2015–16 Phoenix Suns season: Difference between revisions
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On August 20, 2015, the Suns agreed to training camp deals with former [[Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball|Ole Miss]] and [[BC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk|Yenisey Krasnoyarsk]] shooting guard [[Terrico White]] and former [[Harvard Crimson men's basketball|Harvard]] and [[Helios Suns Domžale]] small forward [[Kyle Casey]].<ref>http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/20/suns-add-training-camp-players/32086997/</ref> Five days afterwards, the Suns also decided to add former [[Philadelphia 76ers]] center [[Henry Sims]] and former [[Brooklyn Nets]] power forward [[Cory Jefferson]] towards their training camp roster as more likely potential additions to the team,<ref>http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/25/suns-add-henry-sims-cory-jefferson-training-camp/32357631/</ref> as well as former [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada Wolf Pack]] and [[Ratiopharm Ulm]] point guard [[Deonte Burton]].<ref>http://valleyofthesuns.com/2015/08/26/report-phoenix-suns-sign-deonte-burton-to-summer-deal/</ref> However, all of those signings would not be considered official until September 16, 2015. With that said, Burton would not train with the team at all and instead became the first player to be cut on October 3, 2015, which was before the team's scrimmage at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum began. After that, the Suns would waive both [[Terrico White]] and [[Kyle Casey]] from their roster on October 15, 2015, two days after their overtime loss to the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref>http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/15/9546021/phoenix-suns-waive-white-and-casey</ref> Finally, on October 24, 2015, the Suns decided to waive [[Henry Sims]] from the roster and sign last year's [[Mr. Irrelevant]] [[Cory Jefferson]] to a non-guaranteed deal for the season. All waived players except for Henry Sims would later join the [[Bakersfield Jam]]. Henry Sims would end up joining the [[Grand Rapids Drive]] on November 12, 2015 instead. |
On August 20, 2015, the Suns agreed to training camp deals with former [[Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball|Ole Miss]] and [[BC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk|Yenisey Krasnoyarsk]] shooting guard [[Terrico White]] and former [[Harvard Crimson men's basketball|Harvard]] and [[Helios Suns Domžale]] small forward [[Kyle Casey]].<ref>http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/20/suns-add-training-camp-players/32086997/</ref> Five days afterwards, the Suns also decided to add former [[Philadelphia 76ers]] center [[Henry Sims]] and former [[Brooklyn Nets]] power forward [[Cory Jefferson]] towards their training camp roster as more likely potential additions to the team,<ref>http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/25/suns-add-henry-sims-cory-jefferson-training-camp/32357631/</ref> as well as former [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada Wolf Pack]] and [[Ratiopharm Ulm]] point guard [[Deonte Burton]].<ref>http://valleyofthesuns.com/2015/08/26/report-phoenix-suns-sign-deonte-burton-to-summer-deal/</ref> However, all of those signings would not be considered official until September 16, 2015. With that said, Burton would not train with the team at all and instead became the first player to be cut on October 3, 2015, which was before the team's scrimmage at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum began. After that, the Suns would waive both [[Terrico White]] and [[Kyle Casey]] from their roster on October 15, 2015, two days after their overtime loss to the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref>http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/15/9546021/phoenix-suns-waive-white-and-casey</ref> Finally, on October 24, 2015, the Suns decided to waive [[Henry Sims]] from the roster and sign last year's [[Mr. Irrelevant]] [[Cory Jefferson]] to a non-guaranteed deal for the season. All waived players except for Henry Sims would later join the [[Bakersfield Jam]]. Henry Sims would end up joining the [[Grand Rapids Drive]] on November 12, 2015 instead. |
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On November 25, 2015, the Suns would sign [[Tucson, Arizona]] native [[Bryce Cotton]] to a one-year deal as insurance in the event either [[Ronnie Price]] or [[Eric Bledsoe]] would be out of commission. He would make his debut, though, over a month later due to an injury involving Eric Bledsoe instead. Cotton would previously play point guard for the [[Austin Spurs]] in the [[D-League]] (twice) and the [[Utah Jazz]] before signing his deal to play for the Suns. On January 6, 2016, after winning at home against the [[Charlotte Hornets]], the Suns decided to waive both [[Cory Jefferson]] and [[Bryce Cotton]]'s non-guaranteed deals. To make up for these moves, they announced that [[Grand Rapids Drive]] point guard [[Lorenzo Brown]] would sign a 10–day contract to determine his future value to the team, especially as a backup point guard since Eric Bledsoe would not play for the rest of the season. Brown would end up performing just well enough to sign a second 10-day contract with the team, especially with [[Ronnie Price]] out around that timeline. On January 21, 2016, the Suns decided to have Cory Jefferson return to the roster for a 10-day contract due to the team's power forwards all being out of commission during the January 19 game against the [[Indiana Pacers]]. |
