Phoenix Suns: 3 goals for Davon Reed in 2018-19

1. Get hot early in the season

Despite the aforementioned logjam in the Suns’ backcourt, the team lacks true high-end talent, aside from Booker, Ayton and perhaps Bridges or Jackson. It’s not even a guarantee who will start at point guard at the moment.

Davon Reed needs to capitalize on that instability while he has the chance. If Melton and Okobo seize primary point duties, Reed could find himself permanently glued to the bench or sent back down to the G League.

Reed has the outline of a player that could fit well next to Booker. He’s a good defender, long enough to guard three positions, and his shot isn’t broken. He’s not a conventional choice to play at the 1, but the Suns aren’t currently a conventional team and Booker has flashed potential there as a much younger, poor man’s James Harden. Reed will need any path to playing time he can find, so establishing a fit alongside Booker in the backcourt could be key..

Igor Kokoskov has never been an NBA head coach before, so it’s still not perfectly clear what kind of coach he will be. He could be a tinkerer like Tyronn Lue who changes his lineups all the time, or he could be a set rotation kind of guy like Mike D’Antoni or Dwayne Casey, who pretty much play the same guys at the same times in every game.

If he trends towards the latter, that only increases the importance of Reed performing as soon as possible. Once the rotation gets set, it’s possible that it won’t change much again unless a major injury occurs. Even if Reed makes the roster and improves his shooting ability, it won’t do him any good if he never gets to prove it in games. As such, getting off to a hot start is key.