There is only one spot available in the Phoenix Suns’ starting five and Frank Vogel has opened up the competition between his players. “Many guys will have the opportunity to be the fifth player,” said the head coach in the middle Arizona Republic.
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Deandre Ayton were immovable during 2022-2023 and now they are joined by Bradley Beal, who came to the Valley of the Sun in a transfer for Chris Paul. The foursome is indisputable for the new Phoenix coach, but who could be the other companion since the jump between two?
Vogel mentioned in June that number one Cameron Payne had an advantage, but he was sent to the San Antonio Spurs and later designated as point guard to Beal, who has mostly played the shooting guard position in his career. The 50-year-old coach mentioned in the presentation of the former Washington Wizards baseman the possibility of adding to a position three and four with a defensive vocation, but now it seems that he is open to other alternatives.
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Josh Okogie was a regular partner with Booker, Durant, Ayton and Paul last season and his defensive skills would give him a chance. Reporter Duane Rankin also mentioned forwards Keita Bates-Diop and Yuta Watanabe to Vogel, but guards Eric Gordon and Damion Lee could also be included, as well as No. 3 Ish Wainright and power forward Bol Bol. It all depends. what will be the priority for him: defense and/or shot from three.
“The fifth player can be versatile to defend various positions or be a sharpshooter. Maybe another is a playmaker. We have a lot of guys with very different abilities. We’ll do a lot of different combinations throughout the year, but I think those skills would fit the other four guys. We’ll see how it works”, detailed the champion with Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-2020.
“When you are in a new team like this, the starting line-up for the first day does not have to be the same for the 82 games. There is an element of trial and error. You have to give opportunities to certain players with certain groups, “added Vogel.
He training camp is stipulated for October 3 and from that moment the head coach he will begin the experiments to define the fifth companion. The team’s debut in 2023-2024 will be on the 24th of next month against the Golden State Warriors.
2023-09-08 03:00:00
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