Two new faces have arrived in the Valley, but they have yet to suit up, despite high expectations surrounding their names. Who are more eyes on and why does that matter?
The Phoenix Suns tipped off their preseason with a big victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and embarked on their next adventure to China to play the Brooklyn Nets. In the first game, we saw a majority of the new faces suit up and show out representing the Valley, but two remain unseen.
These two are Jalen Green and Mark Williams, who are both dealing with injuries to start the year. This is not great for the Suns, as they are two of the newer faces about whom everyone already has uncertainties, with Green being a similar player and position to Suns’ star player Devin Booker, and Williams having injury concerns throughout his career.
Seemingly, this is not a good start for either player, but whose debut is more integral to the team’s success and functionality? Is it the secondary scorer in Green to finally have a consistent shooting season, where he can excel in areas the Suns lack on offense, or will he be a stagnant scorer, as his past has shown? Is Mark Williams finally going to show his dominance as a double-double machine, or will injuries once again limit his potential in a contract year?
These are all questions that matter and will weigh into who needs to be more impactful in their inaugural year here in the Valley, and for that to ensure them a long-term stay.
What do they have to prove?
Jalen Green has to prove that he can consistently score and be effective at cutting to the basket. The Suns were all about playmaking and setting up three-pointers last season, which showed that limited movement occurred off the ball. This was a recipe for disaster, and new head coach Jordan Ott wants to see that change. Jalen Green has been effective at scoring near the basket and working off the ball to cut and receive back-door passes for easy layups.
Here is a shot chart of Jalen Green’s last year with the Houston Rockets, courtesy of 3stepsbasket. Highlighted is his shooting percentage in each area, and the size of the circle dictates the preference of the shot. As you can see, not only does he have his highest percentage at 54% at the rim, but also that the circle is the largest of them all, signaling it is his most common shot. With the right block also being 52% this shows that if Green can work in some off-ball movement and cutting from the right side, he is more likely to hit a shot there. Another interesting key is that Green is the most successful from the right corner at 43%, indicating that he clearly has more success on one side of the court. The Suns should utilize him on the right wing to create more offense.
Mark Williams is a bit different; on the court, when healthy, he has been dominant. The only concern is ensuring he stays healthy. The big man’s career high games played in a season is 44, which is barely over the halfway mark of the season. That being said, in the time he is out there, he can be representative of a top-half center in the league. Williams is close to averaging a double-double in his career, and with a fully healthy season, that goal could be reached.
Sadly, to start the season, we have already seen Williams sidelined, but this appears to be a precautionary measure for the start of the season. Williams is reportedly doing everything in training camp to get his body ready for the beginning of the season. He has even stated that he will be prepared for opening night.
We also saw some encouraging words from his teammate, Nick Richards. Richards is another center in the Suns’ frontcourt and is also a former teammate of Williams. They both played for the Charlotte Hornets together before being traded to Phoenix this year. Their bond, which they shared, seems to continue on their next journey as well. If Williams can prove to be the dominant big man that the Suns see as an investment in, he can be a solution for now and also an excellent piece for the future.
The Suns need this dominance from a big man, as they have lacked it these past couple of seasons. With no big man to play off of, it seemed difficult for Booker and Beal to work the PnR effectively, especially last season. We all remember the center problems with Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee, and we all saw the laziness of DeAndre Ayton after his payday. The Suns need that aggressive rebounder, someone who can control the paint as a high-flying shot blocker and rim deterrent. That is where the hope for Williams comes into play.
Why do they need to prove it?
Green needs to prove it to showcase that he is worth the contract the Rockets gave him. With the glamour of the number two overall pick wearing off, his value could dip as well if he does not perform well in Phoenix. This would then leave the Suns with an even harder contract to move compared to its current value. Green also wants to excel as a secondary scorer so he can ensure himself getting another long-term deal. He is locked up for two more seasons, but still has yet to receive the maximum contract he had his sights on as early as draft night. That motivation itself may push Green to thrive as the second scorer and become more consistent for the team, which needs as much offense as it can get.
For Williams, this is the most crucial year of his career. The big man is currently a restricted free agent at the end of the season. As you know, the new CBA does not favor that respective group. We just saw this past offseason how difficult it was for the four players involved. The drama went on for months, and for the majority of them, the end was neither desired nor was it a genuine resolution, but rather a means to stall conversations until next year. This is something that the Suns and Williams will both try to avoid, as neither party wants to deal with this.
By staying healthy and producing at a quality level, Williams will prove he is worth a contract extension, and from there, the numbers should be agreed upon with Big Bucks Ishbia at the helm. If not, however, this is where issues could arise.
Final Thoughts
Both players have to prove something this year for the Suns.
Green has to be able to score effectively and mesh seamlessly into the offense, while Williams has to stay healthy enough to dominate the paint and secure a long-term contract. Both seem to have an uphill battle ahead, and it will be inspiring to see who can overcome the difficulties they have faced in their careers so far.
As new faces in a new place, this is the perfect opportunity for them to evaluate their skills and truly unleash their potential for the Suns.