On November 25, 2015, the Suns would sign [[Tucson, Arizona]] native [[Bryce Cotton]] to a one-year deal as insurance in the event either [[Ronnie Price]] or [[Eric Bledsoe]] would be out of commission. He would make his debut, though, over a month later due to an injury involving Eric Bledsoe instead. Cotton would previously play point guard for the [[Austin Spurs]] in the [[D-League]] (twice) and the [[Utah Jazz]] before signing his deal to play for the Suns. On January 6, 2016, after winning at home against the [[Charlotte Hornets]], the Suns decided to waive both [[Cory Jefferson]] and [[Bryce Cotton]]'s non-guaranteed deals. To make up for these moves, they announced that [[Grand Rapids Drive]] point guard [[Lorenzo Brown]] would sign a 10–day contract to determine his future value to the team, especially as a backup point guard since Eric Bledsoe would not play for the rest of the season. Brown would end up performing just well enough to sign a second 10-day contract with the team, especially with [[Ronnie Price]] out around that timeline. On January 21, 2016, the Suns decided to have Cory Jefferson return to the roster for a 10-day contract due to the team's power forwards all being out of commission during the January 19 game against the [[Indiana Pacers]]. However, on January 28, 2016, Phoenix decided to sign former [[Philadelphia 76ers]] selection [[Jordan McRae]] to a 10-day contract in order to replace Lorenzo Brown after his second 10-day contract expired. |
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====The Morris twins situation====--> |
====The Morris twins situation====--> |
Revision as of 13:42, 28 January 2016
2015–16 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Jeff Hornacek |
General manager | Ryan McDonough |
Owners | Robert Sarver |
Arena | Talking Stick Resort Arena |
Results | |
Record | 14–33 (.298) |
Place | Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 13th (Western) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | Fox Sports Arizona |
Radio | KTAR |
The 2015–16 NBA season is the Suns' ongoing 48th season in the NBA.[1] It will also be their first season where the Suns will play in the newly named Talking Stick Resort Arena, when it used to be called both the America West Arena and, most recently, the U.S. Airways Center beforehand.
Key dates
- May 19, 2015: The NBA Draft Lottery takes place.
- May 29, 2015: The Suns reassign assistant coach Mark West's duties with the team back into the front office as a Director of Player Relations, promote Corey Gaines as a full-time assistant coach again and not be a player development coach, hire the then-Bakersfield Jam coach Nate Bjorkgren as a new assistant coach for player development, and fire Kenny Gattison as an assistant coach via not renewing his contract and Director of Player Personnel John Treloar after he initially decided to be an associate head coach for Louisiana State University before recently taking on the Director of Player Personnel role for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club.[2]
- June 3, 2015: Former NBA player and Austin Spurs assistant coach Earl Watson was announced as one of the newest assistant coaches for player development.
- June 10, 2015: The team's President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby announced that after his free agency stint in July, he would to step down from his position and take on the new role of being the team's Senior Adviser.
- June 17, 2015: Danny Granger officially exercised his player option with the team so he could play out the rest of his contract.
- June 25, 2015: The 2015 NBA Draft takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York; Phoenix trades their 44th pick (Kentucky's Andrew Harrison) to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for back-up power forward Jon Leuer and selects Kentucky University's shooting guard Devin Booker with their 13th selection.
- June 27, 2015: Phoenix announces that former Villanova University player and director of student-athlete development, Harlem Globetrotter, and Austin Spurs assistant coach Jason Fraser would take on the last open player development assistant coach role for the team.[3]
- June 30, 2015: The Morris twins officially complete their first mandated court appearance after their situation with Erick Hood in January this past season.[4] They were projected to meet again on August 3, 2015 in Arizona.
- July 1, 2015: The NBA free agency period has begun; Brandon Knight has officially agreed to a 5-year, $70 million offer that was hinted earlier on in June to stay with the Suns; Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler also agreed to being in Phoenix as well for a 4-year, $52 million offer.
- July 2, 2015: The Suns traded small forwards Marcus Morris, Danny Granger, and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the Pistons' 2020 second round selection.
- July 8, 2015: Phoenix decided to get CSKA Moscow shooting guard Sonny Weems onto a two-year deal (second year being a team option) worth a complete total of $5.8 million; Phoenix also got point guard Ronnie Price back on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.
- July 9, 2015: Teams can officially sign, trade, extend, and even release players to their own accord, such as signing Tyson Chandler on his official contract; Phoenix also agree to a deal to make sure they got Brooklyn Nets power forward Mirza Teletović from Bosnia & Herzegovina to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million after he was released from the Nets.
- July 17, 2015: The Suns officially re-sign point guard Brandon Knight and sign power forward Mirza Teletović and guards Sonny Weems and Ronnie Price; Phoenix also decided to waive point guard Jerel McNeal's contract before it became fully guaranteed, even though the Suns' Summer League isn't over yet.[5]
- July 19, 2015: T.J. Warren would earn All-NBA First Team Las Vegas Summer League Honors due to his overall performance during the 2015 NBA Summer League.
- July 23, 2015: News gets leaked that the Suns would reveal a new black alternative jersey for road matches only. Further information also reveals that the Suns would have a flexible, updated silhouette of a different alternative jersey as well.
- July 30, 2015: The Suns officially announced changes to their coaching staff and front office that includes the recent announcement of Bakersfield Jam general manager Bubba Barrage as the team's newest Director of Player Personnel and Antonio Williams as the newest scout, replacing the initial scouting role held by Ronnie Lester.[6]
- August 1, 2015: Lon Babby officially steps down from his old President of Basketball Operations role and instead takes on the team's Senior Adviser role; Ryan McDonough would then take on that role as well.
