Suns' Jared Dudley Undergoes Toe Surgery; Will Miss 3-4 Months

The Phoenix Suns announced Tuesday forward Jared Dudley will be sidelined three to four months after undergoing a left toe ligament and bone procedure.

Dudley, 31, averaged 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists last season while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, including 37.9 percent from three. 

The projected timeline puts Dudley on pace to return shortly before the start of the 2017-18 season, which would be good news for a Suns team that relies heavily on his perimeter defense. 

During the 2016-17 campaign, the Suns surrendered 103.9 points per 100 possessions with Dudley on the floor—a mark that was 5.4 points better than the team's season-long defensive rating of 109.3. 

Dudley was also the Suns' top three-point shooter among players who hoisted at least 50 attempts from beyond the arc. 

Assuming Dudley can work his way back to 100 percent, he should continue to operate as a three-and-D linchpin who can swing between the 3 and 4 for a Suns team on the rise in the Western Conference. 

Stats courtesy of NBA.com.