The Phoenix Suns have been very active this offseason. Despite limited resources following their trades for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they’ve made some solid additions. The Suns selected Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in the draft and signed Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee as free agents.
While these are good acquisitions, the Suns could benefit from making one or two more moves. Two potential minimum free agent targets are Cameron Payne and Wesley Matthews, who could strengthen the roster.
I wrote about how the Suns have been the NBA's worst 4th quarter team thanks to sloppy turnovers, an over-reliance on Kevin Durant, stagnant offense after first actions, guys still building chemistry, and just flat-out missing open shots: https://t.co/XyOJtquRJl pic.twitter.com/ky6goq14Gw
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 13, 2023
Cameron Payne would bring a scoring boost to the Suns. Last season, the Suns were criticized for their lack of a point guard, a weakness that was particularly evident in the playoffs. Although Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker are excellent offensively, the team’s possessions often stagnated. Despite having three All-NBA caliber players, the Suns only had the NBA’s 10th-best offense last season, partly due to a high turnover rate, ranking 25th in the league. Adding a point guard like Cameron Payne could help improve this. Payne, who has a +3.25 assist-to-turnover ratio from last season, is familiar with Booker and Durant from his previous stint with the Suns. Though not a strong defender, Payne’s career 36.9% shooting from three-point range would be a valuable asset.
Cam Payne continuing his run for the Suns. Phoenix runs Horns with Booker as a screener. Good set because of how aggressive Beverley has been denying. He's denying, can't show on the screen. Zubac is in help position but recovering to Ayton's roll. Opens up the floater for Payne. pic.twitter.com/J0EgLufEme
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) June 25, 2021
Wesley Matthews could be another viable target. Matthews, who will turn 38 in October, is nearing the end of his career but could still contribute. Despite a decline in playing time and three-point shooting in recent seasons, Matthews is a career 37.5% shooter from distance. He may no longer be able to guard smaller players effectively, but his size allows him to defend bigger wings. Matthews’ familiarity with head coach Mike Budenholzer, having played under him for three seasons in Milwaukee and contributed to the Bucks’ 2022 championship team, makes him a sensible addition. His experience could help ease the transition to Budenholzer’s system in Phoenix.
While Matthews may not play much, his presence could be valuable in the locker room. Given their investment in the current roster, the Suns need to win soon, especially with Durant aging. Signing Matthews would make sense for the Suns as they aim to maximize their championship window.