- August 3, 2015: Markieff Morris and his traded brother were scheduled to return to Phoenix to complete their second mandated court appearance with their Erick Hood case. Unfortunately, neither brother showed up and their attorneys asked for their court appearance that day to be waived. As a result, their next pre-trial conference will be held on September 16, 2015 instead.
- August 12, 2015: The NBA officially reveals every team's schedules for the 2015-16 season; the Suns would open their season on October 28, 2015 against the Dallas Mavericks, who were Tyson Chandler's former team.
- August 24, 2015: It was announced that the Suns would officially put their superstar point guard Steve Nash into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor on their October 30, 2015 game against the Portland Trail Blazers, which coincidentally, is also the day rookie Devin Booker turns 19 years old.[7]
- September 8, 2015: The Phoenix Suns reveal their newest black alternative jerseys, updated their orange alternative jersey, revealed their updated court design, and unveiled their new Civic Pride "We Are PHX" movement to the media, with the event including Kentucky University alumni Eric Bledsoe, rookie Devin Booker, Archie Goodwin, and Brandon Knight, as well as small forward P.J. Tucker, the newly acquired power forward Jon Leuer, coach Jeff Hornacek, Suns president Jason Rowley, and Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton; the league also fines Markieff Morris $10,000 due to his trade demand comments he's made throughout the past month or two.
- September 16, 2015: The Morris twins would officially take part in a request to seek a new grand jury as a new mandated appearance after missing their August meeting. Both sides would have their written arguments for and against a new grand jury to precise over the twins' case. Their next meeting would take place on October 15, 2015, although both of the twins would not make it to the court date due to their respective obligations to the Suns and Pistons. If the request is denied, the earliest court date would be held on November 5, 2015; otherwise, the case could be held back all the way until May 31, 2015.[8] The Suns would also allow their signing of Cory Jefferson (and other training camp invitees) become official that day.
- September 28, 2015: The deadline for all signed players to report to their teams takes full effect as training camp commences in Flagstaff; Markieff Morris would be the last player to show up for the team when everyone else would be training with each other for at least two weeks, if not a month's time.
- October 3, 2015: The Suns conclude their training camp practices before the start of the pre-season by having a friendly match between themselves at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Team MacLeod would barely beat out Team Cotton by the final of 67–66.
- October 26, 2015: The player options of center Alex Len, shooting guard Archie Goodwin, and small forward T.J. Warren get picked up for the 2016-17 NBA season.[9]
- October 28, 2015: The Phoenix Suns enter the regular season with a home game against Tyson Chandler's former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
- October 30, 2015: Steve Nash becomes the 10th player to enter the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor during the second home game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers.
- November 25, 2015: The Suns sign Tucson, Arizona native Bryce Cotton on a one-year deal after injuries to back-up point guard Ronnie Price, as well as to starting point guard Eric Bledsoe occurred earlier in the season.
- December 15, 2015: The starting point for signed free agents to be traded to different teams commences.
- December 26, 2015: Eric Bledsoe tears his left meniscus and is out for the rest of the season.
- December 27, 2015: The Suns fire assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi for their poor performances throughout the month of December.
- January 5, 2016: Teams can sign players for 10-day contracts now.
- January 6, 2016: After winning their first game of the new year, the Suns decided to waive away the non-guaranteed deals of Cory Jefferson and Bryce Cotton.
- January 7, 2016: The Suns sign former college teammate of T.J. Warren's in Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract.
- January 15, 2016: Contracts for players signed earlier in free agency for teams over the salary cap are now fully guaranteed for the season.
- January 18, 2016: The Suns re-signed Lorenzo Brown to his second 10-day contract moving forward.
- January 21, 2016: Phoenix re-signs former Suns player Cory Jefferson to a 10-day contract after all of the previous power forwards wound up injured moving forward.
- January 23, 2016: In a close 98-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Tyson Chandler would not only become the first Phoenix Suns player to ever record multiple games of 20+ rebounds with the team, but he also ties the record Paul Silas set for rebounds in one game with 27 and sets a new offensive rebounding record with 13 in the entire game, beating out both Charles Barkley and Curtis Perry in the process.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | Devin Booker | Shooting Guard | USA | Kentucky |
2 | 44 | Andrew Harrison | Point Guard | USA | Kentucky |
The Phoenix Suns have only one first round pick and one second round pick this season. Their sole first round pick was their own that was also a part of the NBA draft lottery. The Suns initially had two other draft picks as well (one from the Minnesota Timberwolves and the other from the Los Angeles Lakers, both of which were coincidentally the top picks of this season's draft), but they were both involved with trades the Suns made last season. Minnesota's first round pick (which had lottery protections this season) was traded to the Boston Celtics, where Phoenix got center Brandan Wright in exchange. The Lakers' pick (which was top 5 protected this season), however, was moved in the trade deadline extravaganza of 2015, with Phoenix gaining guard Brandon Knight from the Milwaukee Bucks (as well as other players and future first round draft picks) in exchange for Milwaukee gaining the Suns' center Miles Plumlee and then-rookie point guard Tyler Ennis, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers' point guard Michael Carter-Williams, and Philadelphia getting the Lakers' protected first round pick out of it. The lone second round pick they have is also the pick they had on their own accord in spite of having a declining record when compared to two seasons ago in the process.
