Phoenix Suns: Breathing life back into The Timeline

T.J. Warren

T.J. Warren is often the forgotten man in The Timeline, mostly because he’s pegged as a future sixth man thanks to sky-high expectations for Josh Jackson. However, with Warren on the books through 2021-22, only a trade would separate him from this team’s long-term future.

With the way Warren is playing this year, it’s hard to see that happening anytime soon.

Averaging a career-high 19.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 50.5 percent shooting, Tony Buckets is one of the league’s most gifted scorers considering his lack of a 3-point shot. He hasn’t been as consistent as one would hope for on the nights where Booker was out, but Saturday was not one of those nights.

Warren finished with the quietest 31 points and five rebounds imaginable, shooting a blistering 13-for-17 from the field. It marked his fourth 30-point game of the season, putting him alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo (eight), LeBron James (four) and Anthony Davis (four) as the only players in the NBA this season with at least four games of 30+ points on at least 66.7 percent shooting.

The Suns fell to 10-2 this season when Warren scores at least 25 points, but there’s no question the arrival of a pass-first point guard like Payton should help this elite cutter thrive with easy looks right at the rim.

"“Josh [Jackson] and T.J. are great slashers and they both had good games, and I think a lot of it can be due to the guy who was making the plays,” Triano said."