It’s an interesting way to build a roster (and smart when you have two max players) and Jones has received production up and down the line. 10 of the 15 players make $4.3 million or less. Given the Suns’ roster construction, being buyers was a challenge: Ī whopping 55.6% of the Suns’ monies are allocated to Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The team plays with a defined pace and style, and loosing key parts of the roster to bring in a missing piece this late in the season didn’t make sense. But at what cost? The chemistry the Phoenix Suns have developed, and continue to develop, is priceless. Did they have the ability to go out and add a missing piece via the trade market? Sure. For the first time in years, the Suns would be buyers rather than sellers.ĭo the Suns have needs? Yes. Entering the trade deadline, Phoenix is the second seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix has flipped the script relative to where they stand in the league. Jones held the line, the Suns won games.įast forward to this season. Come the Orlando Bubble, we were all witnesses to his James was trying to accomplish. Some fans were upset, of course, because we always are. Why would he make a trade? The team hadn’t had the time to gel and execute his vision. Although Phoenix was 4.0 games out of the eighth seed, he wanted to stand fast and allow his chess pieces time to develop.
He wasn’t willing to be a seller in a buyers market. The team as a whole was experiencing the type of nagging injuries that prevented any type of congruency or chemistry to form. Ayton was suspended for 30% of the season. The Phoenix roster he had constructed barely had played together. Like William Wallace in Braveheart, James Jones held.
The team had the assets available to make some moves, with pending UFA Aron Baynes, the Tyler Johnson contract, flight-risk Kelly Oubre and picks. Many of us want to Suns to do something, anything, to assist in progressing the team forward. Phoenix had a 20-30 record and were in 11th place in the Western Conference. Think back to the trade deadline last season. None of this sounds good! Pray for Booker.” Numerous teams reportedly took Johnson off their draft board because he’s had injuries to both of his hips. He’s already older than Devin Booker (who has already played four seasons!), will be 28 when his rookie contract ends, and wasn’t invited to the green room Thursday because he wasn’t expected to go until the late first or second round. “Johnson is a sharpshooter, but that’s about the nicest thing you can say about him. It left many Suns fans with their hands on the head, wondering why Jones went that route. Two years ago, when Phoenix native Brandon Clarke was on the board in the 2019 NBA Draft, Jones went against the grain and took Cameron Johnson. But ultimately, he does what is best for him (and his team). In short, I am saying James Jones is the guy who does what you don’t think he should do.
He’s the guy who merges onto the freeway at the last minute, using every inch of the exit lane prior to join the traffic party. James Jones reminds me of the guy who walks into a restaurant 5 minutes prior to close. Outside after trading away some cash considerations for Torrey Craig last week, the day was uneventful for Phoenix as James Jones held the line and made no rash decisions or moves.Īnd you know what? I think that is a good thing. The trade deadline has come and gone for the Phoenix Suns. Most ever in each category in past 35 years on deadline day.- Adrian Wojnarowski March 26, 2021įor Suns fans and James Jones, it was just another Wednesday. Final tally on NBA Trade Deadline Day, per league:
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