I found myself this weekend at a local QuikTrip, standing in front of the beer aisle, pondering my selection. Do I go with my go-to after a long work day, a crisp Dos Equis lager? Am I in the mood for sucking on a pinecone and trying some craft IPA that tastes like it was brewed inside a lumber yard? Or am I feeling nostalgic, wishing for a Schlitz beer, even though truth be told, I’ve never really been a Schlitz guy.
Now Pabst Blue Ribbon? That hits the spot. Especially when it comes in pitcher form
as it does at Uncle Sam’s on 32nd Street and Shea. But I digress.
As I stood there contemplating my beer selection, it started feeling a lot like what the Phoenix Suns are doing right now as they navigate their options at the small forward position. Do they stick with what they know? Do they crack open something different and hope it tastes better after a few sips?
Because when you look at the small forwards available via unrestricted free agency, the list is underwhelming. In fact, there are only eight players who truly fit that category. So the question becomes, do you stick with what you already have, or is there anyone on this list intriguing enough that you want to give them a shot? And even if you do, can you realistically find minutes for those guys?
Before we start trying to answer those questions, let’s take a look at the list.
When you think about the Phoenix Suns roster heading into next season, they actually possess plenty of flexibility, especially at the wing position. Dillon Brooks will be back. Ryan Dunn is certainly more of a small forward than a power forward. You have Haywood Highsmith. Then there are decisions surrounding players like Amir Coffey and Jordan Goodwin, who we all know is more wing than guard. Don’t forget that Grayson Allen is still on the roster, and Royce O’Neale is probably best suited as a small forward too.
So when you look at this list, even though there are some intriguing names out there, you start wondering whether the Suns would, or even should, explore any of these options.
It’s like me standing in front of the beer case. I know a refreshing Dos Equis lager is going to hit the spot after a long day of work. That’s what I’m used to. That’s what I know. Every now and then, though, you get exploratory. You start wondering if that grapefruit IPA is actually as delicious as it sounds. Most of the time, at least in my experience, you have to be in the exact right mood to enjoy an IPA. Otherwise, it tastes like carbonated mulch and regret.
That’s what a lot of these free agent options feel like. They’re IPAs. Things that sound like they could fit, things you convince yourself might work, then halfway through, you realize they’re probably leaving a bad taste in your mouth. And given the Suns’ stated desire for continuity, along with some of the decisions they made last season, like signing Highsmith through the end of the 2027 season, it showcases to me that Phoenix is not in a rush to run around trying every craft beer fart on the market.
So that’s my opinion. That’s how I’m approaching this. Stick with what you know.
That’s exactly what I did yesterday, standing in front of that beer fridge. I bought a six-pack of bottled Dos Equis, went home, and proceeded to make Bulleit Rye old-fashioned drinks.
