Three Suns Role Players That Need to Step Up

The Phoenix Suns need everything they can get from their bevy of minimum contract role players.

The Suns have utilized ten different starting lineups so far this season due to a combination of poor injury luck and inconsistency from various names on the bench.

A frequently pointed out theme this season is the rotations that coach Frank Vogel has gone with on a game-to-game basis are a "flavor of the day" variety.

Part of this has to do with feeling the necessity to give virtually everyone on the roster a fair shot to prove themselves - but the ugly truth is most of it has to do with general inconsistency/underperformance.

Here are three specific role players who need to build consistency and step up to help salvage the Suns' season:

Josh Okogie

J.O. is unfortunately more or less going to be the same player when he returns from a hip injury - a good POA (point of attack) defender and fearless attacker on offense with severe limitations as a shooter.

The top 10 guards in 3PT Shot Quality

1. Josh Okogie
2. Tyus Jones
3. Alex Caruso
4. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
5. CJ McCollum
6. Mike Conley
7. Russell Westbrook
8. Coby White
9. De'Anthony Melton
10. Malik Beasley

💡These players are taking the easiest 3s
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) December 18, 2023

Okogie currently has the best three-point shot quality in the NBA and has shot 27.5% in the process - a step back from last season with lower volume.

If Okogie can hone in on what he does well (on-ball defense/connecting offense) and possibly starts hitting open looks with more regularity, he is the likely final answer as to who the fifth starter should be.

That's a big if though.

Drew Eubanks

Eubanks has cooled off significantly after a blazing start on both ends of the floor. He was instrumental in the Suns' comeback against the Washington Wizards on Sunday night - on the flip side he was a horrid -18 in four minutes of action against the Brooklyn Nets last Wednesday.

Eubanks might be the single most important role player the Suns have going forward simply due to the scarcity Phoenix has at the five spot.

The former Portland Trail Blazer has flashed brilliance as a shot-blocker, passer, and play finisher, but the consistency just hasn't been there of late. The Suns need Eubanks to step up - especially since Jusuf Nurkic likely isn't going to play every game the rest of the year.

Keita Bates-Diop

KBD has likely been the biggest disappointment this season in terms of players Phoenix brought in during the free agency process.

Bates-Diop was a popular fifth starter pick throughout the offseason, but started the season out of the rotation entirely.

He was thrust into the starting lineup after a strong performance against the San Antonio Spurs and did a solid job in the role before hitting a wall in mid-November.

He has spent the last three weeks struggling with efficiency and having a defined role on the squad.

Bates-Diop still has the ability to be a positive impact on the squad- he has a track record of being a quality 3&D player- but he needs to re-establish confidence and get another opportunity,

The Suns play on the road against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night.