Phoenix Suns: 4 players you’ll talk about more in 2017-18
By Drew Zlogar
T.J. Warren
T.J. Warren, will be the next player that you will start to talk about more regularly this season. The Suns have four very solid, young players, but the question will be if they will have bench depth. Along with Tyler Ulis, I believe T.J. Warren is in for his biggest year of his NBA career.
Warren, who averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year, has not played in a full season since entering the league in 2014. Last year, his line was riddled with career high numbers including the points and rebounds, but he still only played in 66 games.
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Warren has the body type to be an effective scoring guard off the bench in the league. He is a beefy, 6’8″ wing that can score in a medley of ways. The biggest thing for him is to find a consistent role, and to stay healthy.
With Brandon Knight gone for the year, and rookie second round pick Davon Reed out for a considerable amount of time as well, there is a need for consistent scoring whether he starts at the 3 or comes off the bench behind rookie Josh Jackson. I love the thought of him giving Jackson or Devin Booker spells, and coming on and attacking the rim to maybe get bigs in foul trouble.
Warren shot 50 percent from the field last year, with about 12 shot attempts per game. I think these numbers aren’t a flash-in-the-pan situation. In fact, I like Warren to replicate those numbers again this year, and maybe add a shot attempt or two per game.
Warren is clearly valued by the Suns, as he in entering his fourth year, and hasn’t shown fully why he was the first Suns’ first round selection a few drafts back. I am sticking with Warren, and think that this is his breakout year in terms of health and consistency.