Current (post draft) Roster

[Hoop Head]

Chriss doesn't really play good interior defense or possess good shot blocking ability to be a rim protector. If you think Chriss has rim protecting ability watch when he's been used as a Center and how easily teams are capable of driving on him. He's not good at manning up and stopping people. He gets his blocks swooping in from the weakside and that's what gets seen on ESPN and the highlight reels. Bender plays much more consistently on the defensive end, with his hands up and staying in front of his man.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Chriss doesn't really play good interior defense or possess good shot blocking ability to be a rim protector. If you think Chriss has rim protecting ability watch when he's been used as a Center and how easily teams are capable of driving on him. He's not good at manning up and stopping people. He gets his blocks swooping in from the weakside and that's what gets seen on ESPN and the highlight reels. Bender plays much more consistently on the defensive end, with his hands up and staying in front of his man.

He's got the upside:

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[95pro]

Bender has good fundamental defense but does it have impact?

Chriss has an obvious athletic advantage. I do like his mean side where he wants to dunk and swat shots.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Key word is potential because he’s not showing it now, and Bender is. And again, stretch 4. He compliments Ayton much more.

I find it difficult to see either of them as "showing it now" as they've both had moments, but just moments.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Personally I don’t think we should be giving up on anyone but Ulis. Not Chriss or Bender. We need a point guard and if they have to be traded to get one, that’s fine. That’s not giving up, that’s adjusted f the roster.

 

[Proximo]

We are seeing two different things because to me Chriss has way more defensive potential and ability.

Chriss is a better shot blocker, Bender is better on defense at everything else, which is a lot more important than one or two blocks a game.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Chriss is a better shot blocker, Bender is better on defense at everything else, which is a lot more important than one or two blocks a game.

I simply disagree that Bender is better on defense than Chriss and I am not just talking about blocks. The defense is significantly better with Chriss on the floor than Bender and Chriss' defensive stats are FAR better than Bender's.

 

[Hoop Head]

This is our 15 man roster, after the proposed Ariza signing...

Knight/Okobo
Booker/Daniels/Reed
Warren/Jackson/Bridges/Ariza (King - Two-Way)
Bender/Chriss/Dudley
Ayton/Chandler

I know King is on a Two-Way deal, but that leaves 1 spot for a PG, potentially, on the main roster. Reed might end up on a Two-Way deal also, giving us 2 spots, but we could use a 3rd Center or a better starting PF as well as a starting PG.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This is our 15 man roster, after the proposed Ariza signing...

Knight/Okobo
Booker/Daniels/Reed
Warren/Jackson/Bridges/Ariza (King - Two-Way)
Bender/Chriss/Dudley
Ayton/Chandler

I know King is on a Two-Way deal, but that leaves 1 spot for a PG, potentially, on the main roster. Reed might end up on a Two-Way deal also, giving us 2 spots, but we could use a 3rd Center or a better starting PF as well as a starting PG.

Ariza would be signed as a stretch 4.

 

[BC867]

This is our 15 man roster, after the proposed Ariza signing...

Knight/Okobo
Booker/Daniels/Reed
Warren/Jackson/Bridges/Ariza (King - Two-Way)
Bender/Chriss/Dudley
Ayton/Chandler

I know King is on a Two-Way deal, but that leaves 1 spot for a PG, potentially, on the main roster. Reed might end up on a Two-Way deal also, giving us 2 spots, but we could use a 3rd Center or a better starting PF as well as a starting PG.

You're saying Warren over Jackson at SF? I don't think so.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is our 15 man roster, after the proposed Ariza signing...

Knight/Okobo
Booker/Daniels/Reed
Warren/Jackson/Bridges/Ariza (King - Two-Way)
Bender/Chriss/Dudley
Ayton/Chandler

I know King is on a Two-Way deal, but that leaves 1 spot for a PG, potentially, on the main roster. Reed might end up on a Two-Way deal also, giving us 2 spots, but we could use a 3rd Center or a better starting PF as well as a starting PG.

If Harrison doesn't claim the 3rd PG spot I was very happy with what Isaiah Canaan did last season prior to his injury.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If Harrison doesn't claim the 3rd PG spot I was very happy with what Isaiah Canaan did last season prior to his injury.

I liked Canaan and Harrison but it's so hard to judge "scrubs" on a bad team. And by scrubs, I just mean non-established players.

 

[Mainstreet]

I liked Canaan and Harrison but it's so hard to judge "scrubs" on a bad team. And by scrubs, I just mean non-established players.

Harrison seemed to bring defensive intensity to the Suns last season but I think Canaan is the better overall PG.

The Suns should be much stronger on defense with Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Trevor Ariza and Josh Jackson.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Harrison seemed to bring defensive intensity to the Suns last season but I think Canaan is the better overall PG.

The Suns should be much stronger on defense with Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Trevor Ariza and Josh Jackson.

Probably but Canaan was playing with our pre-shutdown team whereas Harrison logged his time after the all star break.

 

[Mainstreet]

Probably but Canaan was playing with our pre-shutdown team whereas Harrison logged his time after the all star break.

I'm fine with either player but I felt the most the most relaxed with Canaan running the team.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm fine with either player but I felt the most the most relaxed with Canaan running the team.

Sure but what would Harrison look like if he'd been playing with Booker and Warren? I like Shaq's size and defense but until we see him play with some talent around him, we probably won't know what he's capable of. Not that I think either of them are starter quality but it would be nice to find a good backup from this group.

 

[Mainstreet]

Sure but what would Harrison look like if he'd been playing with Booker and Warren? I like Shaq's size and defense but until we see him play with some talent around him, we probably won't know what he's capable of. Not that I think either of them are starter quality but it would be nice to find a good backup from this group.

We will need to find out how Harrison looks with the starters. My concern is that he is primarily a defensive player playing PG whereas I thought Canaan looked like a more rounded PG. Anyway it's only conjecture on my part as Harrison seems to have the inside track.

 

[SirStefan32]

I am fond of Canaan. He is strong, defends well and can knock down three-pointers. Harrison's three point shot was ugly, if I remember correctly, and he wasn't quite a distributor that Canaan is. I wasn't paying much attention to Harrison, though so I might be off.

 

[SirStefan32]

We will need to find out how Harrison looks with the starters. My concern is that he is primarily a defensive player playing PG whereas I thought Canaan looked like a more rounded PG. Anyway it's only conjecture on my part as Harrison seems to have the inside track.

That's how I am remembering it too. Canaan looked like a well-balanced/ rounded PG while Harrison looked more like a pest on defense, and could get to the hoop due to athleticism/ speed/ quickness.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Ariza is starting for sure.

My likely starting right now:

Knight
Booker
Jackson
Ariza
Ayton

I will be surprised if both Warren and Chriss are on the roster at the start of this year.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I am still hoping we bring in a legit starter. If we do, Harrison would be worth roster consideration as a defensive specialist. If we go into the season with just Okobo and Knight, I agree that Canaan makes more sense.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's how I am remembering it too. Canaan looked like a well-balanced/ rounded PG while Harrison looked more like a pest on defense, and could get to the hoop due to athleticism/ speed/ quickness.

This is the way I look at it at the moment but Harrison has only one season in the NBA so I don't know what his upside happens to be. I'm partial to Canaan until I see more of Harrison.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am still hoping we bring in a legit starter. If we do, Harrison would be worth roster consideration as a defensive specialist. If we go into the season with just solo I and Knight, I agree that Canaan makes more sense.

The problem as I see it, Knight is likely to only be happy as a starter unless his personality has changed. This has made me pull back some on my desire for the Suns to add a starting PG. However, my opinion can change in a hurry.

I would have been happier if the Suns had added a starting PG this summer but it is what it is.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

The problem as I see it, Knight is likely to only be happy as a starter unless his personality has changed. This has made me pull back some on my desire for the Suns to add a starting PG. However, my opinion can change in a hurry.

I would have been happier if the Suns had added a starting PG this summer but it is what it is.

If Knight is only happy as a starter, he should not be a factor in roster construction going forward.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I think Shaq's skill-set might actually make him a better fit for our bench though. We don't really have anyone else that fits his style of hustle and pesky defense. Where as we might well have someone in Okobo that could bring a similar style to Canaan.