2018-19 Season | Point Guard Discussion

[Hoop Head]

This has spilled over into almost every thread recently and it's one of the only things that's really up for debate. We know Knight will be part of the PG rotation but beyond him there's Okobo, and Shaq Harrison also signed for next season. According to McD, they planned on inviting Isaiah Canaan to training camp to compete for a spot next season also. So we can sort of use this thread to contain the PG discussion, whether we'll acquire someone elsewhere in a trade, signing, or something. Here are the main players stats, for reference...



Knight's
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/knighbr03.html

Harrison's
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harrish01.html

Here is Canaan's stats...
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/canaais01.html

 

[Magnus]

It would be great if we manage to get Dragic somehow.

 

[Hoop Head]

It would be great if we manage to get Dragic somehow.

I wouldn't mind Dragic returning but I don't see it happening unless Miami is interested in Knight. Perhaps Knight returns to form and plays like he did before he came to Phoenix? If that happens, maybe he can be traded at the deadline for a PG we want a test run with who is expiring? I know unloading him like that may seem questionable but I think Booker and Ayton need a pass first PG to truly thrive and Knight is not that.

I think the window to get Dragic would have been a draft day trade of some variety but that time has passed. I'm not sure what player's we have that Miami would be interested in return for him that we don't deem untouchable or part of our core. Virtually anyone outside of Booker, Ayton, Bridges, and Jackson are available. I'd include Bridges or Jackson in a deal for an All-Star PG that is under 30 but Dragic is 32 now so that would rule him out.

In tradable assets we have Warren who can be dealt, who is on a cap friendly contract for the next 4 years ($50m total/$12m next year), Dudley ($10m), Daniels ($3m), and Chandler ($14m). Those 3 are all on expiring deals and could be included with Warren to make salaries work or traded individually. We do have about $2.5 million in cap space left over and can free up another $2.5 million by waiving Reed and Harrison, if needed but I think it's unlikely we'd do that to make a trade work. We could included them in a trade as well but they have little value on their own and would just be throw ins.

 

[Finito]

This team needs a pg in the worst way but it's not like we can wave a magic wand and solve all our problems at once.

I have little to no faith in Knight, Shaq is tough and scrappy that's good but he's very limited.

I honestly think you'll see Booker a lot at pg this year. A line up of Booker, Bridges, Jackson, Ariza, Ayton is very interesting

 

[Hoop Head]

I honestly think you'll see Booker a lot at pg this year. A line up of Booker, Bridges, Jackson, Ariza, Ayton is very interesting

I don't think Kokoskov would have said that Booker won't be playing much PG if that was the plan. That makes no sense. i would not be surprised if McD has a deal in place with someone. For who? Who knows but it could happen. Maybe that's why he wanted to get Bridges so badly? Another team coveted him more than the Suns so we needed to grab him to make it happen. Not saying that's what happened but it seems odd how Kokoskov has spoken so confidently about some roles on the team while having a lopsided roster right now. McD also made it clear that we weren't done making deals and adding established help.

Nothing may be in the works though. It may all be dreaming for a better PG than Knight but the Suns have been awfully quiet for all the talk McD had about being "aggressive" in the offseason. We're still only 2 weeks in. Rookies need to be drafted and signed for at least 30 or days before they can be dealt? Just trying to figure out when something might happen.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't think Kokoskov would have said that Booker won't be playing much PG if that was the plan. That makes no sense. i would not be surprised if McD has a deal in place with someone. For who? Who knows but it could happen. Maybe that's why he wanted to get Bridges so badly? Another team coveted him more than the Suns so we needed to grab him to make it happen. Not saying that's what happened but it seems odd how Kokoskov has spoken so confidently about some roles on the team while having a lopsided roster right now. McD also made it clear that we weren't done making deals and adding established help.

Nothing may be in the works though. It may all be dreaming for a better PG than Knight but the Suns have been awfully quiet for all the talk McD had about being "aggressive" in the offseason. We're still only 2 weeks in. Rookies need to be drafted and signed for at least 30 or days before they can be dealt? Just trying to figure out when something might happen.

To be fair, Igor might have said that with the assumption that we would actively try to acquire another PG. Things change, so I wouldn't be surprised if by this time in a month or two, and we still don't have a different point guard, Igor's story will be different.

 

[Finito]

Cotton used to say" just give me the 5 best players and I'll figure it out"

A good coach can work with what he Gots and I think Igor is a good coach.

But your right the roster is very lopsided at this point so we will see

 

[AzStevenCal]

To be fair, Igor might have said that with the assumption that we would actively try to acquire another PG. Things change, so I wouldn't be surprised if by this time in a month or two, and we still don't have a different point guard, Igor's story will be different.

Agreed. Also, he said it prior to acquiring Ariza which could also change the plans. I still don't like it but if Booker had enough talent around him, including a couple of ball handlers, it might not be so bad using him as the primary ball-handler. For a year anyway.

 

[JCSunsfan]

To be fair, Igor might have said that with the assumption that we would actively try to acquire another PG. Things change, so I wouldn't be surprised if by this time in a month or two, and we still don't have a different point guard, Igor's story will be different.

this

 

[Mainstreet]

If the Suns do not bring in another PG I could be happy with Canaan. However, I'm disappointed the Suns haven't addressed the PG position thus far.

 

[GatorAZ]

I’d rather have Knight at PG than Booker and I can’t stand Knight. He’ll be on the ball a lot but I’d like to see increased efficiency and improved defense next year from Book. He shouldn’t be carrying the load from a facilitating aspect.

