Should Tyus Jones be the 5th starter?

On July 27, 2024, the Phoenix Suns signed Tyus Jones to a one-year veteran minimum deal. Tyus was the best remaining unsigned free agent, and many thought he would receive a more lucrative deal. In comes the Suns and the organization lands Tyus for a vet minimum!

Now that Tyus is with the team, it’s time to ponder the question: Should he be the 5th starter?

After signing with the Suns, Tyus told ESPN, “The chance to play for the Suns made the most sense on a lot of levels.” He went on to say, “Coach (Mike Budenholzer) showed me how I can significantly impact a team that has a real opportunity to challenge for an NBA title as their starting point guard.”

Wait, he said starting point guard.

Also during the summer, CEO Josh Bartelstein said, “Obviously Tyus is coming to start.” Tyus Jones appears to be the 5^th starter on the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns. While the 2023-24 Suns did not reach the heights it hoped to achieve, should Tyus be the 5^th starter? Let’s try and answer that question.

The Suns starting lineup of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradly Beal, Grayson Allen, and Jusuf Nurkic was 22-12, a .647 winning percentage. Project that to a full 82 games and that would equate to a 53-29 season. Not a bad regular season.

Who would Tyus replace in the starting lineup? Bradley Beal and his $50,203,930 salary? Beal had a good season except for health. In his 53 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5 assists for the season. He shot 51.3% from the field, 43.0% from the three-point range — a career-best —and had a career-best of 58.2% true shooting.

Tyus Jones is not a better basketball player than Beal. Jones should not start in place of Beal.

Next is Grayson Allen.

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Grayson and Jones were teammates at Duke and won a National Championship together as freshmen in 2014-15. This offseason Grayson signed a four-year $70 million contract extension. Grayson had a tremendous first year with the Suns. He led the NBA in three-point shooting at 46.1%. In addition, he averaged a career-best 13.5 points per game on 49.9% shooting, 3.9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Grayson also won the Thunder Dan Majerle Hustle Award last year.

Last year Tyus averaged 12.0 points on 48.9% shooting, 2.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Tyus is definitely the better facilitator.

Should Tyus start in place of Grayson? That would make a starting lineup of Nurk at 7’ at the five, KD at 6’11” at the four, Book at 6’6” at the three, Beal at 6’4” at the two, and Jones at 6’1” at the point. That is an undersized team.

Book would have to guard up a position. He played a lot of small forward in the Olympics and played well. Asking Book to guard the large wings in the Western Conference would be a big ask for an entire season. I also worry about the rebounding of that unit. Nurk and KD would have to dominate the glass. Last year’s team finished 10^th in total rebounding with Grayson Allen starting at the three. Having Tyus start would definitely have an impact on rebounding.

Defensively, it would be a concern as well. Comparing Tyus to Grayson on defense, last year, Tyus allowed opponents to connect on 52.9% of field goal attempts, while Grayson allowed 45.7%. Tyus averaged 1.1 steals per game, while Grayson averaged 0.9 steals. Grayson is an overall underrated defender.

Last season the Suns had their difficulty with lineups missing one or two of the Big Three and sorely needed a point guard to run the offense. Tyus would be perfect at running that second unit. He can drive and dish or kick. He doesn’t turn the ball over and would be a great facilitator with the Big Three on the court as well. He could allow Bradley Beal to take the lead role with KD and Book on the bench.

While it appears that Tyus Jones will be in the starting lineup opening night — most likely in place of Grayson Allen — based on what Grayson did last year, the size, rebounding, and defensive concerns, Grayson Allen should start and Tyus Jones should be our Sixth Man.

Regardless if Jones starts or not, he was a fantastic signing and will greatly help the season. What do you think?

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