The Phoenix Suns need a real answer at point guard, but D'Angelo Russell is not it.
Russell was recently waived by the Memphis Grizzlies and already has ties to Devin Booker, but that does not make him the right move for Phoenix. The Suns keep adding names to the mix, including Kennedy Chandler, who will be brought to training camp, yet Russell would still be a poor fit in The Valley.
He is technically a point guard, but his game looks much more like Jalen Green's than that of any other guard currently on the roster. Russell will pass, sure, but he is just as ready to launch shots himself.
That mindset has followed him around, and it is a big reason things have not clicked for him elsewhere. He is also, frankly, a step or two below where he believes he belongs in the league hierarchy.
If Dillon Brooks is only the 76th best player in the NBA, then Russell is rightly nowhere near that particular list and with good reason.
Phoenix appears ready to start Green to open the season, and until the team makes the bold choice to move him to the bench, all it can really do is stock the back end of the roster with backup guards. Russell would arrive wanting the ball and wanting attempts, while Collin Gillespie has shown he is willing to keep grinding for his chances, even after signing an extension this summer.
Jordan Goodwin is another reason the Suns should look elsewhere. He earned a deal to return to Phoenix and is a far better fit for what they need. He brings elite defense and always defers to Booker, much like Gillespie and Jamaree Bouyea.
Those are the kinds of players you want fighting for that starting role, not a 30-year-old who has bounced between three teams in different situations over the last two seasons.
The defensive side is the other major red flag. If Russell were a can’t-miss offensive weapon, the Suns would have to take a hard look. But he is a streaky shooter who cannot defend, and that is not the kind of player Head Coach Jordan Ott can build around.
Phoenix is already nearing the second apron, so adding more money to the backcourt before deciding what to do with Green would be a mistake. And there is still Duop Reath to consider coming out of training camp, which means someone will have to be waived to make room. Unless the Suns also decide time is up for Ryan Dunn, a move they could reach soon, there simply is not space for Russell.
In Other News...
Suns Are Asking Fans To Believe In A Core That Already Failed
After a rough finish to last season, the Suns are leaning into continuity with a roster that still looks very much in flux. The front office already made a series of moves around the edges, trading away Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale while bringing back Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, then adding Miles Bridges to the mix.
The bigger question is whether that collection can actually function better than the group that faded after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the playoffs. Injuries and fit issues have already raised concerns, and Jalen Green in particular stands out as a swing piece for how competitive this team can be going forward, which leaves Phoenix asking fans to trust a core that has not yet earned it. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Just Sent Suns Fans A Huge Message About This Team
Mat Ishbia used media day to send a clear signal about where he sees the Suns going, and how long he expects to be part of it. The owner said financial issues at his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, will not change his commitment to the franchise, and he reiterated his willingness to keep paying the luxury tax if that is what it takes to support a winning team.
For Suns fans, the bigger message was stability at the top. Ishbia said he intends to stay involved for decades, and he also plans to keep increasing his ownership stake with his family. In a league where ownership uncertainty can hang over a roster, Phoenix at least heard its biggest stakeholder say he is not looking for a short-term run. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face A Tough Frontcourt Choice After Mark Williams Injury
Mark Williams shoulder injury has left the Suns sorting through a frontcourt spot that suddenly feels a lot more important. Phoenix already has 15 players on standard contracts, so any addition has to fit neatly into a roster that is being managed closely as the team tries to stay competitive and keep enough size on hand.
One option under consideration is Duop Reath on a two-way contract, a move that would give the Suns extra center depth while letting him split time between Phoenix and the G League affiliate. The appeal is obvious for a team trying to patch a position without creating bigger roster ripples, and the Suns are weighing that route alongside the other two-way pieces already in place. [Read more 🡒]