Now that the logo cards have been turned and the NBA lottery is over, the Phoenix Suns will begin evaluating the best player to win at number 10.
Suns CEO James Jones answered questions about Suns media availability, giving us a look at how he plans to handle the odd off-season.
Free will and the project will be a different creature, having to deal with the pandemic. But first James gives his general reaction to the lottery results and how he approached the night by joining the project.
“Our approach to the draft didn’t change on the night we expected to get tenth pick and ended up with tenth pick,” Jones said. “It would have been nice to get into the lottery, but given where we are, we will be able to find a very good player at 10. Someone who can increase the skills of this team and help us continue our progress.”
With mock drafts flowing like the wind and every player dissected, the point at number 10 can really go a lot of ways. For James, he takes things as they come and tries to trust his process in finding the right fit.
“Check what we can control right now.” James continues. “We had to rely only on what we see. We have to go back to the movie of the game and we watched a lot of it to analyze what these guys can bring to our team and what they can add to our team. I am confident that as we get closer to the project, there will be ways for us as an organization or teams as a whole to get closer to the players. It might not be a draft workout, but look at the individual workouts. Break down the latest game footage. It will be a challenge and you will just have to rely on what you see and worry less about what you plan a guy will be able to do. “
After finishing 8-0 in the bubble, maintaining momentum could be the hardest part of next season. But with James’ group of players, he didn’t seem too concerned about the lengthy layoff, again, until next season.
“We have guys who love to play and love the basket,” says James. “If you give them free time, they work on their jobs. I think our practical structure will play an important role in allowing us to maximize this time away from organized activities. “
The Suns roster looks almost full of talent from top to bottom, but it still has a few holes to fill. How will James rate players and what is he looking for when adding to the depth chart?
“Our system is a dynamic system,” James talks about positive changes on the pitch. “If you look at the small improvements we have made to the Bubble. Our focus on rebounding, offensive rebounding, moving the ball, sharing the ball, being a low turnover team.
“All these things demand it of boys they can think on their feet. Guys who have great ball skills. Not necessarily great ball delivery skills, but knowing how to move your body and how to move the ball and how to share the game. It takes a basketball IQ level and maturity. “
James also added: “We have just decided that every day we will continue to watch the guys who fit our style of play and play for manager Monty.”
Coach Monty Williams appears to be on the same line. Jones, like draft and free agency in recent years, will continue to add players who can help immediately. Since taking over 19-year-old Deandre Ayton overall number 1 in 2018, the Suns have enlisted experienced college players such as Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and Ty Jerome, all of whom were 22 at the time of the draft.
“Always looking for experience,” Jones said. “We are always looking for capacity. I don’t go based on age. My experience that the Older players are the more experienced veteran players who tend to have a greater ability from day one to contribute to your team.“
The biggest challenge for James and the Suns this off-season? From the evaluation of the players in the draft and currently on the roster, decision making from afar would seem difficult, but not for Jones.
“It’s a challenge, but to be honest, not that much.” James continues: “When drawing the lottery, very few players want to do group training, they prefer to do individual training. I think the biggest challenge is that these players won’t have the ability to play 5-on-5 basketball to run in a gym with other draftee and other free agents and stay sharp on timing. “
It looks like a much improved Suns team on the bubble, to compare the first part of the season with the second … James replies: “We have had three seasons. We had a season without Deandre. We had a season with Deandre and no Frank Kaminsky and no Aron Baynes. We had a bubble with another mix of players, but above all our young players had the chance to play together. “
Deandre Ayton and young core finally had some real reps together, but James points out the bigger picture:
“We’ve had three mini-seasons, but overall I think our understanding of our concepts and our consistency was far greater in the Bubble than before.”
Coming out of the bubble with more focus and consistency leads to a low season that can help the Suns make the playoffs with the right additions.
