NBA free agency: Perimeter options for the Suns to consider

It wouldn’t make sense for the Phoenix Suns to chase after the top free agents on the perimeter where Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson are expected to earn most of the minutes.

Take a peek at a shallow free agent crop that includes two players likely to re-sign with their title squad — Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry — and dropping off after Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Gordon Hayward, and it’s hard to imagine Phoenix finding a star to chase, let alone one they could land. Even though they were linked to Andre Iguodala, that seems a long-shot with a bevy of other teams in the mix to sign him away from Golden State.

Nonetheless, there are players that fit around the young Suns core, be it rotation-level role players or fill-in pieces who would add depth. At the least, general manager Ryan McDonough needs to fill out the roster. Here is a short-list of free agents and potential free agents who could fit on the roster.

Note: While there’s subjective opinion involved in this list regarding fit, it doesn’t necessarily mean I endorse every one of these players as a good signing.

C.J. Miles, 30, G-F (UFA – player option)

A much less expensive player than Iguodala who likewise has a great all-around skillset on both ends, Miles has a player option that could pay him $4.8 million next year for the Pacers. On the market, there’s a chance the 30-year-old can earn more than that. The 6-foot-6 small forward is another solid character addition to the locker room. He averaged 10.7 points per game last year, starting 29 of 76 games with Indiana. He also had his best three-point shooting season of his career, hitting 41 percent on 5.4 attempts in just 23.4 minutes per game. Phoenix has money to spend, and adding him on a short, generous $10 million per season deal would give them shooting and defense.

Ian Clark, 26, PG (UFA)

There’s a chance the 26-year-old point guard out of Belmont gets overpaid. Golden State might not be able to retain him as it focuses on the free agency of stars Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, and that might make the 51-percent overall and 36-percent three-point shooter a nice pickup. What he learned developing for the Warriors makes him a promising young player. He just hasn’t gotten the chance to shine by playing 15 minutes per game — in that time he averaged the most points per 36 minutes after Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson and JaVale McGee. Where extended minutes would come in Phoenix, however, remains hard to see unless the Suns make roster moves to clear backup minutes in the backcourt.

Jonas Jerebko, 30, F (UFA)

While Jerebko doesn’t particularly bring any elite skill to the table, he was good at one thing: Not turning the ball over. Occasionally, the 6-foot-8 combo forward can knock down a three-pointer and rebounds decently as a small forward, but beyond that, signing him would be as back-end filler as the Suns allow the young players to grow. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game for Boston.

Omri Casspi, 29, F (UFA)

Playing for three teams last year, Casspi had his least efficient season in his eight NBA seasons, but it was still better per 36 minutes that Jerebko’s production. Like Jerebko, Casspi has potential as a three-point shooter and could play at a small forward or undersized 4. Casspi averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last year.

Luke Babbitt, 28, F (UFA)

Hey, he shot 41 percent from three-point range. At 6-foot-9, that’s something. Babbitt averaged 4.7 points per game with the Heat in 2016-17.

James Young, 21, G-F (UFA)

The obligatory Kentucky guard on the list is only 21 years old. The Celtics didn’t pick up his fourth-year rookie option on his contract last October, which isn’t necessarily a great sign. Still, he flashed shooting potential by hitting 34 percent of his threes last year in just 29 games played. The 6-foot-6 swingman, who averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last year, needs a lot of nurturing to remain in the league, but he could be worth taking a flier on.

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