Phoenix Suns: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

2. Luc Mbah a Moute

Once thought of as a traditional small forward, with the league embracing small-ball in the pace-and-space era, a guy like Luc Mbah a Moute now slots in as a small-ball 4. He’s not the most reliable 3-point shooter, but there might not be a better, more affordable option if Phoenix values defense and positional versatility.

Mbah a Moute has never averaged double-digits in the scoring column in his 10-year career. He posted a ho-hum 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 25.6 minutes per game last year, and will turn 32 years old before the 2018-19 season starts. He’s probably best served in a bench role on a contending team.

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However, Mbah a Moute was sneakily important to the most successful regular season team in basketball last year. The Houston Rockets were 52-9 with him on the court (a 70-win pace), compared to 13-8 without him. Their sixth-ranked defense was 4.2 points per 100 possessions stingier with him on the court, and their second-ranked offense still boasted an offensive rating of 111.8 when he played.

That last number has more to do with Mike D’Antoni‘s 3-point heavy offense and the Rockets’ immense talent than anything else, but the point still stands: If Houston sets its sights on LeBron James (or even if it doesn’t), Mbah a Moute could be a salary cap casualty who has to be squeezed from the roster to make room for new deals for Chris Paul and Clint Capela.

If that’s the case, a team like the Suns could swoop in with an offer that significantly outweighs the prospect of playing on another veteran minimum deal, even if he’d be pursuing a championship in Clutch City.

Mbah a Moute shot 36.4 percent from deep on 2.4 attempts per game last year, and canned 39.1 percent of his 1.4 attempts per game the year before. He’s not a prototypical stretch-4, and those percentages came on significantly better offenses than Phoenix’s, but the defense and somewhat reliable 3-point touch he’d provide are worth a look to upgrade from Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.