I thought I'd write a little about the Suns 3 rookies this year. Goodwin has thus far helped the most, and we've seen very little of Len. I would just link you but I have to have 20 posts to. To find the article on the site visit scorchingsuns.com
It has been 20 games for the Phoenix Suns to start the season, going a surprisingly well 11-9. But the state of the Suns rookies is still very unclear on how they will play into the Suns future. There are three on the roster, so lets take a look at each of them.
Alex Len – 1st round, 5th overall – Len is very tough to judge so far, considering he has only played 4 games. He has been sidelined for a while with a left ankle injury, something that concerned GM’s and scouts leading up to the draft. In those 4 games he has only played 7.8 MPG, and averaged 1.8 PPG and 1.8 RPG.
When he returns which should be soon, he will have to battle for playing time over the starting center Miles Plumlee and backup Slava Kratzsov out of Ukraine. He needs to be physical and use his 7’1 frame, and he does possess good offensive skills for a player his size. Time will tell for Len, but foremost, he needs to get back on the floor.
Archie Goodwin – 1st round, 29th overall – Goodwin has been up and down thus far as a backup SG. He has displayed what scouts loved of him coming out of Kentucky, his explosiveness getting to the basket, but what troubled them as well. On the season he has shot a horrid 2-21 from the 3 point line, and 7-13 from the FT line. That must improve as well as his 40.8% from the field. But he has shown flashes in his 19 games played getting steals and some highlight dunks.
Goodwin is a project, but he has not played horribly to start his career. 11 minutes per game and 3.5 PPG are numbers that could go up as the season progresses. Right now he is rightfully behind wings P.J Tucker and Gerald Green on the depth chart, but he still could get more minutes later this year. We’ll keep a close eye on his shooting percentages in particular, as those must improve.
Dionte Christmas – Undrafted – This is just a great story. Christmas went undrafted in 2009 out of Temple and this is his first year in the NBA. He has played overseas and been cut by numerous NBA rosters, but has made it after 4 long years. He has played in 13 games playing some backup SG. He has not been spectacular, shooting only 37% and scoring 2.1 PPG. He does not seem to be in the Suns future, but regardless, this is a great story for the 27 year old rookie.
It has been 20 games for the Phoenix Suns to start the season, going a surprisingly well 11-9. But the state of the Suns rookies is still very unclear on how they will play into the Suns future. There are three on the roster, so lets take a look at each of them.
Alex Len – 1st round, 5th overall – Len is very tough to judge so far, considering he has only played 4 games. He has been sidelined for a while with a left ankle injury, something that concerned GM’s and scouts leading up to the draft. In those 4 games he has only played 7.8 MPG, and averaged 1.8 PPG and 1.8 RPG.
When he returns which should be soon, he will have to battle for playing time over the starting center Miles Plumlee and backup Slava Kratzsov out of Ukraine. He needs to be physical and use his 7’1 frame, and he does possess good offensive skills for a player his size. Time will tell for Len, but foremost, he needs to get back on the floor.
Archie Goodwin – 1st round, 29th overall – Goodwin has been up and down thus far as a backup SG. He has displayed what scouts loved of him coming out of Kentucky, his explosiveness getting to the basket, but what troubled them as well. On the season he has shot a horrid 2-21 from the 3 point line, and 7-13 from the FT line. That must improve as well as his 40.8% from the field. But he has shown flashes in his 19 games played getting steals and some highlight dunks.
Goodwin is a project, but he has not played horribly to start his career. 11 minutes per game and 3.5 PPG are numbers that could go up as the season progresses. Right now he is rightfully behind wings P.J Tucker and Gerald Green on the depth chart, but he still could get more minutes later this year. We’ll keep a close eye on his shooting percentages in particular, as those must improve.
Dionte Christmas – Undrafted – This is just a great story. Christmas went undrafted in 2009 out of Temple and this is his first year in the NBA. He has played overseas and been cut by numerous NBA rosters, but has made it after 4 long years. He has played in 13 games playing some backup SG. He has not been spectacular, shooting only 37% and scoring 2.1 PPG. He does not seem to be in the Suns future, but regardless, this is a great story for the 27 year old rookie.
