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Devin Booker and Jalen Green are set to take on guard duties, Dillon Brooks will be one of the wings and Mark Williams will start at center for the Phoenix Suns, but it remains to be seen who will be playing at power forward for them to begin games. With the starting lineup lacking a strong defensive presence, the two main candidates two take the four spot are Ryan Dunn and Royce O’Neale: Here are their two cases.
The Case for Ryan Dunn
Coming off an inconsistent rookie season, the University of Virginia alum should be seen as the favorite to secure the gig. He’s already got experience guarding some of the Western Conference’s best wings and his speed, agility, and nearly 7’1” wingspan give him the ability to hold his own on the defensive end.
Starting Dunn would also be an extension of the youth movement that the Suns have taken this offseason. He started 44 games last season, and he averaged more points, rebounds and assists than he did coming off the bench.
While he’s definitely the best option to start from a defensive perspective, Dunn struggled to shoot from three on a consistent basis. He shot just 31.1% from deep on 3.6 attempts per game last year. Additionally, while he only shot 39 of them in his rookie campaign, he shot a poor 48.7% from the free throw line.
The Case for Royce O’Neale
O’Neale is definitely the safest, most reliable option to start. He was a starter on the No. 1 seeded Utah Jazz in the 2020-2021 season and has started for multiple teams for multiple seasons in his career. Also a solid defender, O’Neale averaged a career high 9.1 points per game last year and shot a career best 40.1% from deep. With Green and Brooks not elite shooters, O’Neale would help the floor spacing in a starting lineup that is projected to struggle from deep.
NBAE via Getty Images
While his production is likely to remain the same, O’Neale is 32 and doesn’t project to be apart of the team’s long-term plans, and may not provide them with enough in the present to justify him taking the spot over someone younger than him who is apart of the Suns plans.
With three years left on his contract and a mid-sized salary, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Suns offload his contract, or trade him for someone younger during the season. That being said, while he’s on the team, he could be someone that they rely on in late game situations because of his experience and ability to stretch the floor.
He’s a bit shorter than Dunn and his wingspan isn’t as long, but with his playoff and career experience, he’s got a lot of time under his belt guarding some of the best forwards in the NBA.
Rasheer Flemming and Nigel Hayes-Davis are the two other forwards on the team, but due to their inexperience and talent, they probably won’t be starting for the Suns at the four spot on opening night. However, like the Suns did at times last season, could the team roll out some untraditional lineups next year and have one of them, or the team’s other centers, start a contest alongside Brooks?
Phoenix Suns Introduce Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea - Press Conference
Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Last year, when the team was shorthanded in an early-season contest against the Orlando Magic, the Suns rolled out a starting lineup with both Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee in it. The Suns traded for Mark Williams at the same time they drafted Khaman Maluach, so the possibility of a world where they share the court together could be one they are looking to experiment with at some point during the season.
Koby Brea is 6’6” and could play some small forward, but with his size and natural position, the two spot, it’s unlikely to see him playing the four when he plays.
Who do you want to see starting at the power forward spot for the Suns? Let us know.
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