Phoenix Suns: 2017-18 NBA season preview

2017-18 Roster

Dragan Bender, PF
Eric Bledsoe, PG
Devin Booker, SG
Tyson Chandler, C
Marquese Chriss, PF
Troy Daniels, SG
Jared Dudley, SF/PF
Josh Jackson, SF
Mike James, PG
Derrick Jones Jr., SG/SF
Brandon Knight, PG
Alex Len, C
Alec Peters, PF
Davon Reed, SG
Tyler Ulis, PG
T.J. Warren, SF
Alan Williams, C

Offseason Additions
Josh Jackson (No. 4 overall draft pick, Kansas), Mike James (two-way contract), Alec Peters (No. 54 overall draft pick, Valparaiso), Davon Reed (No. 32 overall draft pick, Miami), Troy Daniels (trade, Memphis Grizzlies)

Offseason Subtractions
Leandro Barbosa (free agent, unsigned)

Quick Thoughts

Plenty of superstar names floated around the trade market this summer, but the Suns ultimately did the smartest thing possible by staying patient and avoiding giving up significant pieces of the rebuild/future draft assets for the rental of a star player.

Instead, Phoenix threw its full support into #TheTimeline, drafting Josh Jackson as a potential franchise pillar alongside Devin Booker (and, hopefully, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss). If he develops a jumper, he could very well become the best two-way player in his draft class.

Jackson is a potential franchise star, which makes up for Phoenix’s complete noninvolvement in free agency aside from re-signing Alan Williams and most likely retaining restricted free agent Alex Len on his one-year qualifying offer.

The Suns preserved cap space for future extensions among the core, added three rookies, scored a potential blue-chip prospect and only parted with Leandro Barbosa. They won’t be good next year, but ending that seven-year playoff drought isn’t really the ultimate goal anyway.