The Phoenix Suns currently have four point guards on their roster, all of whom expect to see a good amount of minutes on the court. Many outsiders see this a problem, and with their current contract situation, it's a problem that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.
The Suns just signed Eric Bledsoe to his massive extension (five years, $70 million), brought Isaiah Thomas in via free agency (four years, $27 million), drafted Tyler Ennis in the first round (three years, $3.2 million - contract also has two-year team option that could turn into a five year, $7.6 million), and still have Goran Dragic (one year, $7.5 million with player option for $7.5 million next year).
That's a lot of money and time a team has invested into just one position. To make matters worse, none of those players have the size to matchup with legitimate shooting guards in the league (Bledsoe is 6'1", Thomas is 5'9", Ennis is 6'2", and Dragic is 6'4").
In saying that, Phoenix is counting on using the strategy that worked so well for them last year - put two point guards on the floor and play fast. Bledsoe makes this strategy work because of his unique skill set.
Even at 6'1", Bledsoe's athleticism and intensity has made him one of the best defenders in the league, and he can guard both backcourt positions effectively. He can also play with and without the ball on offense, wreaking havoc on cuts or driving past his man.
Dragic was one of the most improved players in the league last season, making third-team All-NBA. He's crafty with the ball, a great passer, and a good shooter, making him the perfect complement to Bledsoe in the backcourt. Dragic is the starting point guard with Bledsoe at the two, and then Thomas was brought in to bring a scoring spark off the bench.
That leaves Ennis, who can't play in the backcourt alongside Thomas, who's 5'9" height really limits who he can be paired with on the court. He'll probably start out as insurance in case one of the other three get hurt, but he's also a valuable piece in case Dragic decides he wants to decline his player option and test free agency after this season.
Either way, this season will be much like the last with Dragic and Bledsoe starting, but Thomas will bring a new punch off the bench the Suns didn't have last year, and Ennis will just have to pitch in where he can.
Back to the Phoenix Suns Newsfeed