Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
As I have said before, the Phoenix Suns have put themselves in great position for the future. While they won’t plan on winning an NBA championship in the next couple of years, they have pieces in place to make things happen down the road.
This offseason, they added a couple of young and promising wings both through free agency and the NBA Draft. On draft night, the Suns grabbed Maryland center Alex Len to begin with, but later in the first round selected Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin. The Suns then executed a trade to bring in former Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe to pair with Goodwin.
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These two swingmen will prove to be valuable assets in the future for the Suns. Bledsoe, 23, has spent his first three years with Los Angeles but hasn’t had enough time on the court to really show what he’s worth. Like Goodwin, Bledsoe is also out of Kentucky. The young, athletic guard is an exciting player on the court.
Bledsoe has improved his shooting overall in the first three seasons of his career, especially from beyond the arc. In 2012, he shot nearly 40 percent from three point range and about 45 percent from the field overall. Bledsoe brings a versatile style of offense to the Suns that they absolutely love. He can shoot, but also take it to the hole and throw it down with authority. Get ready for some highlight reel-type of dunks.
Goodwin is only 19 years old but has plenty of upside. The 6’5” guard also shoots the ball well and finished last year at about 44 percent from the field overall. According to DraftExpress, Goodwin averages 17.8 points per-40 minutes. After the draft, he said his goal was to be the best player to come out of this class. What a lofty expectation for himself. But, Phoenix has to love that.
The Suns, again, may not win in the immediate future. But, Goodwin and Bledsoe should provide some fun sights for the fans right away. These guys will not only be fun to watch now, but in the future they will be a big part of Phoenix’s success. It will take some time, but the Suns could be back in the playoff picture thanks to Goodwin and Bledsoe sooner than expected.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
