FanPost

Channing Frye is the starting PF, the Question should be "who will back him up?"

I've been looking back over the 'trade proposals' on the FanPosts and I continually see the same thing. "The Phoenix Suns Need a True Starting PF" And I couldn't disagree more. Maybe some of you remember my previous rants and raves about the subject, but I've been reviewing the stats and had some more analysis on the subject. So here goes after the jump...

Defensively: Channing really stepped up defensively against the better 4s in the league this season. He boxed out and while he didn't shut anyone down, he wasn't dominated like last year and his defensive rebounds increased.

Offensively: His percentages slipped this year but he did average more points this season than last. But as I've said in the past, his role in the Suns offense is to stretch the floor. By being able to step out and knock down long-range jumpers and 3s, he opens up the middle for PnRs with Marcin Gortat and allows Grant Hill to back door cut to the hoop. He can also run much better than a number of other team low post players. His ability to stretch the opponents defense in those 2 ways make PFs from the other team work harder than if he just posted up. In the past year his vision and passing have improved, he has been working on his post moves, and his cutting to the hoop to crash the offensive boards has gotten better.

Intangibles: Frye has been in the Suns system two years now so he has a leg up on any player coming into the team fresh. He's developed as a leader (willing to defend his teammates on the court physically if necessary). He hustles, works hard, and has been known to put in extra time in the gym to get bigger and work on his shot.

There's no reason to think that the Suns won't be a good team if they don't have a "low-post" PF in the starting lineup. But I will give the caveat that bringing in a player in the same mold as David Lee and Kevin Love to come off the bench would be perfect. The question remains, "Which FA out there is a bench PF?" If you can answer that, you have half the key to the Suns need for the next season.