the perimeter. He’s a perfect fit next to Len as an athletic big man who can help cover his weakness on the defensive end.

Similar to Bender, Chriss is an all upside guy. Playing just one season at Washington, Chriss averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. He had some positives, hitting 35 percent of his 60 three attempts to go with elite athleticism.

He also had negatives, finishing with 138 fouls, including 15 games with five fouls and 10 with four fouls. He was also one of the worst rebounders in college at the power forward position.

There are questions about him as a power forward, but with the Suns, his fit is interesting with Bender in place. I imagine the Suns give him a chance to play power forward and small forward as a rookie.

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As for Ulis, the 2016 SEC Player of The Year will have an uphill climb to make the roster with Bledsoe and Knight on the roster, but he can run a team and space the floor.

Like most undersized guards, questions about his defense loom, but Ulis has proved at every level that he can compete on both ends and that will continue as he moves into the NBA. It might take a stint in the NBADL, but I envision Ulis getting some playing time with Phoenix soon.

The Suns didn’t make big moves in free agency this year – signing just Jared Dudley to a three-year contract worth $30 million. Dudley’s arrival makes for an interesting fit in the frontcourt, but Dudley cites that he wanted to return to help the young players on the roster. 

Along with Dudley, the Suns have Chandler, Bledsoe, and Knight — Knight is only 24, but an elder statesman with the other guy on the roster — helping the young players figure it out.

Phoenix’s roster is in the midst of a transition with several players who fit more of a “win-now” model while having several players who seem two or three years away from hitting their prime.

Next: Phoenix Suns: 2016-17 Season Outlook

It’ll be up to coach Earl Watson and company to steer the roster in the right direction and that will involve a bump from the youth’s development.