Five Playmaking Guards The Houston Rockets Should Target
By Travis Oquin
Feb 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns guard
Brandon Knight(3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Suns won 110-96. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
6’3” – 23 years old
Brandon Knight would also be an outstanding fit to play next to James Harden. Knight is a combo guard that has shown the ability to play off the ball as well as run the point.
At age 23, this past season, Knight really began to come into his own as a player and had his best season as a pro. Splitting the season between the Bucks and the Suns, Knight shot 39% from 3-point range and averaged 17 points per game to go with 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals.
Knight who was originally viewed as a pure point guard seemed to find the balance last season between distributing and scoring. Knight is not a classic assist first type point guard but is a scoring guard who can also handle and distribute reasonably well.
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Much like Goran Dragic, he’s the perfect size, 6’3”, and skill set to play next to James Harden. He’s comfortable with the ball in his hands and he’s improved his play playing off the ball.
The 3-point shooting has also developed and he raised his percentage roughly 4 percentage points above his previous career averages last season.
The problem for the Rockets however, with Knight is that it could be fairly difficult to obtain him. He’s a restricted free agent and the Suns appear set to match any offer made to him, although I don’t expect him to get a max deal.
Will Knight attempt to force his way out of Phoenix as Eric Bledsoe attempted last season or is he comfortable signing a longer term deal with them?
The Suns do not appear yet, to realize that their multi-point guard style of play has not worked for them and that they need more of a presence up front. If they do, a sign and trade is a possibility, but the player that the Suns likely would covet is Donatas Motiejunas which given other options, its’ doubtful the Rockets would agree to.
So while Knight would be a great option and fit, the odds are fairly strongly against the Rockets being able to acquire him.
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