 

[Phrazbit]

If we're not going to acquire a passing guy who can get people involved, like Milos, then I'd prefer to stick with what we have and let Harrison and Okobo handle the backup duties, or let Harrison start if Knight is still a trainwreck.

I know that is probably a surprising stance given my summer league lack o love for Harrison, but he won't be running the offense, it will be ran through Booker and Ayton. If we're going to use a defensive specialist I honestly think Harrison can be just as effective in the role as a wildly overrated and crazy dude like Smart, or whatever remains of Beverly after his knee injuries.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If the Suns do not bring in another PG I could be happy with Canaan. However, I'm disappointed the Suns haven't addressed the PG position thus far.

They have just gone with the flow and picked up needs where the draft or free agent market would give them.

 

[AzStevenCal]

They have just gone with the flow and picked up needs where the draft or free agent market would give them.

I'm disappointed that we haven't been able to land a complete point guard but I'm not disappointed in the Suns about it. It looks to be a weakness that we will need to address but we don't control the market.

 

[Mainstreet]

They have just gone with the flow and picked up needs where the draft or free agent market would give them.

I will be disappointed if McDonough has closed up shop.

Hopefully he is still aggressively pursuing a PG, which next to center, was the most important position for the Suns to address this off season. I'm talking about a passing PG.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I will be disappointed if McDonough has closed up shop.

Hopefully he is still aggressively pursuing a PG, which next to center, was the most important position for the Suns to address this off season. I'm talking about a passing PG.

UGGH. I don't want a pass first point guard. I don't want a defense first point guard. I don't even want a score first point guard. I just want a point guard that can shoot, score, pass, direct an offense and defend his position. He doesn't need to be great at any of them, just a well balanced point guard. If we can't have a complete point guard, I see no reason to chase another specialist, just stay with the limited skills guards we already have.

 

[Errntknght]

I was duly surprised, Phraz!

Looking down the road a bit, I think developing Okobo and Harrison is the best route to go. To go for the most wins this year a more experienced point might help but, unlike most everyone else, I don't think it's a big deal because both young guys can play right now. I admit, I can't tell you just how ready I am to see a strong defensive effort by our team after so many years of zippo in that regard. That is definitely coloring my judgements. Going into summer league, the key players for me were Reed, Harrison and Okobo. IMO, they all came through with strong D. Add them to Bridges and Ariza and we could well be a top defensive team. If Ayton is good on the defensive end - I'm not saying great, just good - we'd almost certainly be there.

I have a lot of faith in Igor, if he thinks we ought to bring in an experienced PG, then I'll shut my yap.

Among all the experienced PG's I'd vote for Darren Collison - assuming the goal is maximizing number of wins this year. He's not the greatest distributor, perhaps, but he had the best ast/TO ratio in the league last year - 4.3 - and he shoots lights out from the arc. He wouldn't be cheap but I've long thought he was underpaid for what he contributed.

 

[Mainstreet]

UGGH. I don't want a pass first point guard. I don't want a defense first point guard. I don't even want a score first point guard. I just want a point guard that can shoot, score, pass, direct an offense and defend his position. He doesn't need to be great at any of them, just a well balanced point guard. If we can't have a complete point guard, I see no reason to chase another specialist, just stay with the limited skills guards we already have.

I'm talking about a PG that has the skills to pass the ball to Ayton and others. I didn't say he can't shoot and run the team as well. Why limit his skills. However, I want him to pass the ball relatively well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm talking about a PG that has the skills to pass the ball to Ayton and others. I didn't say he can't shoot and run the team as well. Why limit his skills. However, I want him to pass the ball relatively well.

Okay but I think it's implied when someone says "passing pg" or "defense first guard". IMO, you expect your point guard to be able to run an offense and in today's game, that means shoot, score and pass. If you just say one of those skills, it suggests that you're not interested in the others. JMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

Okay but I think it's implied when someone says "passing pg" or "defense first guard". IMO, you expect your point guard to be able to run an offense and in today's game, that means shoot, score and pass. If you just say one of those skills, it suggests that you're not interested in the others. JMO.

Take it how you want. I'd like for the Suns to obtain a PG that has passing skills.

 

[devilalum]

If the Suns do not bring in another PG I could be happy with Canaan. However, I'm disappointed the Suns haven't addressed the PG position thus far.

They might figure it out but at this point it certainly seems like they never had a solid plan.

Kinda disappointing.

 

[Mainstreet]

They might figure it out but at this point it certainly seems like they never had a solid plan.

Kinda disappointing.

The Suns had a nice draft and signed a quality free agent in Ariza. It's hard to believe they did not have a plan at PG unless it's Knight.

 

[devilalum]

The Suns had a nice draft and signed a quality free agent in Ariza. It's hard to believe they did not have a plan at PG unless it's Knight.

The moves they made were good but I wonder if they were counting on getting a PG in the draft. Knight is just so bad and the collection of cast offs from last season just isn't NBA starter material. Going into the season with these guys is like the Cards starting Drew Stanton. Sure you might win a few but this is NOT a formula for success.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

UGGH. I don't want a pass first point guard. I don't want a defense first point guard. I don't even want a score first point guard. I just want a point guard that can shoot, score, pass, direct an offense and defend his position. He doesn't need to be great at any of them, just a well balanced point guard. If we can't have a complete point guard, I see no reason to chase another specialist, just stay with the limited skills guards we already have.

I’m curious who you picture when you make that description?

 

[devilalum]

I’m curious who you picture when you make that description?

Exactly, I can't think of a player that fits that description that wouldn't require a max salary.