With the 13th pick, the Suns selected shooting guard Devin Booker from Kentucky University. Booker averaged 10 points off of 47% overall shooting, 2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during 21.5 minutes of play in Kentucky's near-undefeated season as a bench player. As a result, Devin would end up being the Southeastern Conference's Sixth Man of the Year for his performances that season, as well as made it to the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshmen Team. After that, with the 44th pick, the Suns selected another player from the University of Kentucky, this time point guard Andrew Harrison. However, the Suns would end up trading Andrew's rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for power forward Jon Leuer. Harrison under his two seasons with the Wildcats as the starting point guard had averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds throughout his time with Kentucky. Despite that, though, Harrison's statistics wound up decreasing during his second and final season with the Wildcats, which was considered a likely reason for Harrison's drop from being a considerable first round talent to falling around the middle of the second round.
Free agency
Players Brandan Wright, Gerald Green, and Marcus Thornton; as well as the returning Earl Barron all became unrestricted free agents as of the end of the 2014-15 NBA season. In addition, combo guard Brandon Knight ended up being a restricted free agent. Small forward Danny Granger was also considered a candidate for unrestricted free agency, but he ended up exercising his player option to take on his final year of his contract for the rest of this season on June 17, 2015. Not only that, but one recent trade the Suns made by trading their most recent second round selection to Memphis for power forward Jon Leuer was fully guaranteed for the rest of the season after having his rights remain with the team after June 29, 2015. Point guard Jerel McNeal also had a team option that would make him an unrestricted free agent as well, but that option had to be decided upon and met before July 21, 2015, which was around the time Phoenix's Summer League campaign ended and a good portion of free agency had been completed. However, unlike the other players that had team options with the Suns, McNeal was waived four days before his contract was guaranteed on July 17, 2015 during the Summer League due to his less than stellar performance there.
To start off their free agency push this year, the Suns decided to lock down their biggest trade deadline piece last season, Brandon Knight, to a 5-year deal worth $70 million (the same deal offered to point guard Eric Bledsoe a year earlier) on July 1, 2015. In addition to keeping Brandon Knight, the Suns also signed up 2011 NBA Finals champion center Tyson Chandler on exactly the same day. The signing of Tyson came in conjecture to the Suns' personal meeting with Portland Trail Blazers free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge as well for the chance to lure him over to Phoenix.[10] In the meantime, Brandan Wright would be lost to the Memphis Grizzlies as he signed a 3-year deal worth $18 million. A day later, the Suns would trade small forwards Marcus Morris, Danny Granger, and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for their 2020 second round selection. This move was considered a point where Phoenix would potentially sign LaMarcus Aldridge to the team without taking any hits on their salary cap; unfortunately for the Suns, Aldridge decided to go to the rival San Antonio Spurs instead on the Fourth of July.
After failing to sign Aldridge, the Suns decided to sign CSKA Moscow shooting guard Sonny Weems to a two-year deal worth $5.8 million (with a team option on the second year) and former 2011-12 Phoenix Suns point guard Ronnie Price on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million (the veteran's minimum) on July 8, 2015. A day later, it was announced that the Brooklyn Nets' power forward Mirza Teletović from Bosnia & Herzegovina would sign a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, while Gerald Green would sign a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Miami Heat. Four days after the July Moratorium ended, the Suns' own Marcus Thornton that they got after their trade with Isaiah Thomas signed a one-year, veteran's minimum deal with the Houston Rockets. On July 31, it was revealed that Jerel McNeal would end up signing a deal to play for Aris Thessaloniki in Greece instead. After that, on September 25, 2015, center Earl Barron would sign a training camp deal to play with the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club after former Suns player Jason Richardson announced his retirement from the league due to an injury that he feared would risk his lifetime health, although Barron would end up playing for the Fubon Braves in Taiwan on November 17, 2015 after failing to make their regular season rotation.
On August 11, 2015, Markieff Morris revealed to the The Philadelphia Inquirer that he officially wants to be traded out of Phoenix, thanks mainly due to how he and his twin brother were notified of the news of the July 2 Detroit Pistons trade where Markieff's brother was traded alongside Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger for the Pistons' 2020 second round selection.[11] He would eventually be fined $10,000 for his comments there. Four days later, he noted that he would prefer to either play for Houston or Toronto, but he wouldn't mind any location as well. However, the Suns decided to counter on Markieff's demands by saying they would not trade him at this time due to his considered importance to the team on August 31, 2015. Even with that said, on September 3, 2015, Markieff would remain adamant on his decision by posting out on his Twitter account that his future would not be in Phoenix just a day after the Suns wished Markieff a happy 26th birthday, and would continue with it a week later saying he won't accept any apologies from the team. At the end of the offseason, though, Markieff would ultimately remain on the team as of January 18, 2016, although reports do indicate that will change sometime before the end of the February 18, 2016 trade deadline.
