Phoenix is looking into recruiting backup centers in a hurry
Phoenix is looking into recruiting backup centers in a hurry
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Phoenix, which has fallen on fire, is looking for a backup center.
The Phoenix Suns lost 117-122 to the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA regular league in the 2024-2025 season at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on the 15th (Korea Standard Time).
The defeat ended Phoenix's three-game winning streak, and it came back below the .500 winning rate with 19 wins and 20 losses.
All of Phoenix's big three players, including Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, were on the field. Booker played his part with 35 points and 5 assists and Durant 31 points and 8 rebounds, but Beal was sluggish with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
However, Jaylon Johnson, a key player in Atlanta, was absent due to injury. Trae Young led the team alone, and Young played the ace role properly with 43 points and five assists. What was shocking was Oneka Okongwu, the backup center. Okongwu dominated the basket with 22 points and 21 rebounds, and became the biggest contributor to his victory.
The reason Phoenix lost was because of under-the-basket struggle. Okongwu grabbed 10 offensive rebounds out of his 21 rebounds. Mason Plumlee, Phoenix's main center, only had five rebounds. He was completely out of the under-the-basket struggle.
Atlanta had 54 rebounds on the day, and 20 of them were offensive rebounds. Phoenix, on the other hand, had only 37.
Phoenix's biggest problem recently is under the basket. As Youssef Nuckic, the former main center, was so sluggish, he eventually chose the extreme method of excluding Nuckic from the rotation. The problem is that even Nuckic's replacement is below expectations. Plumley and Oso Igor were appointed, but coldly, the two players were not good enough to use as benches.
No matter how important three-point shooting is outside basketball in the NBA these days, the center's presence is still great. In this regard, it is safe to say that Phoenix has the worst center in the NBA.
Due to this situation, Phoenix is currently trading rumors with compliant backup centers.
John Gambo, a local reporter for the Phoenix area, said Tuesday that Phoenix is targeting Nick Richards, the backup center for the Charlotte Hornets, and wants to send Nukichi. However, Charlotte added that she wants Josh Okogie, not Nukichi, to be picked in the second round of the future draft.
Richards is a consistent backup center representing the NBA. He is disappointed in his skills as a starting player, but there is no other player like him as a backup. He has been performing well this season with an average of 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. It is much better than Phoenix's center position players. 토토사이트
If Richards is recruited, Phoenix's under-the-goal competitiveness is likely to improve significantly. The problem is the price. If Phoenix, which already has a thin player base, sends Okogi, not Nerkichi, it will have a thinner player base. On top of that, future draft picks are a bonus.
However, Phoenix has no time to think about its future. If things go wrong, its advance to the playoffs could not be realized. The urgent side is Phoenix.