When talking about major offseason moves, the Phoenix Suns probably won’t come up at all in most circles. This is especially true when speaking about the Suns’ rookies in this 2024 draft class. The Suns made solid acquisitions though in free agency along with resigning some key players from last season. While not the flashiest, these signings are not only great team fits, but can really set up the Suns’ rookies for early success.
Suns Offseason Sets Up Rookies’ Success
Offseason Moves By Phoenix
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal are the main focus of the team and deservedly so. These three superstars will all be back this season alongside fellow starters Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic. They also have valuable experience playing together now, including a playoff series last season. That series would see the Suns swept as the Timberwolves’ depth and defensive prowess prevailed somewhat easily.
The Suns resigned four players in Royce O’Neale, Bol Bol, Damion Lee, and Josh Okogie. All are key depth pieces behind or alongside their ‘big three’ superstars. O’Neale and Okogie are especially valuable as versatile defensive players who can play multiple positions. It was no secret last season though that the Suns’ depth and positional fits weren’t desirable. The Suns’ roster was incohesive and even their ‘big three’ played out of position often. The offseason is a time to fix these issues, and it seems the Suns have addressed their needs.
Every Team Needs A General
Most notably, the Suns were always without a true point guard on the floor last season. Booker and Beal both were tasked with running the offense as opposed to their natural dispositions as scorers. Many fans thought the Suns would address this issue in the 2024 draft, and they were somewhat disappointed when it didn’t happen.
The Suns’ would go on however to sign Tyus Jones and Monte Morris in free agency. Jones and Morris are proven floor generals and will provide stability that a rookie wouldn’t have been able to. This is especially true given the Suns’ lone selection was at pick #22 going into the draft. In 2023-24, Jones led the NBA in assists to turnover ratio. In 2022-23, Morris led the NBA in assists to turnover ratio with Jones in second. From 2019 to 2023, both Morris and Jones have finished in the top five of this category, often being numbers one and two.
Essentially, the Suns signed the two best point guards in the NBA at creating opportunities for others without turning the ball over to the other team. This is especially valuable when considering Jones and Morris won’t be needed to carry the scoring burden either. The Suns have scoring power in spades with their big three, but true point guard play was sorely missed.
So, if point guard was taken care of post-draft, what do these signings have to do with the Suns’ new rookies?
New Kids On The Block
With title contention being the goal, the Suns needed rookies who could contribute from day one. And outside of point guard, they could use more defense and athleticism at the forward and center positions. The problem with having three scoring-centric superstars is that the other end of the floor still has to be accounted for. Okogie and O’Neale are versatile pieces but were often undersized guarding some forwards at six-foot-four and six-foot-six respectively.
This is where Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro enter the picture. Dunn was selected as the 28th overall pick whereas Ighodaro was the 40th overall selection. First, let’s start with Dunn.
Dunn was largely seen as the best overall defender in the entire draft class. At six-foot-eight, Dunn is a hyper-athletic wing that may be able to guard every position. He finished the season averaging 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s also an extremely gifted athlete who thrives above the rim on both ends. Dunn has major holes offensively, but he will be insulated on that end of the floor with the Suns’ weapons. This was arguably the perfect landing spot for his talents.
Next, Ighodaro is another versatile piece out of Marquette that can play the power forward or center position. While Nurkic is an offensive hub and interior presence, he isn’t a vertical lob threat or the best lateral mover. At six-foot-ten, Ighodaro is a pick-and-roll lob threat who can also guard multiple positions with quick feet on defense. He even acted as an offensive hub, executing the ‘point-center’ position in college. This is the perfect piece to play behind Nurkic. He will bring similar playmaking while also providing a different level of athleticism.
Last Word On The Suns
All in all, the Suns have addressed their major concerns this offseason. With the addition of two great point guards in free agency, the Suns’ rookies are in the perfect position to be impactful from day one. They will only need to thrive in the areas that were already considered strengths for them. Defensive versatility, plus-size, and athleticism are Dunn and Ighodaro’s calling cards. As a Phoenix fan or NBA fan in general, the Suns’ rookies are ones to lookout for this season.
