Tyus Jones is expected to take over as the Suns‘ starting point guard after reaching an agreement with the team on Saturday, writes Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports.
Jones will earn $3MM on a one-year, minimum-salary contract, opting to take less money for the chance to play for a contender. In a statement to ESPN on Saturday, he indicated that he expects to start in Phoenix.
In the same story, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports hears that Grayson Allen will likely be moved to a bench role to open up a starting spot for Jones. Allen was the NBA’s top three-point shooter last season, connecting at 46.1% on 5.9 attempts per game.
Jones, who has led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio for the past five seasons, will bring a steadying presence to a Phoenix team that played without a true point guard last season. He’ll take some of the ball-handling duties away from Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, allowing them to focus on their traditional roles on offense.
The Suns also signed Monte Morris this summer and added Collin Gillespie on a two-way deal, giving new head coach Mike Budenholzer plenty of depth at point guard.
Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic examines Phoenix’s options in the wake of the signing, noting that a team with Jones, Beal and Booker in the starting lineup would have issues with both size and defense. That’s a greater concern because Jusuf Nurkic isn’t really a shot blocker in the middle, Rankin states, and Durant would be counted on to be the best defender on the starting unit at age 36.
Rankin suggests that another option is to start Royce O’Neale, who excels as a perimeter defender, but that would likely mean bringing Beal off the bench. Beal could provide instant offense in a sixth-man role, but it might be hard to sell him on it since he’s making $50MM this season and has been a starter throughout his career.
That’s it, what a bargain. I guess he cared more about starting then backing up JB. It wasn’t about the money at all with Jones
Solid gamble on his part, he’s probably hoping that a starting role on a contender will better showcase him for a better payday next summer. Instead of locking himself into a contract that’s higher right now, but doesn’t give him a payday down the line since he’d be in a more limited role.
Such b.s…. He’s a starter making less than more than half of the bench makes. Tyus got screwed by the new tax apron rules.
He wasn’t going to start on many teams that are playoff caliber.
Monte and tyus wow
Grayson oneal monte and tyus
Phoenix low key had an amazing offseason.
If they could have added, say, drummond to back up the 5, it would be over.
Also beal as thier 6 man makes too much sense
Booker jones allen kd nurkic
Beal morris oneal
How ever you slice it thats a top 3 8 man rotation
Disagree. PHX got a couple good players for cheap in Jones and Morris. But Jones/Allen/Nurk/Beal/Morris/Oneal are part of a top-3 8-man rotation? Only Book and KD would even be part of an 8-man rotation on the Celtics, Thunder, Knicks, Wolves, Sixers, Pacers, Kings, Griz, and Mavs (and maybe the Cavs, Magic, and a few others).
Nah, I think there would be spots in the rotation for O’Neale, Beal, Nurkìc, Jones and Allen on most of those squads. Jones is better than Pritchard, Dillingham and McBride. The Knicks could definitely use Nurkìc. O’Neale and Allen would find spots as they’re reliable 3 and D guys. The only reason Beal wouldn’t make any of those rosters is his salary.
Fair enough. I agree some of the other PHX dudes woud be in other teams’ rotations depending on need (e.g., Nurk on the Knicks). But the idea PHX has a top-3 8-man rotation is still false.
I’m not saying they’ll win the Larry O’Brien trophy. They may not have a top 3 8-man rotation but they still have two of top 10 players in the league. Dallas made it to the finals with only one player I’d put in the top 10.
KD and Book are great (though I’m not sure either’s top 10 today.) Mavs and Celts each made it to the finals with only one top-10 player. Difference is Mavs, Celts, OKC, and others surrounded their top stars with other stars and 3&D types. (Recall Mavs were average until they committed to D around trade deadline.) PHX was middle of the pack on D last year and didn’t add any new defensive talent.
It’s a decent off season… For their offence…
Defensively they haven’t got the pieces to be top 6 in the West..
They need a centre that is a defensive force in order to make this work…
You are saying if they signed Drummond, the season would be over cause the Suns would win it all?!
PHX no better than the #5 seed in the west with the current roster. Add Drummonda and nothing changes as he’s a ineffective older player who has literally never won at any level.
They really need to start Grayson Allen for his shooting and especially his defense and toughness.
Bradley Beal should come off the bench sort of like in an Andrew Wiggins way. It might revitalize his game. Wiggins played a lot better when the Warriors brought him off the bench this last spring after starting his whole life.
Beal would be great for the offense on the second unit, but I’m not sure if Bradley is that kind of a guy to accept the role?
It’s wild how the Suns had no true PG last year. Just rolled in with an improperly made roster for a whole season. Jones at least knows the position. Brad Beal and Grayson Allen are SGs, not PGs.
Irs crazy monte and tyus are literally the the perfect pg rotation for this team.
They got their james paxton and steve kerr!
Still not a championship team but they have made improvements. Curious to see if Beal would come off the bench.
He probably should for size reasons.
Nurk is not good enough to guard the top teams bigs or long lineups.
Not sure Phoenix actually needs a starting point guard, except on D, and Tyus doesn’t help there. They’ve already got three ball dominant perimeter players in the lineup. Not sure what he adds other than another shooter. Unless they move Beal to the bench or something.
Wow talk about not having any talent on your team that you have to start this bozo
The wash wizards guys … hopping into the carriage. From beal, morris now jones lol! Good luck to you all. It might actually work since everybody that came from the wiz will do good… it’s a fact.
This makes me wish Russ went to Phoenix instead of Denver. Obviously it would never happen but how great would it have been to see the OG Thunder duo come back to each other after all this time.
Should be the easiest role for him. Get the guys the ball and take shots when he’s open…