Phoenix Suns: Roles for Mikal Bridges this season

1. Defensive starter

There is a case for Mikal Bridges to start for the Phoenix Suns.

It starts with his defensive capabilities and how offensively driven the NBA has become. By allowing Bridges to play right off the bat during games, it gives the Suns a lock-down defender to stop opposing teams’ top scorers.

Finding where Bridges slates in among the starters is a little more difficult. Devin Booker is already the set starter and the team is now heavy at the point guard position.

Ideally, Bridges would take the spot of Kelly Oubre Jr. at small forward.

Not to discredit the faith the team has in Oubre and his role heading into next season. After three seasons with Washington, Oubre found his stride with the Suns over the 40 games he played with the team.

He averaged a career-best 16.9 points per game and gave Phoenix a strong third scorer alongside Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

But Bridges presents the Suns with a stronger defender at small forward and relies less on his offensive game to carry his minutes. The forward also was more efficient with his shot selection last season, while adding more assists per game than Oubre.

Like Oubre, Bridges is only 23 years old and looks to have a bright future in the league.

Adding Bridges as a starter also reduces other players’ roles next season.

One being rookie Cameron Johnson, who projects to be a small forward at the pro level. By having both Bridges and Oubre ahead of him in depth chart that will restrict the impact Johnson brings to the Suns. That being for a player whom the Suns have already been criticized for drafting too early.

While Bridges may not have a defined role just yet for the Suns, he will be a big part of the team next season. It will be up to head coach Monty Williams to decide where he fits into the puzzle.