The Phoenix Suns took a major step back in the rebuilding process this year, finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NBA. They fired head coach Jeff Hornacek halfway through the season as a result, and Earl Watson now takes the reins permanently with the goal of earning a playoff spot in 2017. However, in order to reach that goal, they're going to need to add some pieces to bolster their roster. Here are four free agents they should target this offseason:
4) Nicolas Batum
Phoenix needs wing depth, and Batum is the kind of versatile player who can play four different positions. He's also a team-first guy who would have no problem sliding into the starting lineup and filling whatever role this team needs him for. An unselfish playmaker, Batum is also an excellent defender and a very good three-point shooter.
3) Ryan Anderson
Anderson is your prototypical stretch four and would finally give Phoenix a reliable answer at the position next to Tyson Chandler. A knockdown shooter, he has made 37.7 percent of his career three-pointers and averaged 17 points per game. The Suns need another offensive weapon like him in the frontcourt who won't clog the paint, and they could get him for relatively cheap.
2) Harrison Barnes
Barnes wants more money than what Golden State seems willing to offer him, and as they start a pursuit of Kevin Durant, they may been willing to let Barnes walk. He has been in a bit of the slump in the playoffs, but he has a lot of potential. A reliable defender and three-point shooter with underrated athleticism, Barnes' true ability is largely kept under wraps in Golden State as he's overshadowed by the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green. Plus, he's still just 23 years old and would bring much-needed championship experience.
1) Al Horford
Phoenix has been pursuing the biggest names available for each of the past few years, and they plan to do the exact same this year. There's nothing too flashy about Horford's game, but the Hawks star has quietly been one of the NBA's best big men over the past decade. Horford fits the bill as an unselfish, skilled big man who can do everything on the court, and he has the shooting range to open the paint.
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