I couldn’t be more pumped for some regular NBA season basketball. There is a plethora of fantasy upside coming out of Phoenix this season with a group of both old and new talent. The Suns have the potential to be a playoff caliber team in 2015-16 and should produce some talented options for you in your upcoming fantasy drafts. Like always, I’m going to give you three under the radar guys who you should target this year.
So here you go Suns’ fans, my 2015-16 team preview:
Chandler is not only my favorite fantasy star for the Suns, he’s also one of my favorite overall options at center for this season. He has always been one of the most consistent big men that the NBA has to offer and should continue that trend in 2015-16. Last season, with the Dallas Mavericks, Chandler, averaged 10.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He shot an amazing 66 percent from the field and really was a steal in drafts for fantasy owners. Chandler will without a doubt be the most impactful newcomer to the team this season and will instantly make waves in Phoenix.
Chandler brings a keen sense of leadership to the Suns that they desperately need. How does this help your fantasy teams you might be asking? Well, his presence alone makes everyone around him better, just ask the 2011 NBA Championship winning Dallas Mavericks team. The Suns also have a young team who likes to move the ball quickly, which fits right into Chandler’s game. At the age of 33, he moves nice for a big man and can really create matchup problems with his defensive arsenal. Grab him in your drafts if you’re looking for a guy who will average you a double-double almost every game he plays in.
Fantasy Prediction for 2015-16
11.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game
Markieff Morris, PF
Morris may be the most disgruntled NBA player in the league due to the team trading his twin brother during the off-season. In reality, he gives us all plenty of reasons not to like him, but for fantasy purposes he’s a nice option at the power forward position. In 2014-15, Morris averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. These are very solid numbers and if he stays in Phoenix, alongside Chandler this year could very well be his best yet.One of the most concerning pre-draft situations that come along with Morris is the fact that a trade could very well happen. There have been talks from teams from the Lakers to the Pistons, who are all interested in acquiring him. Morris has also been publicly crucial of the Sun’s organization and was fined for things said within the media. All these factors alone should make him an iffy choice for you guys, but I’m here to say that I think Morris will get past all of this negative behavior and put together another solid season for our fantasy squads.
Fantasy Prediction for 2015-16
16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game
Brandon Knight, PG
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Knight found himself playing in just 11 games for the Suns in 2015-16 following a late-season trade to the team. In those 11 games, he played at shooting guard and averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. Knight also shot a much improved 87 percent from the free throw line last year, which is a lot better than his career 79 percent average. He will without a doubt be one of the key scorers and ball distributors in this young Suns’ lineup.
One intriguing thing about Knight is Coach Jeff Hornacek’s plan to move him from shooting guard to the point. I think this will open up an even higher amount of points and assists per game for him this season. Knight is looking to be a leader on this new team and should be able to create plenty of opportunities for his teammates and himself. Teaming Eric Bledsoe up with Knight will be a great fantasy front court this season and everyone should be looking to grab at least one of the dynamic duo. Target Knight in your upcoming drafts in the middle rounds and you will potentially have a starting point guard on your hands.
Fantasy Prediction for 2015-16
17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game
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