Realistic Expectations for Phoenix Suns Rookie Marquese Chriss in 2016-17
Marquese Chriss' upside was on display for short glimpses in Las Vegas.
During the NBA Summer League opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, Chriss had a drive from the top of the key where he went behind the back, between the legs with his dribble, then sped past former Maryland wing Jake Layman, spun as he approached the rim and scored on a layup.
One night later against the Boston Celtics, Chriss jumped from a flat-footed stance, caught a missed Devin Booker three-pointer with one hand and dunked it in singular motion.
For many basketball observers, this was their introduction to Chriss. He was essentially an unknown to the NBA community leading up to his freshman year at Washington. He ranked 60th in his class, according to 247Sports, and he played on a mediocre Huskies squad that didn't get a lot of television time.
But Chriss was one of the draft board's biggest risers during the season and over the spring because of his bounciness and potential skill. He made 21 of 60 three-pointers at Washington, suggesting he can be a face-up 4. He also showed off the occasional ability to put the ball on the floor and, at 6'10" with wheels, he's the prototypical modern-day power forward.He can guard multiple positions, and the hope is he evolves into more than just a pogo-stick scorer.
Chriss put up solid numbers with Washington—13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game—but it was the moments of athletic freakishness that kept his stock moving upwards. That athleticism is also what convinced the Phoenix Suns to trade up in the draft and take him with the eighth pick even after selecting fellow power forward Dragan Bender at No. 4.
"We really liked Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss in the draft, and we were having a hard time choosing between them at fourth," Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said during ESPN's telecast of the franchise's game against the Celtics. "That's why we tried to come up with a creative way to get both of them because we think they're both very talented and unique young players, but they're both very different."
Team Fit
The Suns doubled down at power forward because that was a huge need; the franchise didn't have a player at that position on the pre-draft depth chart. Phoenix has since signed Jared Dudley to be the starter—necessary because neither Bender nor Chriss is ready to play big minutes.
The latter seems more ready based off what both showed in summer league, and while he shot the ball poorly, his athleticism made him a difference-maker.
| Chriss | 3 | 30.3 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Bender | 5 | 32.0 | 8.6 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 27.5 |
Bender is appears to be the more natural shooter, and if that's what the Suns want out of the backup role, then he could end up getting more minutes. But once Chriss matures, he'll be a good fit with the ball-dominant guards the Suns have stockpiled. He's built for the pick-and-roll with his ability to hit a mid-range jumper and also catch and finish at the rim.
Phoenix coach Earl Watson spoke with ESPN during the Boston telecast and discussed what Chriss brings to the team:
""He's a hybrid. He's unique. He can shoot the three. He can play above the rim. He can handle the ball. He's really good. ...
"Most importantly, he's a competitor, and he brings a tenacious attitude to our team that we need at that position, especially in the West with Draymond [Green] being at Golden State."
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Chriss also projects to be a productive rebounder. That wasn't on display at Washington, where his rebounding numbers were below average for a player at his position. But he flashed his potential in Vegas, tracking down boards outside his area and showing a lot of desire on the offensive glass.
Concerns
Chriss has a steep learning curve, but he figures into the Suns' long-term plans, and they should be patient with his development. After all, he just turned 19, and it could be difficult to trust him with regular minutes as a rookie. He has the body and athleticism to hang in the league now, but he's still learning how to play the game and showed some sloppiness during summer league that would give any coach pause.
Chriss' jumper should be a big selling point, but he shot the ball poorly in Vegas: He missed all seven of his three-point attempts, and most of his buckets were off lobs or putbacks.
Chriss struggled almost any time he tried to put the ball on the floor as well, particularly when he entered traffic. He had 10 turnovers and just one assist in three games. His feel should improve as he gets older, but right now, he shouldn't be trusted as much more than a lob-catcher on the offensive end.
Defensively, Chriss was sharper, though still raw. He had a couple highlight-worthy blocks and showed off a good sense for when to present rim protection as a help-side defender. He was allowed to switch ball screens and guard multiple positions, which is something that could eventually make him valuable. But he struggled to stay in front of his man any time someone tried to drive from the perimeter.
Expectations
A look at the Phoenix depth chart suggests Chriss or Bender could be slotted for a decent chunk of immediate power forward minutes. The more likely scenario is the Suns get creative with the backup spot. They could go big by playing two of their centers together—some combination of Alex Len, Tyson Chandler and Alan Williams—or with either TJ Warren or P.J. Tucker manning that spot.
It would be easier for Watson to figure out his rotation if Chriss or Bender show they are worthy to be part of the second unit. Last year, the Suns saw the benefit of giving a young guy a chance, as Devin Booker emerged as one of the game's best rookies once was forced into action because of backcourt injuries.
Chriss is such an athletic freak that it might be worth trying to give him the minutes. The key would be keeping things simple on both ends.
He could be a weapon on some quick-hitter action and showed comfort operating around the elbows during summer league. The Suns used him in a play you often saw the Oklahoma City Thunder run for Kevin Durant, with Chriss flashing to the elbow, then spinning backdoor for a lob.
That's almost unstoppable when run correctly, and Chriss is one of a handful of guys in the league with the athletic chops/size to pull it off consistently. His rookie season figures to be similar to his summer-league performance, albeit in fewer minutes. He'll provide highlights when he's in the game and should rebound, but he shouldn't be asked to do much more.
Complete Stat Predictions
- Minutes: 14.0
- Points: 3.2
- Rebounds: 3.5
- Assists: 0.1
- Field-goal percentage: 39.0
- Blocks: 0.7
C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.
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