With recent injuries, Jordan Ott has had to dig deep into his rotation and find guys to step up in big moments. We have seen this transpire, with young wings in Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming showing bright flashes of their game. Not only that, but veteran wings that have been late-season additions have also risen to the occasion. Players like Amir Coffey and Haywood Highsmith have made winning plays on both ends and filled holes this team lacked in the first half of the year.
Yet even though all this
positive stuff has been said about this dynamic wing room, there are plenty of people who will say that it is too crowded. To those people, I have this to use against them; that is a ridiculous thing to say.
In this league, the wing position is the most coveted, and the Suns have the perfect blend in their rotation. This is a good problem for the team, and one they should not squander. When you look at each of them, too, it makes sense why this is not an issue.
First, let’s look at Dillon Brooks, who was a key piece for this team and came at the right moment. When this team needed an identity and culture shift, he was the perfect person to bring in to help build that structure. He does everything he can on the court to fire himself and his teammates up to make sure they are always ready for war. Some of these antics can cause him some unnecessary trouble with the referees, but his teammates always have his back.
Brooks has consistently been a leader for this team and arguably their second-best player. We have noticed it especially with him being out with the broken hand, missing his impact on both ends of the court. Brooks, though, is not the only one who brings this fire to the team.
The young wing duo is now flourishing, and due to those injuries, has seen increased developmental minutes together. Both Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming have made those eye-popping plays, whether it’s a crazy dunk or a block you could not imagine, they are taking the Valley by storm. Not to mention the great shooting that Fleming has displayed in this short stint in March, it really convinces fans to buy into the direction the Suns are heading.
Even with Dunn getting some DNP’s over a stretch, it did not faze him as he came back and has gotten better with each performance. To see the sophomore not get frustrated and use that as motivation to make sure he sticks in the lineup should only fuel the fire of the other wings who want playing time too.
Guys like Haywood Highsmith and Amir Coffey, two wings who came in the middle of the season, were acquired: Coffey from the Milwaukee Bucks and Highsmith from the buyout market. Both saw limited or no playing time due to injury, but have now integrated themselves as guys who have earned Ott’s trust.
Coffey was in and out of Doc Rivers’ rotation, but when he came to Phoenix, he seemed to fit like a glove. His ability to be a solid three-point shooter and a guy who hunted offensive rebounds was a perfect match for Ott’s playing style. His hustle has earned him a lot more credit than the box score shows every night, allowing him to get minutes when he’s healthy.
Highsmith was signed and brought in after being injured all season, but he seems not to skip a beat. His best game was just recently, when he went off for 16 points and 4 three-pointers in Boston. His ability to be a viable offensive option when the Suns were struggling from three was necessary to keep them afloat in the game. His defense is also fantastic with his 6’11” wingspan at 6’5”, allowing him to be disruptive on the ball and force plenty of turnovers, something the Suns love to create into their own opportunities.
Last but not least is Royce O’Neale, the three-point sniper. Even though he can be very hit-or-miss this year, he has been very good, shooting 40% from beyond the arc. This ability to be such a valuable shooter in an offense that runs heavily through the three-ball is key. In the game the other week against the Bucks, he was huge, making six threes in the third quarter alone to help the Suns secure the victory. His peskiness on defense also allows him to force plenty of turnovers that aid the team.
When all this is added together, it is clear they have the depth to step in and fill gaps when the Suns are in dire need of it, as they have recently. Compare this to last year, when the Suns were begging for Cody Martin to play so they could have some help on defense, praying that Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn would see the light and be released from the bench. Those are the painful days we all dread remembering, even if it was just a year ago. So why ruin all the fun and rush out of this, especially in a season when expectations were so low?
You continue to invest in the youth, as they are the future, yes, but you do not just cast others away because of bad performances or because someone is better than them in a short stint. Depending on how the remaining 10 games and, hopefully, the playoffs go, we will all have a better understanding. One thing is for sure, though: the Suns fans should be happy they have this “too many wings” issue, instead of trying to force a hypothetical trade for no reason.
