NBA: Re-seeding the Western Conference heading into 2019-20

Tier 4: The should-be-rebuilding

14. Phoenix Suns

Last season: 19-63, 15th in Western Conference

Notable additions: Ricky Rubio, Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, Cameron Johnson, Ty Jerome, Frank Kaminsky

Notable subtractions: T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, Troy Daniels, Richaun Holmes

It was made very public that Phoenix was in the market for a point guard this summer. D’Angelo Russell was the most widely reported name, and they also had the sixth pick in the draft with the highly-touted Coby White still available.

When they traded that pick to Minnesota, and when Russell instead landed with the Warriors, the Suns took the logical next step and signed Ricky Rubio for $51 million. That three-year deal isn’t awful in a vacuum, but it’s hard to see where it really gets this team. They’ve added some veteran talent and experience, but they’re still a young team overall and lack the depth to take any meaningful steps forward.

Rubio is a good passer and solid defender, but he will only exacerbate the team’s existing lack of shooting after they ranked dead last in 3-point accuracy last season (32.9 percent). Cameron Johnson was a draft pick intended to fix that, but he projects as a fairly one-dimensional player with little upside elsewhere. Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky could be in the rotation for playoff teams, but instead, they’ll be veteran role players on a lottery team.

Dario Saric is the highest upside addition, and it will be interesting to see how the Suns test his limits with his restricted free agency approaching this summer. He’s never truly had free reign as a playmaker in the NBA, but with Rubio and Devin Booker on the roster that may continue.

Booker is clearly developing into an out-and-out superstar, but it remains to be seen how this refreshed roster suits him. His much-maligned defense isn’t an issue in itself, but without a team of capable defenders around him, there may be some problems. He and Deandre Ayton will lead a high-powered offense, but the standout rookie center still needs to prove his defensive chops at this level. Mikal Bridges showed some outstanding flashes on that end, but he can’t cover for everyone’s mistakes.

The bottom of the West is loaded with high-upside teams, and Phoenix is no different. It’s their lack of real depth and the defensive question marks that land them in a spot this low.

(Side note: I love Ty Jerome. Just wanted to get that in writing somewhere for future gloating.)