On August 20, 2015, the Suns agreed to training camp deals with former Ole Miss and Yenisey Krasnoyarsk shooting guard Terrico White and former Harvard and Helios Suns Domžale small forward Kyle Casey.[12] Five days afterwards, the Suns also decided to add former Philadelphia 76ers center Henry Sims and former Brooklyn Nets power forward Cory Jefferson towards their training camp roster as more likely potential additions to the team,[13] as well as former Nevada Wolf Pack and Ratiopharm Ulm point guard Deonte Burton.[14] However, all of those signings would not be considered official until September 16, 2015. With that said, Burton would not train with the team at all and instead became the first player to be cut on October 3, 2015, which was before the team's scrimmage at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum began. After that, the Suns would waive both Terrico White and Kyle Casey from their roster on October 15, 2015, two days after their overtime loss to the Houston Rockets.[15] Finally, on October 24, 2015, the Suns decided to waive Henry Sims from the roster and sign last year's Mr. Irrelevant Cory Jefferson to a non-guaranteed deal for the season. All waived players except for Henry Sims would later join the Bakersfield Jam. Henry Sims would end up joining the Grand Rapids Drive on November 12, 2015 instead.
On November 25, 2015, the Suns would sign Tucson, Arizona native Bryce Cotton to a one-year deal as insurance in the event either Ronnie Price or Eric Bledsoe would be out of commission. He would make his debut, though, over a month later due to an injury involving Eric Bledsoe instead. Cotton would previously play point guard for the Austin Spurs in the D-League (twice) and the Utah Jazz before signing his deal to play for the Suns. On January 6, 2016, after winning at home against the Charlotte Hornets, the Suns decided to waive both Cory Jefferson and Bryce Cotton's non-guaranteed deals. To make up for these moves, they announced that Grand Rapids Drive point guard Lorenzo Brown would sign a 10–day contract to determine his future value to the team, especially as a backup point guard since Eric Bledsoe would not play for the rest of the season. Brown would end up performing just well enough to sign a second 10-day contract with the team, especially with Ronnie Price out around that timeline. On January 21, 2016, the Suns decided to have Cory Jefferson return to the roster for a 10-day contract due to the team's power forwards all being out of commission during the January 19 game against the Indiana Pacers. However, on January 28, 2016, Phoenix decided to sign former Philadelphia 76ers selection Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract in order to replace Lorenzo Brown after his second 10-day contract expired.
Coaching changes
On May 29, 2015, it was revealed that assistant coach Kenny Gattison would end up leaving the team and former Phoenix Mercury coach and Suns player development coach Corey Gaines would be promoted to full-time assistant coach again. At the same time, it was announced that Bakersfield Jam coach Nate Bjorkgren would replace Corey as a player development coach (as well as being an assistant head coach in his own accord) and Mark West would be relegated back into the front office as a Director of Player Relations. It would be revealed a few days later that former NBA player and Austin Spurs assistant coach Earl Watson would take on assistant coach duties as well. Joe Smith was also revealed as a potential candidate for another player development assistant coach position as well. However, on June 27, 2015 — two days after the 2015 NBA Draft — the Suns would hire former Villanova University player and director of student-athlete development, Harlem Globetrotter, and Austin Spurs assistant coach Jason Fraser as the last player development assistant coach, being joined by fellow player development coach Irving Roland from the team's 2013–14 season.
On December 27, 2015, a day after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers (who before playing Phoenix had only one victory beforehand), it was announced that both Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren would wind up being promoted to full-time assistant coaches into their system, while both long-time assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi would be fired for their poor overall performances throughout December.
Front office changes
On May 29, 2015, it was revealed that former Suns player and assistant coach Mark West would move back into a front office role as a Director of Player Relations and John Treloar would be fired from his Director of Player Personnel duties with the team as he decided to take on that same role for the Atlanta Hawks instead. Former President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby would end up being relegated as the team's Senior Adviser on June 10, 2015 after his initial contract as the team's President of Basketball Operations expired, although he would still take part of plenty of the team's free agent moves as the President of Basketball Operations for the rest of June and July. As of August, however, that absent role would be taken up by general manager Ryan McDonough instead. On July 7, 2015, the Suns announced that the Los Angeles Clippers' Courtney Witte would take on the team's newest Director of Scouting role. On July 30, 2015, Phoenix announced that the Bakersfield Jam's own general manager Bubba Barrage would take on the Director of Player Personnel role while keeping his role in Bakersfield and Antonio Williams would be the team's newest scout, replacing Ronnie Lester in the process.[16][17] Finally, on September 30, 2015, the team's strength and conditioning coach Mike Elliott was confirmed to be promoted to the Director of Performance for the Suns.[18]
Roster
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Salaries
Player | 2015–16 Salary |
---|---|
Eric Bledsoe | $13,500,000 |
Brandon Knight | $13,500,000 |
Tyson Chandler | $13,000,000 |
Markieff Morris | $8,000,000 |
P.J. Tucker | $5,500,000 |
Mirza Teletović | $5,500,000 |
Oleksiy "Alex" Len | $3,807,120 |
Sonny Weems | $2,814,000 |
Devin Booker | $2,055,840 |
T.J. Warren | $2,041,080 |
Ronnie Price | $1,499,187 |
Archie Goodwin | $1,160,160 |
Jon Leuer | $1,035,000 |
Cory Jefferson | $845,059 |
Bryce Cotton | $700,901 |
Total | $74,257,446 |
For the first time since the 2009–10 season, the Suns don't have to pay any money to Josh Childress whatsoever as the amnesty clause for the NBA officially expires. However, the still owe Michael Beasley $777,778 this season due to the buyout the Suns did on September 3, 2013. Michael Beasley's contract still affects the Suns' salary for both this season and the next.[19]
Pre-Season
The six pre-season games the Suns played for this season tied the 1975–76 and 1981–82 seasons as the shortest amount of pre-season games the Suns had in a season (excluding the lockout shortened pre-seasons of the 1998–99 and 2011–12 seasons).
