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Coming off winning the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns should be looking to improve and try to go all the way in the 2021-22 NBA season. It will not be a smooth path though, as the team is facing Chris Paul's possible departure via free agency, but general manager James Jones may have some ideas on how to maintain competitiveness in the Phoenix Suns' locker room.
Falling in the NBA Finals will always be a difficult situation to handle for an NBA team, but there are always positives that must be taken from such a loss and use it to improve.
Five signings the Phoenix Suns should make in the 2021 NBA off-season
In the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns suffered from the size of the Milwaukee Bucks, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was virtually unstoppable and the Bucks also out-rebounded Phoenix 46.3 to 39 (per game).
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That could be a focal point for the team in the NBA off-season, while keeping Paul should also be at the top of the list.
In this article, we will give you five free agents the Phoenix Suns should follow closely in the 2021 NBA off-season.
Without further ado, let us start.
#5 Robin Lopez
Robin Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and the veteran big man could be helpful for the Phoenix Suns. Especially after Dario Saric's knee injury and the time he'll be out, the Phoenix Suns need to find a big man to step up when Deandre Ayton is resting.
Lopez would meet that criteria handsomely, at 7-feet. He is coming off one year with the Washington Wizards and has put up nine points and four rebounds per game in 71 appearances (nine starts).
Lopez's career started with the Phoenix Suns after the franchise selected him with the 15th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. He played 242 games in four seasons with Phoenix before being traded to the then New Orleans Hornets in 2012.
The Phoenix Suns would benefit from Lopez's size, while Lopez could go to a city he already knows and would play for a contender.
#4 Jeff Green
Jeff Green does not meet the criteria of the size needed for the Phoenix Suns' roster, but he would certainly be a fantastic addition for any contending team.
Green is coming off a solid season with the Brooklyn Nets, including the postseason. His experience and ability would be great for the Phoenix Suns, who have a young core outside of Chris Paul.
He has played for the veteran's minimum salary recently, so that could help the Phoenix Suns. However, his great, efficient 2020-21 NBA season could help him get some more money.
Green averaged 11 points per game last year with 49/41/77 shooting splits in 68 regular-season games (38 starts). In the NBA Playoffs, Green averaged only 8.3 points per game, but was highly efficient in six games (48/55/87 shooting splits).
#3 Daniel Theis
Another big man, the Phoenix Suns could really benefit from Daniel Theis' presence on the frontcourt. Deandre Ayton struggled to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA Finals, and when he ran into foul trouble, there wasn't anyone who could at least bother the Greek Freak with length.
Theis, at 6' 8'', does not have the type of size Ayton has, but his 245lb and savvy to play in the paint could be beneficial for Monty Williams' team.
Theis is coming off a year in which he played for the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, and had averages of 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while playing 24 minutes a night.
#2 Cameron Payne
The Phoenix Suns' run to the 2021 NBA Finals was mainly influenced by their backcourt power, headlined by Chris Paul and Devin Booker. However, Cameron Payne was also a solid role player on Phoenix's backcourt and the franchise should look to keep him on the roster.
Payne has played for the Phoenix Suns since last year's Orlando bubble, where he helped the team go undefeated and put up 10.9 points on 48/51/85 shooting splits.
To prove that his bubble outburst was not a thing of the past, Payne brought that same confidence to the 2020-21 NBA season and averaged 8.4 points per game with 48/44/89 shooting splits as Chris Paul's backup.
He's definitely earned a relatively big payday and other teams would be interested in him, but the Phoenix Suns should work towards bringing him back.
#1 Chris Paul
This is the big one. In order to remain an NBA title contender, the Phoenix Suns should maintain Chris Paul and his leadership on the roster. Paul arrived via trade from the OKC Thunder and was the leader of a team that finished second in the stacked Western Conference and went to the 2021 NBA Finals after a solid postseason run.
Paul now has a $44-million player option that he is reportedly willing to decline in order to look for a multi-year contract.
There are rumors about Paul going elsewhere and how he would fit in with other teams, but reports about him declining his player option do not indicate that he wants to leave the Phoenix Suns.
Despite the loss in the 2021 NBA Finals, the 36-year-old again proved his worth as a leader in the NBA, averaging 16.4 points and 8.9 assists per game in the regular season.
In the NBA Playoffs, Paul's numbers were even better, averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 assists per game with 49/44/87 shooting splits in 20 games.
Also read: 3 bold predictions for the Phoenix Suns
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