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Jordan Clarkson

Last year, the Suns big issue was getting solid scoring off the bench.  It’s no secret that GM Pennywise covets players that can play multiple positions, giving the team more flexibility especially with the greater number of injuries in the NLL in recent years.  Enter Jordan Clarkson. 

Clarkson is a SG/PG that can start or come off the bench as a 6^th man scorer.  Given that the Suns really haven’t had a great SG since shipping Monta Ellis out, it really didn’t seem like a bad deal to grab a proven NBA scorer for a 1^st and 2^nd rounder.  It looks like Clarkson and Hardaway, Jr. will be competing for the starting SG slot, with the loser becoming the 6^th man and the primary scorer off the bench.  Jordan may have the early advantage, as he is the better passer, so it would make sense to pair him with Kemba, who led the Suns in scoring last year.  Clarkson is also a better jump shooter, whereas Tim is better as driving to the lane.  With players like Horford and Gortat playing well in the paint, a more traditional jump shooter seems to make more sense to start.  Off the bench, there is less worry of disrupting any established scorers, since Phoenix doesn’t have any big men that fit that criteria.  Sure, Phoenix could use Jordan’s scoring off the bench, but Spencer Dinwiddie is a better facilitator and not a big scorer, so it would make more sense to have someone like Tim Hardaway be the volume scorer off the bench. 

Even though this seems pretty simple and logical, the 2K engine doesn’t always follow logic.  Once the settings are pretty much agreed upon, the Suns will begin their sim testing to determine who should really start and who is off the bench.  Both players are going to be making over $11 million each, so money won’t be the determining factor as to who should start.  At the end of the day, the goal is to make the playoffs, so whatever setup gets the Suns to the promised land will be the one used on opening night of the NLL.