No plans for free-agent splash until ’19 offseason
FLAGSTAFF - The NBA’s freeagent class of 2018 is heavy on star power. Consider this starting five: Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and DeMarcus Cousins.
It’s enough to whet the appetite of Suns’ fans, should they have to suffer through another long, losing season.
But there’s a catch: General Manager Ryan McDonough said Thursday that he doesn’t expect Phoenix to pursue a big-name free agent next summer.
The four-year, $50 million contract extension given to small forward T.J. Warren means the Suns will be right around the projected $103 million salary cap in 2018-19. Phoenix could try to trade some its assets – young players and/or future picks – to create more cap room, but McDonough said that’s not the franchise’s intention.
“Our plan at this point is internal growth and development,” McDonough said.
That could change in 2019, however, when the salaries of Tyson Chandler, Eric Bledsoe and Jared Dudley (a combined $38 million) are off the books.
Starting five
Three-fifths of Phoenix’s starting lineup for the regular season seems set: Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker in the backcourt and veteran Tyson Chandler at center. What needs to be determined, according to coach Earl Watson, is who starts at small forward and power forward.
Watson is using training camp and the preseason to see if Warren and rookie Josh Jackson can start together in a smaller lineup or whether he’ll go with more of a traditional look, starting Marquese Chriss at power forward and bringing in either Warren or Jackson off the bench.
Bender impresses
Watson heaped praise on secondyear forward Dragan Bender, who stood out on both ends of the floor during Thursday’s practice.
“This is the best I’ve ever seen Bender play,” Watson said. “Point forward, point center, however you want to describe him, he was playing, attacking, crossing guys over, getting to the rim, hitting 3s. He looked amazing.”
Heading down the hill
The Suns will hold their final practice here at Northern Arizona University on Friday morning and then travel to Prescott Valley for a scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. at Prescott Valley Event Center. There’s no charge for admission.