Phoenix Suns: 5 goals for Tyler Ulis in 2017-18

2. Average six assists per game

Assuming Ulis plays at least 70 games and reaches our previous goal of 15 double-doubles, that means he’d need 270 assists over the other 55 games (roughly 4.9 per game) to average six assists per game for the season.

Now, this is a sizable leap for a second-year guard coming off the bench behind Eric Bledsoe, a player Earl Watson gave heavy minutes to before the front office basically mandated that the younger guys got heavier minutes.

However, we also shouldn’t overlook the possibility of a Bledsoe injury or a trade given his extensive injury history when it comes to those knees, along with the fact that Bled doesn’t really fit #TheTimeline at age 27.

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His trade value is as high as it’s ever been, and as much as both sides love each other, the Suns would be foolish to not at least consider moving him before another injury setback takes this opportunity to stockpile additional assets off the table. Even if they don’t move him, what’s to stop the Suns from resting him again with a top-loaded draft class inbound?

To that end, Ulis will be taking on a more prominent role off the bench early in 2017-18, and even if the Suns waited until the deadline to move Bledsoe and start seriously tanking, there’s a very good chance Ulis could actually reach six assists per game given his post-All-Star production last year.