Total: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
2015 pre-season game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pre-season: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
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2015–16 season schedule |
Regular season
Season standings
Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
z – Golden State Warriors | 73 | 9 | .890 | – | 39–2 | 34–7 | 15–1 | 82 |
x – Los Angeles Clippers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 20.0 | 29–12 | 24–17 | 9–7 | 82 |
Sacramento Kings | 33 | 49 | .402 | 40.0 | 18–23 | 15–26 | 8–8 | 82 |
Phoenix Suns | 23 | 59 | .280 | 50.0 | 14–27 | 9–32 | 6–10 | 82 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 56.0 | 12–29 | 5–36 | 2–14 | 82 |
Western Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | z – Golden State Warriors * | 73 | 9 | .890 | – | 82 |
2 | y – San Antonio Spurs * | 67 | 15 | .817 | 6.0 | 82 |
3 | y – Oklahoma City Thunder * | 55 | 27 | .671 | 18.0 | 82 |
4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 20.0 | 82 |
5 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 29.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 31.0 | 82 |
7 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 42 | 40 | .512 | 31.0 | 82 |
8 | x – Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 32.0 | 82 |
9 | Utah Jazz | 40 | 42 | .488 | 33.0 | 82 |
10 | Sacramento Kings | 33 | 49 | .402 | 40.0 | 82 |
11 | Denver Nuggets | 33 | 49 | .402 | 40.0 | 82 |
12 | New Orleans Pelicans | 30 | 52 | .366 | 43.0 | 82 |
13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 29 | 53 | .354 | 44.0 | 82 |
14 | Phoenix Suns | 23 | 59 | .280 | 50.0 | 82 |
15 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 56.0 | 82 |
Game log
Total: 14–33 (Home: 10–13; Road: 4–20)
Playoffs
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Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eric Bledsoe | 31 | 31 | 34.2 | .453 | .372 | .802 | 4.0 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.4 |
Devin Booker | 7 | 0 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lorenzo Brown* | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tyson Chandler | 10 | 10 | 27.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bryce Cotton* | 3 | 0 | 11.0 | .250 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
Archie Goodwin | 7 | 0 | 14.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cory Jefferson* | 6 | 0 | 4.7 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
Brandon Knight | 10 | 10 | 34.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Alex Len | 10 | 0 | 16.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jon Leuer | 10 | 2 | 17.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Markieff Morris | 8 | 8 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ronnie Price | 8 | 0 | 11.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mirza Teletović | 10 | 0 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
P.J. Tucker | 10 | 10 | 24.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T.J. Warren | 10 | 0 | 21.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sonny Weems | 8 | 0 | 9.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* – Stats with the Suns
Injuries/Personal missed games
Player | Duration | Reason for Missed Time | Games Missed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Start | End | |||
Devin Booker | November 1, 2015 | November 4, 2015 | Tweaked ankle during practice | 1 |
Markieff Morris | November 13, 2015 | November 18, 2015 | Sprained left knee during the first quarter against the L.A. Clippers | 2 |
Ronnie Price | November 13, 2015 | November 18, 2015 | Had concussion during the first quarter against the L.A. Clippers | 2 |
T.J. Warren | November 18, 2015 | November 20, 2015 | Illness | 1 |
Eric Bledsoe | November 23, 2015 | November 25, 2015 | Hurt leg after the road New Orleans Pelicans game | 1 |
Tyson Chandler | November 25, 2015 | November 27, 2015 | Illness | 1 |
Tyson Chandler | November 29, 2015 | December 13, 2015 | Hurt right hamstring during the first quarter against Golden State | 8 |
Markieff Morris | December 2, 2015 | December 4, 2015 | Hurt left knee after the Brooklyn Nets game | 1 |
Markieff Morris | December 9, 2015 | December 18, 2015 | Had a sinus infection after their six-game road trip ended | 5 |
Markieff Morris | December 26, 2015 | December 30, 2015 | Suspended after throwing a towel at his head coach | 2 |
Eric Bledsoe | December 28, 2015 | The Entire Season | Tore his left meniscus during the home Philadelphia 76ers game | 48 |
Ronnie Price | December 30, 2015 | January 2, 2016 | Hurt his toe during the home Cleveland Cavaliers game | 2 |
Jon Leuer | December 31, 2015 | January 2, 2016 | Injured his leg during the road San Antonio Spurs game | 1 |
Brandon Knight | January 12, 2016 | January 15, 2016 | Had food poisoning before the road Indiana Pacers game | 1 |
Olexsiy "Alex" Len | January 12, 2016 | January 19, 2016 | Injured left hand continued bothering him | 3 |
Ronnie Price | January 12, 2016 | Unknown | Stubbed his great right toe before the road Indiana game | ? |
Jon Leuer | January 19, 2016 | Unknown | Had lower back spasms before the home Indiana Pacers game | ? |
Markieff Morris | January 21, 2016 | Unknown | Had a right shoulder strain during the first quarter of that same home Indiana game | ?? |
Mirza Teletović | January 21, 2016 | January 23, 2016 | Had a left ankle sprain during the third quarter during that same home Indiana game | 1 |
Brandon Knight | January 21, 2016 | Unknown | Had a left adductor strain before the first home game against the San Antonio Spurs began | ? |
Awards and records
Awards
- T. J. Warren would earn All-NBA First Team Las Vegas Summer League Honors due to his overall performance throughout the 2015 NBA Summer League.
