2013-14 NBA Bench Power Rankings

Apr. 19, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat (left) celebrates with Channing Frye following the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Clippers 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

16. Phoenix Suns

 You don’t, by law or writ, have to give up on Channing Frye. As a big man who spends most of his time drifting around the three-point line, his recent injuries ought not disqualify his emergence as a contributor. The Morris Twins likewise are both indisputable talents, though they’re going to have to embrace their roles and not seek to do more than they should.

If Eric Bledsoe is a bench player then the Suns have upgraded. If they try to slot him in as some kind of de facto shooting guard then you’ve opened up a can of worms. Bledsoe absolutely feasts on second unit competition and fares less well against his elite counterparts. You would have an extremely difficult time convincing me Bledsoe ought to start and Suns quasi-savior Goran Dragic should receive a demotion. Dragic by virtue of being a better player deserves the start but then…what happens to Bledsoe?

Whatever happens there, it’s a more wholesome problem that what to make of Michael Beasley. The Beas, an inefficient mess and annual headache, is in the midst of a sexual assault investigation. The Suns would do well find a way to get rid of this guy. Character problems + basketball problems is a simple equation that amounts to an untenable situation. Forget about amicable break-ups. Do everything you can to get out of this relationship.

Shannon Brown and Gerald Green are glorified dunkers. PJ Tucker will definitely earn the less than 1 million he is owed, and will perhaps even excel if he is graded with a ton of caveats and plays about 10-15 minutes a game. The Suns may be the worst team in the Western Conference, but at least they’ll get on SportsCenter’s “Top 10 Dunks Countdown” once or twice. And hey, isn’t that what this is all about?