2. T.J. Warren, Phoenix Suns
T.J. Warren may have the security of a four-year, $50 million contract extension, but he’s probably the Phoenix Suns‘ most tradeable asset in terms of quality players who are still expendable. His annual salary is easy to structure a deal around, he’s an established scorer, and yet he’s flawed enough to not be an essential piece of “The Timeline.”
The problem with Tony Buckets is, for all his shot-making ability, he supplies neither the “3” nor the “D” of the coveted 3-and-D skill-set. That’s a problem on a roster that has more wings than a biplane between Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Trevor Ariza, rookie Mikal Bridges, Davon Reed and Troy Daniels.
Even so, Warren only just turned 25 and averaged a career-high 19.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.8 percent shooting last year. What if he flashes an improved 3-point shot this year? Or locks down on the defensive end? It seems unlikely, but these necessary improvements aren’t out of the question either, and they’re what separates Warren’s ceiling from his current floor.
After an up-and-down rookie campaign from Jackson, and with Bridges needing time to adjust as a first-year player, Warren has a chance to either prove his advantage in NBA experience matters in Phoenix … or show what he can do elsewhere with a simple change of scenery.