NBA Free Agency: One move every team needs to make
By Tom West
Phoenix Suns: Sign Solomon Hill
The Suns aced the 2016 NBA Draft by the standards of almost anyone you could ask. With both Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss in the top eight with some savvy trading before taking Tyler Ulis in the second round, their already young roster, highlighted by NBA sophomore Devin Booker, looks even more exciting.
This team is on the rise without doubt, but their projected timeline of success and playoff contention isn’t beginning just yet.
When talking to Bright Side of the Sun, GM Ryan McDonough iterated that the Suns won’t aim too high in free agency, instead emphasizing a belief in the team’s young talent:
"“We could use what Portland did last year as a blueprint. They were picked to finish 14th or 15th in the West. I’m not saying we will be that, I don’t know where we will be picked. But we kind of embrace the underdog role. Especially with the age of our team.”"
Instead of high-profile stars, as much as someone like Nicolas Batum could intrigue the Suns, complimentary pieces, such as a Solomon Hill, are more attainable and still highly beneficial.
He’s a fairly unknown commodity by some fans, but Hill fits today’s NBA profile of versatile wings so well. He’s strong, explosive, can slash to the basket (and hopefully improve his three-point shot), he runs back for chase down blocks just as intently as he breaks out in transition, and he can play and guard between the two, three and four. At around $10 million per year or somewhere close to it, he could wind up looking like a relative bargain if he’s given more playing time to show what he’s capable of.
He offers more size and power forward ability than an undersized wing like P.J. Tucker, and the Suns could really appreciate Hill’s great versatility off the bench.
Now we just need to see how high the Suns aim in free agency, and whether the likes of Nicolas Batum and Harrison Barnes are on their radar.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves