IN REVIEW: 19-63 | 5th in the Pacific Division
Drafted 6th, 32nd in the 2019 NBA Draft
Received the 11th pick and 24th pick
HEAD COACH: Monty Williams (173-221 in New Orleans from 2010-15)
What to Expect: Better than 19-63, the number that Igor Kokoskov got them to a year ago. With the experience of Monty Williams at the helm, and a number of new acquisitions, the Suns may be grittier and tougher than people expect, or have ever seen in the Valley of the Sun.
Strengths: Whereas a year ago their strength was the highs of Devin Booker’s performances and scoring outputs, the team – under Williams – could become a dominant defensive force. With guys like second year man Deandre Ayton, and additions such as Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky (a big who can shoot), their size and expected defense could free up some of the pressure on guys like Booker, Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, and Kelly Oubre, Jr.
Weaknesses: Certainly it will take this team time to gel, but the potential is through the roof of Talking Stick Resort Arena with this eclectic bunch. There’s no dearth of shooters, especially with rookies like Ty Jerome and Cameron Johnson in the fold, along with Saric and Tyler Johnson, acquired from Miami. The weakness will be in the inexperience of knowing each other’s strengths, opportunities, spots, and who should be getting touches. Hopefully, Williams will sort through that in training camp.
Top Offensive Player: It’s Booker’s title to lose, honestly. Much has been made about Booker being shopped and the Boston Celtics having interest. Who wouldn’t? But Booker is reportedly like a son to owner Robert Sarver, so don’t expect DB to go anywhere without huge return on investment in trade. If I’m Sarver, I’d insist on Jaylen Brown or Gordon Hayward plus picks.
Top Defensive Player: Ayton has an opportunity this season to make a statement about himself as both a big man in this league, and as the big man in Phoenix. Baynes will be a nice back-up in case Ayton suffers injury, but no one in this locker room is going to take DA’s spot anytime soon.
Top Playmaker: This may be Rubio’s last stand. The Spaniard is a mere five o’clock shadow of his former self, and didn’t really do much consistently in his time in Utah. Having Rubio handle the rock will take some pressure off Booker and free him to spot up a bit more than he’s been able to in the past
Top Clutch Player: Gotta go back to Book, as he’s proven to be the man in this situation many times for the hapless Suns. Though with more front court scoring and defense, the load may not seem as heavy and burdensome in 2019-20.
Best Addition: Are you kidding me? It’s Monty Williams. The man is nothing but pure class, a player’s coach who’s X’s and O’s will get the Suns past 35 games this season and give the team a foundation to build upon not seen since Mike D’Antoni’s days in Phoenix. That was 10 years and eight head coaches ago (Terry Porter, Alvin Gentry, Lindsay Hunter, Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, Jay Triano, and Kokoskov). Williams was a head coach in New Orleans for five seasons, and has also been an assistant in Portland, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia. The excitement of Monty Williams getting an opportunity with this franchise almost makes me want to move back to the desert and be at The Stick for every game.
Burning Question: How many of these minds and talents will Williams be able to reach? I feel better about the front office with James Jones in charge as and that basketball-related decision making is in good hands with Junior there, as long as he can keep Sarver from meddling. I feel even more comfortable with Williams guiding these young men through a tough Western Conference.
Tracy Graven is a Senior Analyst for BackSportsPage.com. He has written the NBA for the last two decades and is tackling the NFL, NCAA, and pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and five children. Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
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