Phoenix Suns: 5 takeaways from 2018 NBA Summer League

5. Shaq Harrison, Reed made their cases for a roster spot

The Suns currently have 13 players signed to guaranteed contracts for the 2018-19 NBA campaign. Given the way free agency is dying down and how well Davon Reed and Shaquille Harrison played in Summer League, it’d be fairly surprising if Phoenix didn’t keep both for the upcoming season as the team’s final two roster spots.

Reed, who many considered to be a reach at pick No. 32 in the 2017 NBA Draft, was unable to show what he was capable of during his rookie season. He missed 61 games, most of which were spent recovering from surgery on his left meniscus. When he returned, he was ineffective and rusty, averaging 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game on dismal .289/.289/.667 shooting splits.

In Summer League, the Suns finally got the floor-spacer and poised wing play they had been expecting before Reed’s injury setback. Aside from averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, he shot 48.9 percent from the floor, spread the court and provided sound defense on the wing.

This summer was important for Reed and the chances of having his contract guaranteed by this Friday’s deadline — especially on a Suns team with a glut of wings that includes Devin Booker, Trevor Ariza, Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren, Mikal Bridges, Troy Daniels, Jared Dudley and George King.

As for Shaquille Harrison, the Suns’ third string point guard once again proved how valuable his defensive intensity can be.

Though he’s still clearly limited on the offensive end, Harrison is an agile, committed defender who sticks to opposing guards like glue, intelligently plays passing lanes, uses active hands to create deflections and turns defense into easy offense.

Despite only being 6’4″, Harrison averaged a whopping 2.4 steals and even 0.8 blocks per game over his five Summer League appearances.

His energy and hustle on that end is exemplary, and it’s the exact sort of effort that last year’s 30th-ranked defense could use, even if it’s only in short bursts off the bench once the real NBA season rolls around.

Shaq Harrison has no 3-point touch to speak of, but he averaged a well-rounded 12.2 points, 6.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field.

He’s not exactly a reliable playmaker considering the competition, the turnovers and the Suns’ inability to feed Deandre Ayton in the post, but for a team that currently only has Brandon Knight and Elie Okobo at the point guard spot, Harrison joins Reed as the two players who should ride strong Summer League performances to a roster spot.