The Ringer ranks Phoenix Suns’ young core 6th in NBA
Jul 23, 2019, 11:11 AM | Updated: 11:28 am
Devin Booker #1 and Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns react against the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on February 25, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
With Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and other young players on the Suns roster, one would figure the future is bright.
For the most part, The Ringer agrees.
A new ranking from the site that used FiveThirtyEight’s CARMELO projections took projected WAR totals for every under-25 player on a select NBA roster for the next seven seasons and added them up, creating the “core.” The totals were then ranked from lowest to highest.
The Suns had the sixth-highest WAR projection for their under-25 players in the NBA with a total of 60.
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Booker is projected to accumulate the most WAR (19.5) over the next seven seasons, while Ayton isn’t far behind at 17.3.
Forward Mikal Bridges has the third-highest total with 12.4.
From Ringer writer Zach Kram:
The Suns’ framework for a future is finally showing some promise, with a guard, wing, and big man all projecting as part of the team’s long-term core. If only Phoenix hadn’t whiffed on Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, and Josh Jackson after picking Booker in 2015; if only Phoenix hadn’t traded down in this year’s first round to take Cameron Johnson, who is older than Booker and projects to produce well below a player of his draft slot should.
The CARMELO projections are less high on Suns rookie Cameron Johnson, who projects for 2.7 WAR over the next seven seasons. Ty Jerome, another Suns pick from the 2019 draft, projects higher with a total of 6.1 WAR.
The Minnesota Timberwolves finished just above the Suns in the rankings at fifth overall. The Denver Nuggets were ranked No. 1.
