Phoenix Suns: Who Will and Won't Be Back with the Team Next Year?
The Phoenix Suns have several questions about the roster for next season and most people seem to think it's time for a makeover. There is a high likelihood that something big will be done, but it could be a major trade (something involving Steve Nash), a free-agent splash or a successful draft selection.
Regardless of what happens, there will be a decent amount of player movement. Read on to see who on the current roster will be around or gone next season.
Steve Nash
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Steve Nash has been a constant in the desert for years now, and he is still one of the best point guards in the league, even at the young age of 37. Nash is the centerpiece of the Suns, and the team simply isn't the same without him.
Regardless, Nash has long been rumored to be on his way out of Phoenix, but never has there been a legit chance he would be traded. There was one trade rumor that made me think Nash could be traded, but it seems too good to be true for the Suns. According to the rumor, the Suns would trade Nash and the 13th pick in the draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Jonny Flynn, Wesley Johnson, the second pick in the draft and other players (to matchup the financials).
I have been saying for a while now that the Suns need to keep Nash, but if this trade rumor is true, they need to execute this immediately. Overall, the team would be much improved and better suited for the future. But like I said earlier, it seems too good to be true, and I'm still betting the Suns keep Nash and make due with him.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Vince Carter
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Vince Carter came to the Suns in the big midseason trade that sent Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark to the Orlando Magic for Marcin Gortat, Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, the Magic's 2011 first-round draft pick and cash considerations.
Vince had some solid games, but he is a shell of his former self and struggled for most of the season. Carter has an $18 million contract for next season, but if he is waived before June 30th, the Suns will have to pay $4 million, and Carter will be a unrestricted free agent.
Quite frankly, Vince is not coming back for $18 million, and the Suns are going to be happy to see him leave.
Staying or Leaving: Leaving
Marcin Gortat
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Marcin Gortat was the main piece the Suns received in the trade with the Orlando Magic, and he has played well for the Suns. He is a tough defender and can be counted on for 10 to 14 points on a nightly basis. After playing behind Dwight Howard, Gortat showed he can be a starting center in the NBA and won't be losing his starting job anytime soon.
Gortat is a big piece of the future for the Suns, and there is no way they trade him unless they get a really good offer.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Grant Hill
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Grant Hill will be 39 years young by next season, and he is an unrestricted free agent. Even though he is old (by NBA standards), he still is playing at a high level and should have a couple good years left in him. This past season, Hill was the best defender on the team, and he was a constant double-digit scorer.
Many think Hill will leave for a contender but he came out and said he would like to be back in Phoenix. He wants to be back and is a reliable player and presence in the clubhouse. I say, why not bring him back?
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Channing Frye
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Channing Frye is one of the best shooting big men in the league and is a hand and glove fit for the Suns. He gives Steve Nash much more room to operate, since he spreads the floor with his shooting. Plus, he causes mismatches with bigger power forwards because he makes them uncomfortable as they attempt to guard him at the three-point line.
Frye will be going in to the second year of his five-year extension he signed last summer, and he won't be going anywhere.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Jared Dudley
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Jared Dudley was supposed to be a throw in when he was traded with Jason Richardson to the Suns from the Charlotte Bobcats but has turned in to a solid role player. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and is known for his good defense. Dudley is well liked around the clubhouse, and he is most definitely in the Suns' future plans.
Dudley just signed a five-year extension last season, and he isn't going anywhere.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Aaron Brooks
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The Suns made a big move at the trade deadline last year and traded Goran Dragic and a 2011 first-rounder to the Houston Rockets for Aaron Brooks. The Suns figured they could trade the struggling Dragic in exchange for Brooks, who could be the replacement for Steve Nash. However, Brooks didn't play as well as they thought he would, and now his status with the team next year is in the air.
Brooks is a restricted free agent, but he may want to test the open market to see who is interested in his services. Many think he didn't play up to par because his role changed, and he didn't have enough time to incorporate himself in to the team. I think Brooks could be much better with a full training camp, but he should be in demand with a relatively weak point guard free-agent class.
The Suns will definitely talk about if Brooks is a part of their future or if they are going to move in a different direction. I don't know why but something tells me they are going to let Brooks go and move on.
Staying or Leaving: Leaving
Robin Lopez
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Robin Lopez went from starting center of a team two wins away from the NBA finals to a hardly used backup center in less than a year, and no one on the team needed this season to end faster than Lopez. To his defense, he wasn't the same after his back injury and hopefully he will be back to full health next season.
He could be an important part of the much used bench unit and would allow Marcin Gortat to have some extra rest. I'm really pulling for Lopez to bounce back, and he will be given that chance.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Mickael Pietrus
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Mickael Pietrus was also included in the trade with the Orlando Magic and actually played decently with the Suns. He provided defensive toughness off the bench and someone who can hit open shots. He has come out and said he plans to exercise his $5 million player option for next year and will be back in Phoenix.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Josh Childress
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Josh Childress was signed last offseason and had a rocky first year with the Suns. He started out in the rotation but slowly fell to the end of the bench and racked up a bunch of DNPs. He is a solid defender and can really get out and run but his lack of shooting ability really hurts him.
He should be given another chance to prove himself in training camp, and I think he will play well and earn his spot in the rotation.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Hakim Warrick
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Hakim Warrick started out the season very well but faded and played off and on after that. He has the tools to succeed in the Suns system, but he needs to bulk up. He relies on his athleticism to get by, but the Suns need him to be more physical down low. He gives them a decent mid-range shooter and a very good athlete but not much more.
The team should look to unload his contract, and hopefully, they can get something decent in return. But not many teams are going to be interested since Warrick didn't play extremely well this year. It's like the Childress situation, they signed someone to a bad contract who is not in the long term goals of the team.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Zabian Dowdell
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Zabian Dowdell was signed midway through the season and seemed to find a place on the Suns. He played with more consistency than Goran Dragic and Aaron Brooks and was a good spark plug off the bench. I think it's safe to say he earned a contract on the team for next season.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
Garrett Siler
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Garrett Siler was one of the guys at the end of the bench who hardly played but still showed some promise. He has a contract worth under $1 million, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was waived to pave the way for incoming players.
Staying or Leaving: Leaving
Gani Lawal
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Gani Lawal was the second-round pick of the Suns in last year's draft, but he missed the entire season with an ACL tear and before that he was a productive player at Georgia Tech. Lawal has a contract under $1 million and has some upside, so he should be back in a Suns uniform next season.
Staying or Leaving: Staying
