Phoenix Suns: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season
5. Somehow, a young core with promise is in place
Despite finishing with a meager 19 wins, despite taking a step backward in a season where progress was expected and despite searching for a fifth head coach in a span of five years, the Phoenix Suns have somehow failed upwards into a young core with potential.
Devin Booker is a bona fide star, contrary to what those outside Phoenix perceive as an “empty numbers” scorer. He took major strides as a playmaker in 2018-19, he’s already got the clutch gene, and he averaged a career-high 26.6 points, 6.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game with a career-high 58.4 true shooting percentage despite shooting a career-worst 32.6 percent from 3.
If this 22-year-old can stay healthy and get some help around him, it won’t be long before people are regretting their ill-informed Devin Booker takes.
Deandre Ayton may not have been a serious Rookie of the Year contender, but he still became the first rookie in NBA history to average at least 16 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent or better from the floor. That he was able to do all this without a starting-caliber point guard or capable entry passer for most of the season makes him a 20-year-old stud to keep an eye on — especially given his progress as a rim protector and switcher on the defensive end.
Mikal Bridges may not have brought the “3” of his advertised 3-and-D skill-set as a rookie (33.5 percent from downtown), but the defense was even better than expected. He finished eighth in the league in total steals and seventh in deflections despite only playing 29.5 minutes per game, proving himself capable of locking up multiple All-Star guards and wings throughout the year. With flashes of playmaking and hopefully more aggressive offense, he’ll become a precious commodity.
Kelly Oubre Jr., who we’ll cover more extensively in a bit, played the best basketball of his NBA career in Phoenix. His 3-point shot was unreliable, but his abilities as a slasher to take pressure off Booker and as a defender on the other end mean he’ll probably be re-signed this summer.
As long as we have Booker, Ayton, Bridges, and Oubre all for the next 4 years like we’re supposed to, we’re going to be fine. More than fine. Jones’ primary job responsibility at this point is to make sure none of them demand a trade. If they don’t, this truly is idiot-proof.
— Ry (@hatingassdweeb) April 24, 2019
Josh Jackson is still largely out of control without a reliable jump shot or discernible elite skill, but he’s just got that alpha dog mentality that comes out and makes it hard to give up on him, especially on defense. Though his “improvement” to 32.6 percent from 3-point range wasn’t anything to write home about, he did convert 38.0 percent of his long range looks in 20 games after the All-Star break, while taking 3.6 of them per game.
Even if Jackson isn’t a part of the long-term core, the Suns now have a Booker-Ayton-Bridges-Oubre foundation to fall back on, with JJ, Tyler Johnson, De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo possibly sprinkled in for another year. Throw in this year’s first round pick (top-seven guaranteed) and a dysfunctional Suns franchise somehow has capable young talent to build around.