It’s been a while since people were actually looking forward to watching the Phoenix Suns. This time, however, James Johnson has done an outstanding job of putting together a competitive roster that looks poised to end their playoff drought.
The Suns were one of the funniest and most surprising teams to watch in the bubble. They went undefeated but eventually fell short of their goal. Nonetheless, it was pretty clear that they had something special going on and would only get better.
God knows that their fans have been through enough. That’s why the hopes and expectations are so high entering this season with the roster they’ve built. For now, we’ll take a look at the projected starting lineup for the 2020-21 season.
Bench: Jevon Carter, Langston Galloway, Ty-Shon Alexander, Abdel Nader, E’Twaun Moore, B.J. Johnson, Cameron Johnson, Jalen Smith, Dario Saric, Tariq Owens, Damian Jones
Point Guard: Chris Paul
The Phoenix Suns were looking for a starting-caliber point guard for years and it’s pretty safe to say that they’ve found one of the best, not only right now but to ever do it. Chris Paul has turned every team he’s been into a playoff team and they won’t be the exception to that rule.
Chris Paul made a huge statement last season by proving to the rest of the league that he wasn’t washed. In fact, he was one game away from knocking out the very same team that traded him to begin with. He’s far from done and will bring the best out of this young core.
Shooting Guard: Devin Booker
Devin Booker has rapidly become one of the most feared and respected scorers in the league. There are no flaws in his offensive game and he continues to make strides as an All-Star caliber player. He’s finally starting to get the credit he deserves.
And now that Booker is going to play next to a pure point guard like Chris Paul, he’s finally going to be able to play off the ball and get the rock where and when he needs it. We’re going to witness the best version of Devin Booker yet, and that’s a scary thought.
Small Forward: Mikal Bridges
While he didn’t get any of the credit for the Phoenix Suns’ impressive surge in the bubble, Mikal Bridges has quickly shown that he’s got the potential to be one of the most disruptive defenders in the league. He’s savvy, strong, and quite athletic.
Bridges is still a work in progress as a scorer but this team won’t need him taking many shots. He’s improving as a spot-up shooter and his mid-range game has gotten better, but he’s there for one reason and one reason only and that’s to get stops.
Power Forward: Jae Crowder
A couple of years ago, Devi Booker and Jae Crowder exchanged jabs after his famous 70-point outing in a loss to the Boston Celtics. Now, they’re poised to share the court, which is a true testament of how much his game has evolved lately.
Crowder passed on more lucrative deals to join the Phoenix Suns and he’s exactly the kind of savvy 3-and-D player they need. He’s one of the best wing defenders in the league and they will also have Dario Saric coming off the bench to keep him fresh, which is even better.
Center: Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton is perhaps the most underrated young player in the league. He had an outstanding rookie season but was completely overshadowed by Luka Doncic and Trae Young. Then again, sleeping on such a talented big man would be a huge mistake.
Ayton is one of the strongest specimens in the league. His defense is subpar for a guy his size but he’s going to break out with Chris Paul throwing him lobs and running the offense for the Phoenix Suns. We expect his scoring numbers to go way up this season.
Next
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Boston Celtics
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Brooklyn Nets
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Golden State Warriors
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Los Angeles Clippers
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Los Angeles Lakers
