Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson has announced the team’s starters for the 2016-17 season:
Suns Coach Earl Watson names his starters for the season: Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler. @Suns
— Joe Pequeno (@JoePequenoTV) October 3, 2016
Devin Booker: "I knew at one point in my career I'd be a starter. I didn't know it'd be this soon but I have put in that work to be one."
— Paul Coro (@paulcoro) October 3, 2016
With Bledsoe and Booker starting, Knight will instantly become one of the, if not the best bench players in the NBA. Watson knows this, and expects him to contend for Sixth Man of the Year:
Suns Coach Earl Watson says Brandon Knight has the capabilities to be the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. @Suns #BrandonKnight #EarlWatson
— Joe Pequeno (@JoePequenoTV) October 3, 2016
Watson on Knight being a sixth man: "He's a starter in this league. He's sacrificed the most for this team. He took it like the pro he is."
— Paul Coro (@paulcoro) October 3, 2016
Also interesting is the Suns’ frontcourt. Dudley is undersized for the power forward spot, but he’s effective at the four. He brings spacing, and the lineup becomes a modern and offensively versatile one. Something else to keep an eye on is how long 34-year-old Tyson Chandler retains his starting spot given that the team just drafted two young big men in the lottery — Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. Plus, they already have talented young center Alex Len on the roster.
