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Phoenix Suns: Projecting the 2018-19 rotation

By Luke Swiatek

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 6: The Phoenix Suns huddle before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 6, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 6: The Phoenix Suns huddle before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 6, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

The starters

Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, and Deandre Ayton are all obvious locks to start. They are the future of the team.

I gave Booker 34 minutes instead of the 32 for the other two, because he’s been in the league longer and I think he’ll be better suited to handle it. No sense pulling a Tom Thibodeau and riding your starters for 38-plus minutes a night, especially the young ones.

At the power forward spot, I thought about putting in Bender or Chriss, and then having the other come off the bench.

But I thought it would be hard to find backup minutes for all of Okobo, Daniels, Bridges, Ariza, and Warren at only three spots on the wing, so instead I went small and put Warren at the four where his horrible shooting is less of a concern.

I even considered putting Ariza in the starting 4 slot, but at 33 years old, he doesn’t have the upside that Warren has. Not to mention he’s on a one-year deal; I wanted to prioritize the development of a younger and fairly important player over an older rental.

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    • Brandon Knight was the toughest selection. Certainly, I could have given up on him, made Okobo the starter, and made Knight a sixth man.

    Another option which I heavily considered was starting Bridges at the two-guard and pushing Booker to become the point guard. The idea has a lot of merit, and could definitely happen at some point during the year, but I doubt the Phoenix Suns will start the year like this.

    Additonally, I don’t think I love the fit of Knight next to Okobo on the bench units. Better to let both of them run the point, and Bridges can come off the bench with Okobo and fit well next to him.

    Knight has been a disaster in Phoenix, but he also has been playing out of position as a shooting guard alongside ball-dominant players like Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe.

    Perhaps a return to his natural position will help him out. An injury-free year would also go a long way towards rebuilding the player he could be.

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