Phoenix Suns: Roles for Mikal Bridges this season
By Adam Noel
3. Backup shooting guard
Perhaps the easiest spot the Phoenix Suns can play Mikal Bridges is at the backup shooting guard position.
This allows Bridges to come off the bench and gives him a stable role in next season’s Suns’ rotation. As a result, it also provides stability to the rest of the roster.
By Bridges occupying the 2 position in the second unit for the Suns, that then pushes guard Tyler Johnson to play point guard off the bench. Sure, that secludes rookie Ty Jerome to a reduced role, but he can use that time to make the necessary adjustments he needs at the pro level.
That also allows more playing time for the other rookie fans will be focused on next season: Cameron Johnson.
Johnson can take over the second-unit small forward position behind Kelly Oubre Jr. and show just why the Suns took him 11th overall in the draft.
He can bring some much-needed shooting from the bench and should compliment the style of Bridges well when the two of them are on the court together.
While putting Bridges on the bench to start has its benefits, it also has its consequences.
The main being less playing time with star guard, Devin Booker. Last season, Bridges started 56 games for Phoenix and played the majority of his minutes on the court with Booker.
In fact, the pairing of Booker and Bridges made up for third most minutes on the team by a 2-man combination, equating to 1304:14 minutes last season.
The two were also on the court for three of the five most effective field goal percentage five-man combinations for the Suns during 2018-19. That translates to when Booker and Bridges play together the Suns’ offense is able to produce.