- Two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash would have his number placed in the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor on October 30, 2015 against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Suns would win that game by the score of 110–92, thus blowing out the Trail Blazers in the process.
Week/Month
All-Star
- Devin Booker would end up being announced as a competitor in the Rising Stars Challenge.
Records
- Brandon Knight would be the youngest player to ever record a stat line of 30 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals in a single NBA game on November 16, 2015 against the Los Angeles Lakers by doing it while he was 23 years, 349 days old. Knight would also be the second Suns player to record a triple-double of 30 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds (first one being former All-Star Charlie Scott), as well as the ninth overall player to record such statistics and only the fourth player (behind Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, and Russell Westbrook) to record the same stats with four steals to match. Furthermore, Knight is also the first player since Michael Jordan back in 1985 to record a statline similar to the 30 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds that Knight had for their first ever triple-double in the league.[20]
- Devin Booker would become the youngest guard in NBA history to record a double-double in points and rebounds instead of through points and assists with the 17 points and 10 rebounds he recorded on January 6, 2016 against the Charlotte Hornets.
Team Records
- Devin Booker would be the team's youngest ever selection in the NBA draft, being 18 years, 238 days old at the time of his selection on June 25, 2015. Booker also ended up being one of the youngest players to ever play in the NBA by remaining 18 years old due to him playing two days before his 19th birthday, in which the earliest time he could play in the regular season (and the only time before his 19th birthday took place) would have been the October 28, 2015 home game against the Dallas Mavericks. He would become the second Suns player to ever play before his 18th birthday while debuting with the team (the Polish/Swedish forward-center Maciej Lampe would make his debut 13 days before his birthday during the 2003-04 season).
- The 142 points the Sacramento Kings would score on January 2, 2016 would be the highest a team would score against Phoenix without the help of an overtime since the 1990-91 NBA season.
- The 22 points scored in the first half of the road game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 3, 2016 would mark the franchise's newest lowest-scoring half ever, beating out the 24 point half set a year earlier at home against the San Antonio Spurs.
- Devin Booker would become the youngest Suns player in history to record his first ever double-double with the team by producing 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 111–102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on January 6, 2016.
- Lorenzo Brown would score 7 points in his debut with the Suns on January 12, 2016 against the Indiana Pacers. His 7 points scored makes him the highest scoring player on the team during one's first game on a 10-day contract.
- Devin Booker would be the youngest Suns player in history to record 30 or more points in franchise history by scoring 32 points in a close loss to the Indiana Pacers on January 19, 2016, beating out fan favorite Amar'e Stoudemire at 20 years old with 38 points. In addition, Booker would also record the highest amount of three-pointers made in a single game with 6 on that game.
- Tyson Chandler would not only tie the team record for most rebounds recorded in a single game (27) that was initially set by Paul Silas sometime back in 1971, but he'd also break the Suns' record for most offensive rebounds by a single player with 13 (the previous high best was 12 with both Charles Barkley and Curtis Perry) in a close 98-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks and be the first Suns player to ever record consecutive 20+ rebounding games (he'd also record 20 rebounds in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on January 21, 2016).
Milestones
- Devin Booker would become the first ever player to make his NBA debut at 18 years old while also previously playing at least one year in college.
- Devin Booker would be the sixth-youngest player to record multiple games of 19 or more points scored during their rookie season after first scoring 19 against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 26, 2015 and then scoring 21 points against the Sacramento Kings on January 2, 2016, behind only Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, and Kobe Bryant.
- Jeff Hornacek would get his 100th victory as a head coach on January 6, 2016 against the Charlotte Hornets.
- Coincidentally enough, Ann Meyers Drysdale and Stephanie Ready would make for the first time in NBA history that two female announcers from different teams would be the analysts for their respective teams (Ann for Phoenix, Stephanie for Charlotte) on January 6, 2016.[21]
- In that same game, Devin Booker would be the fifth-youngest player to record a double-double in the NBA, behind only Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Bynum, and LeBron James.
