Torrey Craig excited to be back in winning situation with Phoenix Suns

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With the NBA’s trade deadline coming and going on Thursday, the Phoenix Suns made a few moves to the roster after months of speculation as to how they would handle to the deadline.

General manager James Jones decided to continue to build on the team’s depth, rather than swing for the fences and make a splash move.

One of the moves Jones made on Thursday was bringing back a familiar face in forward Torrey Craig.

Phoenix sent Jalen Smith and a 2022 2nd round pick in the NBA draft to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday to acquire the services of Craig, who was with the Suns in the 2020-21 season that featured a trip to the NBA Finals.

Back in Phoenix a year later, Craig is excited to get back to work with the guys.

“Feels good man, back in the nice weather,” he said after Saturday’s shootaround. “Back with a nice group of guys, familiar faces … should fit right in.”

Where Craig may fit in with this Suns’ squad remains to be scene, but he’s prepared to help in anyway he can even if that means an ever-changing role.

However, he knows what he was brought to Phoenix to do.

“The givens are defending, rebounding, those are non-negotiable … I’m gonna bring it no matter what.”

Watching the Suns from afar this season until now, Craig says he can see the growth and maturity in the team as a whole, but the younger players in particular. He said guys like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are playing like seasoned veterans compared to where they were just a year ago.

Thursday was interesting for Craig to say the least, as he was practicing with the Pacers just an hour before the deadline. When he finished up, he had multiple missed calls from his agent and knew something was happening.

What he didn’t know was he would be returning to a friendly place in Phoenix.

“You always want to be in a winning situation,” Craig said. “I wouldn’t say it was a relief, but more a blessing.”

Catch all of the action against the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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