Suns target 3 FA Point Guard, who tops their wish list?

The Phoenix Suns have the core of their 2024-25 team under contract. The problem for the Suns is that their options are limited. They are well over the second tax bracket with salaries totaling more than $211 million and just 11 players under contract, including unsigned 2024 first-round pick Ryan Dunn.

Given the Suns’ financial situation, general manager James Jones can only offer the veteran minimum to the three or four players he’ll sign to give them a full roster. NBA teams can have 14 or 15 players on standard contracts, but given their salary situation, I’m not sure it makes sense for the Suns not to have a full roster.

Pboenix’ biggest current need is at guard, specifically point guard. The Suns don’t have a true point guard other than Colin Gillespie, who is on a two-way deal, on their 2024-25 roster. Gillespie signed with the Suns earlier today. He played 24 games for Denver last season.

Incidentally, the Suns did not have a true point guard for much of last season’s campaign. Instead, the Suns decided to have multiple players play the position. While not a true floor general, Devin Booker served as the team’s lead guard for the majority of his time on the floor. Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon, Isaiah Thomas, Jordan Goodwin and Saben Lee also spent time at the one.

Gordon signed a free agent contract with Philadelphia this offseason, and Goodwin, who finished last season in Memphis on a two-way contract, is also a free agent. Thomas and Lee are also free agents.

Phoenix Suns looking for backup point guard, targeting 3 veterans

According to Gerald Bourguet of PHNXSports, the Suns are working on their next backup point guard. Bourget said the Suns are very interested in free agents Kris Dunn, Monte Morris and Kyle Lowry.

Kyle Dunn

Bourguet said Dunn is the Suns’ top target. The 30-year-old is more athletic and a better playmaker than the other two options. He’s also an excellent distributor and defender. Bourget added that Dunn could demand more from other teams than the Suns can afford.

Dunn is coming off a season in which he saw his most extensive NBA action since 2019-20, averaging 5.4 points on 47.0/36.9/68.8% shooting for Utah. He also tallied 3.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 turnovers in 19 minutes over 66 appearances, including 32 starts.

Dunn produced a double-double a season ago. While the 6-3 guard scored in double-digits in nine of his 66 games, he dished out double-digit assists three times and recorded at least one steal 40 times.

Monte Morris

Morris was hampered by injuries last season, playing in just 33 games last year. The 29-year-old is an excellent shooter, with a career 3-point percentage of 39.1%, and a fantastic ball handler. He is also an excellent physical defender.

Although Morris did not play much in Detroit last season, he was very good as Mike Conley’s understudy in Minnesota. Morris averaged 5.1 points, 2.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds on a 41.7/42.4/70.6 shooting percentage. He scored in double figures only twice.

Kyle Lowry

At 38, Lowry is the old leader of the trio. While he’s not the player he once was, Lowry is still a useful backup. He doesn’t do anything extraordinary anymore, but he’s not going to hurt his team either.

Lowry averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 60 games for Miami and Philadelphia last season. Lowry also hit 1.6 triples per game with a shooting slash line of 43.2/39.2/84.0%. He had three double-doubles and scored in double figures in 20 games, including three games of 20+ points.