- On January 19, 2016, Devin Booker would not only be the sixth-youngest player to record multiple games of scoring 20 or more points in their rookie season, but he'd also become the third-youngest player in league history to score over 30 points in a single game behind only Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
- On January 19 & 21, 2016, Devin Booker became the first teenage rookie since Kevin Durant back in the 2007-08 season (back when Kevin was playing for the Seattle SuperSonics instead of the Oklahoma City Thunder) to score 54 or more points in consecutive games with Devin scoring 32 points against the Indiana Pacers and 24 points against the San Antonio Spurs.
Team Milestones
- The signing of Tyson Chandler marks the first time ever (excluding Ben Wallace's temporary move to Phoenix back in June 2009 in order to trade away star center Shaquille O'Neal) that the Suns had gotten a Defensive Player of the Year winner — current or former — to officially become a part of their roster.
- The Suns would get three straight games where they won by 14 or more points from November 12-16. It would be the first time the Suns would win three straight games by such a wide margin of victory since the 2009-10 Phoenix Suns season.
- Brandon Knight would record the most 30+ point games for the Suns in their first twelve games of the regular season since Amar'e Stoudemire back in the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns season.
- Tyson Chandler would end up recording multiple games of 20+ rebounds on January 21 & 23, 2016 (including a record-high tying 27 rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks), thus making him the first player to ever record such a feat with the Phoenix Suns!
Transactions
Trades
June 25, 2015 |
To Memphis Grizzlies |
To Phoenix Suns |
July 2, 2015 |
To Detroit Pistons |
To Phoenix Suns 2020 second round pick |
Free Agents
Re-signed
Player | Signed |
---|---|
Brandon Knight | Signed 5-year deal worth $70 Million |
Cory Jefferson | Signed a 10-day contract |
Additions
Player | Signed | Former Team |
---|---|---|
Tyson Chandler | Signed 4-year deal worth $52 Million | Dallas Mavericks |
Sonny Weems | Signed 2-year deal worth $5.8 Million | PBC CSKA Moscow |
Ronnie Price | Signed 1-year deal worth $1.5 Million | Los Angeles Lakers |
Mirza Teletović | Signed 1-year deal worth $5.5 Million | Brooklyn Nets |
Cory Jefferson | Signed 1-year non-guaranteed deal worth $845,059 | Brooklyn Nets / Phoenix Suns / Bakersfield Jam |
Bryce Cotton | Signed 1-year non-guaranteed deal for $700,901 | Utah Jazz / Austin Spurs |
Lorenzo Brown | Signed two 10-day contracts | Minnesota Timberwolves / Grand Rapids Drive / Phoenix Suns |
Subtractions
Player | Reason left | New team |
---|---|---|
Andrew Harrison | Traded after being drafted | Memphis Grizzlies / Iowa Energy |
Brandan Wright | Unrestricted free agent | Memphis Grizzlies |
Marcus Morris Reggie Bullock Danny Granger |
Traded | Detroit Pistons |
Gerald Green | Unrestricted free agent | Miami Heat |
Marcus Thornton | Unrestricted free agent | Houston Rockets |
Earl Barron | Unrestricted free agent | Atlanta Hawks / Fubon Braves |
Jerel McNeal | Waived / Unrestricted free agent | Aris Thessaloniki |
Cory Jefferson | Waived | Bakersfield Jam / Phoenix Suns |
Bryce Cotton | Waived | Austin Spurs |
References
- ^ 2015-16 Phoenix Suns
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/05/29/phoenix-suns-coaching-staff-jeff-hornacek-kenny-gattison/28170329/
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/06/27/phoenix-suns-add-jason-fraser-coaching-staff/29382195/
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2015/06/30/suns-morris-twins-court-appearance-abrk/29505127/
- ^ http://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-sign-teletovic-weems-price
- ^ http://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-announce-basketball-operations-staff-changes
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/8/24/9198433/steve-nash-to-be-inducted-into-suns-ring-of-honor
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/9/16/9340601/morris-trial-timeline-aggravated-assault-phoenix-suns-detroit-pistons
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/26/9618894/phoenix-suns-pick-up-2016-17-options-on-len-warren-and-Goodwin
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/7/1/8879977/phoenix-suns-sign-tyson-chandler-bring-him-to-the-lamarcus-aldridge
- ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20150812_Markieff_Morris_demands_trade_from_Suns.html
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/20/suns-add-training-camp-players/32086997/
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/25/suns-add-henry-sims-cory-jefferson-training-camp/32357631/
- ^ http://valleyofthesuns.com/2015/08/26/report-phoenix-suns-sign-deonte-burton-to-summer-deal/
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/15/9546021/phoenix-suns-waive-white-and-casey
- ^ http://www.nba.com/suns/news/phoenix-suns-staff-directory
- ^ http://www.valleyofthesuns.com/2015/07/31/phoenix-suns-announce-staffing-changes/
- ^ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/09/30/phoenix-suns-markieff-morris-remains-happy-camper/73122276/
- ^ "HoopsHype - NBA Salaries - Phoenix Suns". hoopshype.com. September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/11/18/9753898/Eric-Bledsoe-Brandon-Knight-lead-Phoenix-Suns-T-J-Warren-Archie-Goodwin
- ^ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/1/6/10727692/tv-analysts-make-history-in-phoenix