The final piece: When will the Suns complete their roster puzzle?

It’s Friday afternoon. It’s been nearly a week since NBA Free Agency opened and the Phoenix Suns have made their fair share of moves. After re-signing Royce O’Neal, Bol Bol, and Damion Lee, the team is returning 10 players from last year’s 49-33 team.

With the draft additions of Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro and the free agent signings of Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris, we have a good understanding of who will rock the purple and orange next season. Add in the two-way signings of Jalen Bridges and Collin Gillespie, and this team is good to go, right? Pauses...counts fingers and toes...

No, we’re not! Like a chef who leaves the kitchen just before the soufflé rises, the Suns’ roster isn’t finished.

The question now becomes who? And when?

We return to the conversations we’ve had since the season ended in April. Yeah...April. The Suns believed they needed an athletic wing. So they drafted two. They were in need of a backup big and quality playmaking. Enter Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris. Kudos to James Jones for addressing the roster deficiencies that we suggested. He clearly is an avid Bright Side reader.

But what now? The Suns are faced with an interesting dilemma. If they choose to add additional playmaking, their big depth will suffer. If they add an additional big, their playmaking will be a challenge this season. Which are the Suns in need of more?

Whoever the Suns acquire, it’d simply be a depth fill at this point. The list of those still available isn’t a gauntlet of greats, list of legends, or troop of titans. As of this moment, there are 137 free agents available (per Spotrac). Regardless of who the Suns acquire, they will be on a veteran minimum contract. That means that the top-end talent of that individual is finite.

If you believe the Suns need big-man depth, they can get it. But it won’t hit all of the attributes you’d like in a big: a combination of size and speed coupled with elite athleticism, defensive prowess, and finishing at the rim. While we’re at it, make them a killer three-point shooter. If you want a playmaker, you’re not going to get a stellar defender or an athletic wonder. You’ll be lucky to get two of these attributes.

One final play to make. The ball’s in your court, James Jones.