Phoenix Suns: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20
By Adam Noel
3. Have the Suns finally found their answer at point guard?
It hasn’t been the easiest of roads for the Phoenix Suns since trading away Eric Bledsoe at the start of the 2017-18 season.
The team has cycled through replacement after replacement to complement Devin Booker in the backcourt, but each produced more disappointment than the previous.
But alas, the Suns made a move this offseason to acquire point guard Ricky Rubio via free agency.
His deal, which spans for three years and is worth $51 million, ushers in a new age for Phoenix and its fans. Rubio marks the first capable point guard the Suns have had on the roster in two years.
With him comes a career 7.7 assists per game average and nearly 500 games of experience in the NBA. But that isn’t to say the Spaniard doesn’t come with a few flaws of his own.
Rubio struggles with shooting, which isn’t great for a Suns team that struggled in a whole to shoot the ball last season. Especially with the long ball, which Rubio is historically known for his 32.2 percent average over his eight-year career.
And while his assists have been the highlight of his career, Rubio posted career-lows in his two seasons with the Utah Jazz. That will be something to keep an eye on as Phoenix expects him to be running the offense in the halfcourt.
Another key will be how Rubio and Booker gel together in the backcourt.
After practically running the offense the past two season, it will be important to get Booker incorporated off-the-ball in the offensive sets. This will allow him to focus on scoring effectively and continue being the elite shooting guard he is.