Grant Hill, Matt Barnes: Phoenix Suns Special Preview Series

With age and a new philosophy endangering the stability of the team, the Suns feel fortunate to have two "glue guys" manning the small forward spot to hold the team together.

Grant Hill came to Phoenix at a garage sale price last summer ($1 million a year) thanks to his injury riddled tenure at Orlando. It was a low-risk, high-reward move that paid dividends for the Suns.

Hill was solid, averaging 13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.9 apg while staying healthy enough to play 70 games in the season.  His efficiency and experience gave the Suns a crunch-time factor that had been absent in seasons past.

An emergency appendectomy and a groin injury limited Hill's effectiveness late in the season, and he was ultimately a non-factor in the Suns' first-round defeat to San Antonio in the playoffs.

This season, the Suns hope to utilize Hill's effectiveness by bringing him off the bench to steady a relatively young second unit that features Boris Diaw (26), Leandro Barbosa (25), Robin Lopez (20) and Goran Dragic (22).

Hill's health will be the biggest deciding factor in how well he can help the team this season.

Replacing Hill in the starting lineup is former Golden State Warrior and Mavericks killer Matt Barnes, whom the Suns likewise swindled for the veteran's minimum this offseason.

Barnes, coming off a down year after a breakout 2006-07 campaign, is hoping that his secure role will produce more consistent results game in and game out. The Suns likewise yearning for it.

While no sharp-shooter, Barnes can get hot in a hurry, and will at least keep defenses honest when they might otherwise be tempted to double down on Shaquille O'Neal or Amare Stoudemire.

Barnes' versatility is a great asset to a lineup full of players who need the ball to be effective.  His skill set was on display last Monday against Charlotte, when he registered 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

This will be Barnes' biggest opportunity of his career, and the Suns are counting on him (thanks to Hill's age) not to blow it.

If he can contribute night in and night out, the Suns will have the small forward spot nailed down as their role-playing part in their production.

If not, the whole thing depends on Hill's physical well-being...and everyone knows how safe that can be.