Questions, commitments in Suns backcourt remain a mystery after Media Day

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns enter the 2016-17 season with three starting-caliber guards and, obviously, are only going to be able to start two. Eric Bledsoe is the leader of the team and its best player, so it’s safe to pen him in as the starting point guard.

Shooting guard is where the questions lie with Devin Booker or Brandon Knight, and after Media Day, those questions still remain unanswered.

General manager Ryan McDonough said the team has not yet made a decision on any roles.

“It is going to be an open competition going up to training camp, we haven’t pre-determined anything and we have, at least, three starting-caliber guards who have received All-Star consideration or we think will receive All-Star consideration in the future,” he said.

Head coach Earl Watson was on the same page in terms of a timeline.

“I think by the end of training camp the vision becomes more vivid,” Watson added.

McDonough and company, however, have been discussing the rotations, as one could imagine.

“I think Coach Watson and his staff will get creative,” McDonough said. “We’ve talked about everything from playing Devin Booker at the small forward position a little bit to mixing and matching lineups and combinations.”

As ESPN’s Zach Lowe tweeted, moving Booker to small forward to play with both Bledsoe and Knight would be detrimental defensively.

This is a good way to give up a lot of points very quickly. https://t.co/30oRYFKwr3

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) September 26, 2016

Watson was distinct and clear on what the team must do in regards to someone inevitably coming off the bench, even joking to the media that it is the big question. For Watson, though, it’s about the mindset for that player and those around him.

“We understand that whoever comes off the bench, which is the real question, to word it in a politically correct way, has a chance to win Sixth Man of the Year,” Watson said. “We have to embrace that, uplift that and empower that. We understand that.”

While Watson had a direction for his thoughts on the role, Knight was deflective and defensive talking about potentially coming off the bench, like he has been in the past since Booker’s emergence as the possible starter this year.

At exit interviews in April, Knight repeatedly shot down a bench role. Earlier this summer when speaking to AZCentral’s Paul Coro, Knight clarified his comments, but still did not flat out address being for or against a bench role.

At Media Day — it’s worth noting Knight was not one of the five players to speak at the podium — it was the same story. When asked if he would “commit to a group,” for a sixth man role like Watson said earlier in the day specifically about coming off the bench, Knight deflected the question.

“I’m here to work hard, be a great teammate,” Knight said. “I’m happy to be healthy, happy for a great season, like I said, just happy to be here.”

Knight had a similar answer when asked about the possibility of getting fewer minutes in order to win more games.

“I don’t know how playing time would be, like I said, the main goal is to win,” he said.

Interestingly enough, Bledsoe had a defined stance on how the team should address sacrificing playing time.

“It’s going to be a lot of making each other better,” Bledsoe said. “If you can’t handle it you don’t need to be here.”

Now, it’s not a question of if Knight can handle it, but if he’s willing to accept it, and if Knight’s not willing to, what are the repercussions for him and everyone on and with the team?

Whoever is coming off the bench will have the full support of the team.

“A lot of times the guy that sacrifices the most is the most important part of the family,” Watson said. “That piece is important.”

When Watson was asked how he can get someone to “embrace” that sixth man role, he spoke of last year’s lack of success, bringing up the aforementioned commitment.

“Because we’ve done individual goals before, last year wasn’t a good ending. It’s time to do something that’s bigger than ourselves. It’s time to commit and have commitments instead of goals. Commitments are moving as a group, commit to a group. A goal is personal — it’s selfish, you never believe in it. We need commitment.”

Whether it’s Knight or Booker, will they commit like Watson says they should? That still unanswered question will make the Suns a team worth watching leading into the regular season and beyond.

Follow @KellanOlson