PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 23: Brandan Wright #32 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Houston Rockets at US Airways Center on January 23, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets defeated the Suns 113-111. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Full disclosure: I own Brandan Wright on my Fantasy NBA team. This, however, in no way colors what I’m about to write in this article. At least not consciously.)
By all intents and purposes, Brandan Wright should be a perfect fit on the Phoenix Suns. On a roster too heavily guard-skewed, he provides much needed length (7’4″ wingspan). Yet, despite his size, he’s quick and athletic enough to get out and fastbreak. He’s young, yet experienced. He doesn’t need the ball to contribute. With the Suns bench players mostly just providing offensive firepower, he brings a defensive edge. All in all, it should be a perfect marriage. But…
Wright is actually getting less burn (albeit slightly) than he was while backing up the Dallas frontline – in his 14 games with the Suns, he averaging less than 18 minutes of court time. He’s only gotten 20+ minutes three times during his Phoenix career. Even with fellow big man Alex Len on the shelf, Wright is averaging less than 16 minutes of game time. What’s the deal?
In fairness, Wright hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since joining the team. But the potential is there. He should be able to get a couple of easy baskets a game just by outsprinting the opposing big man and having one of the Suns catlike quick guards hit him with a pass. He’ll get you rebounds and block/alter his share of shots. He doesn’t need any offensive plays run for him. He’s super-efficient (shooting an eye-boggling 69.7% from the field this season). He’s about as low maintenance of a players as you’ll get. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be a 20 minute a night guy on this team, especially while Len is out.
The problem is finding these minutes for him. If the rumored trade of Goran Dragic for a first round draft pick comes to fruition, that’ll open up the necessary minutes. But even if it doesn’t, the minutes should be there, especially with Gerald Green in the doghouse. Wright can and has played small forward through center this year, so there’s no reason you can’t trot him out there with the Morris twins, or with one of the Morrises and Len or Miles Plumlee, as well as traditional three guard, two big men lineups.
Brandan Wright isn’t a superstar or even a star player. He’s just a solid, efficient player. And with the Suns in a tailspin, he could be part of the solution. And my Fantasy team will be thankful for that.
