Grading Suns' Role Player Performances Thus Far
Two things can be true- the Phoenix Suns are underperforming according to metrics and record, while on the contrary the majority of the bargain bin signings that general manager James Jones made in the off-season seem to be paying off at the moment.
Many of the new acquisitions- ranging from Grayson Allen to Jordan Goodwin, have been called to bring much more to the table than anyone anticipated before the season due to unfortunate injury struggles of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
These signings and trade acquisitions that were once ridiculed for being mediocre at best are now showing exactly why the Suns coveted them to begin with - for the most part.
We will grade the seven key newcomer role players in the Suns' rotation thus far- Jusuf Nurkic, Drew Eubanks, Yuta Watanabe, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon, Keita Bates-Diop and Jordan Goodwin.
Factors that will be looked at include consistency, contributions on both ends and how each fits in the grand scheme of this team.
Jusuf Nurkic- B
Jusuf Nurkic has been a strong addition to the squad in Phoenix.
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Nurkic has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive end of the ball so far for Phoenix. The Bosnian Beast has been widely viewed as a liability on the defensive side ever since the brutal leg injury he suffered in the 2019-20 season. While he is still powerful and has good enough instincts, his athleticism just isn't there anymore.
Which is why his performance has been a pleasant surprise. Nurkic has encountered foul trouble on a few occasions this season, but is also the team leader in steals per game, is averaging nearly a block per game, and is spearheading the Suns' balanced rebounding efforts.
The thing that holds Nurkic back from a higher grade is his inefficiency as a scorer. While he isn't asked to score even 15 points a night, he should be scoring with more efficiency around the rim, especially with some great playmakers around him. It would also be nice to see the three-point shot he had last season- he shot 36.7%- show up now.
While his scoring efficiency has been shaky, credit is due for his ability to connect the offense, his court vision, and his ability to create extra possessions through the offensive glass.
Drew Eubanks- A
Drew Eubanks has shined in his role thus far.
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Eubanks was largely seen as a horizontal move from Jock Landale when free agency opened up.
That has aged horribly, in a good way.
Eubanks has been nothing short of fantastic in the desert, stuffing the stat-sheet to the tune of 7.8 points, 5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.
That 1.4 blocks per contest number ranks among the best in the NBA, and Eubanks making such an impact in a wide variety of ways in just 18 minutes per night is an absolutely unreal yield for a vet minimum player who was seen as an equal to the struggling Jock Landale just a few months ago.
Yuta Watanabe- C
Yuta Watanabe hasn't been awful in Phoenix, though it's clear there's improvement needed.
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Watanabe reportedly turned down several more lucrative offers to sign with Phoenix. That coupled with the chemistry the Japanese sharpshooter has with Kevin Durant made this a signing that fans had high hopes for coming into the season.
While there have been flashes of why the Suns brought Yuta in, the results just haven't been consistent enough.
The wing has brought enough versatility and POA defense to the table, and he has shot 36% from behind the arc, but he just hasn't had many moments of standing out was of late.
While Watanabe has been somewhat disappointing this season, he should still continue to be a key cog in the rotation because there's clearly a niche for him in it.
While there are several 3-and-D players on the roster, Yuta possibly possesses the best blend of the two, and deserves to continue to get opportunities to show that.
Grayson Allen- A+
Allen has supplemented the Suns with sharp three-point shooting.
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Allen is likely the best pickup the Suns made this offseason, just short of a month into the new year.
While Allen has hit double figure scoring in "only" 6 of 11 possible contests, the impact he has brought to the court cannot be overstated.
Allen's intensity on the defensive side of the ball has been a complete 180 from his earlier destinations. Allen may not be the most physically gifted or best on-ball, but his instincts have seemingly been heightened and he has continually brought great effort to the table on that end.
Allen has also been the best shooter on the team early on, hitting 30 treys on an absurd 49.2% clip.
Allen has also been a very strong contributor to both the collective team-based rebounding effort and as a secondary playmaker along with Eric Gordon.
Allen is showing why he was the player James Jones reportedly coveted in the Deandre Ayton trade.
Eric Gordon- A-
Eric Gordon has also been a strong starter for Phoenix while Bradley Beal has been out due to injury.
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Let's cut to the chase here. Gordon is very likely the most purely talented of the group. He's also reached double figure scoring totals in eight of 10 contests he's played in this season. He's also largely been the secondary playmaker on the squad in the absence of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
He's also been yet another solid defensive piece and has lead the charge in increased rim pressure from the Suns.
What's keeping him from being graded out higher?
While Gordon has largely been consistent across the board, he has had two noticeably poor performances from an efficiency standpoint, and his struggles in those set of games nearly cost the Suns two big wins.
Gordon has largely been fantastic in his stint with the team, but those two games dock him a bit compared to a counterpart such as Grayson Allen.
Keita Bates-Diop- B-
KBD has been extremely versatile for Phoenix on both ends of the floor.
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Bates-Diop has been just fine in the time he's received this season.
KBD began the season out of the rotation, a disappointing development considering he was possibly the favorite to be the franchise's fifth starter throughout the offseason.
The lack of Bates-Diop in the rotation didn't last long.
He officially got his first taste of meaningful NBA action on November second against the San Antonio Spurs, and has since been a regular cog in what the team does, even starting at various points.
KBD has been up-and-down as a shooter, but continues a common theme of being a good connector for the star players within the flow of the offense, while also not needing the ball much at all.
While Bates-Diop has been good enough offensively, he joins the likes of Josh Okogie and Jordan Goodwin in the conversation for the title of best perimeter defender in Phoenix. Bates-Diop brings a long wingspan, the ability to guard one-through-four, and seamless ability to switch.
KBD appears to be another strong pickup for James Jones, and certainly can up his game even more in the coming months.
Jordan Goodwin- B
Jordan Goodwin has filled in the backup point guard role well.
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Goodwin came into the season with hopes of being the backup point guard the Suns needed for the long haul, following the departure of Cameron Payne.
Goodwin has largely delivered.
The other piece that came to Phoenix in the Bradley Beal trade has become a notable game-wrecker on defense, and might possibly remind Suns fans of the tenacious defense former fan-favorite Jevon Carter brought to the hardwood.
While Goodwin has clearly carved out a consistent role on the squad, it's largely due to his defense.
Many of the inconsistencies on offense in Washington are showing in Phoenix as well. Goodwin does deserve credit for shooting 42.3% from three-point range in November, along with his relentlessness in attacking the rim and ability to run the offense when needed.
The main gripe with Goodwin has been his poor finishing ability inside the arc. While the guard has proven he has the ability to penetrate defenses, he has shot an alarming 11-35 from inside the arc.
Goodwin still has much untapped potential, and Suns fans should appreciate the contributions he's made while also hoping he can continue to grow for the future.
