Let’s build an identity through league minimum wings and hope!
The Phoenix Suns, just one season removed from posting the highest payroll in NBA history, are now led by a new general manager. One who, in his opening press conference, used words we haven’t heard in these parts for the better part of a decade: “player development” and the “draft”. Those terms don’t tend to show up in win-now vocabularies. But their presence signals something. Uncertainty. Transition. Maybe even a philosophical shift.
So what do the Suns actually plan to do this offseason? Do they cut bait and reset, acknowledging the financial straitjacket they’ve strapped themselves into? Or do they double down, ride the stars, and try to patch the holes with veteran minimums and overlooked value?
Honestly — I’ve said this before — but I really don’t know what the Suns are going to do. This isn’t one of those summers where you can plug names into a depth chart and pretend you’re previewing the season. The starting point is blurry. The endgame? Hazy at best.
But we press on. If nothing else, it’s a worthwhile exercise to examine the talent pool. Today, we shift our focus to the small forward position.
It’s a spot the Suns have been playing undersized at for the better part of two seasons. In a perfect world, Kevin Durant holds it down. But this team hasn’t lived in a perfect world for some time. They’ve pushed Devin Booker into the three spot to accommodate the Beal experiment, stretching his defensive responsibilities and muddying positional logic. And while Book can do just about anything on a basketball court, playing small forward in the NBA isn’t one of his strong suits. Unless it’s FIBA.
So we look at the list of available small forwards. And as with the other positions we’ve reviewed, it’s not a glamorous list. It’s not brimming with stars. But this isn’t about splash anymore. It’s about identity, right? Alignment. Culture. Corporate buzzwords.
The goal is to find players who fit whatever mold this franchise is trying to forge, whatever it is they’re building behind the curtain. That requires imagination. That requires clarity. And above all, that requires flexibility.
So…who’s out there? Let’s take a look.
Lindy Waters III might be the most intriguing name on this list.
The former member of the Oklahoma City Thunder was traded to the Warriors a summer ago, and ended last season playing for the Detorit Pistons, as he ended up there as a part of the five-team Jimmy Butler deal.
And Suns fans know who he is.
He’s torched Phoenix before. Back on March 8, 2023, he dropped 23 points, his second-highest scoring game ever and his top performance that season. He’s a known headache.
Sure, he’s a little older. But you’re not bringing him in to be your starting small forward. You’re looking for a depth piece. And frankly, that’s what this entire small forward free agent class is: depth plays. There isn’t a clear-cut starter in the bunch.
Is there anyone else who jumps out at you?
Would it be hilarious — or poetic — if the Suns brought Torrey Craig back for a third stint? Third time’s the charm, right?
Let us know in the comments below.
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