Brendon Kleen and Ben Garcia here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Suns podcast, with your daily Locked On Suns newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Suns and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
New Jusuf Nurkic Injury Creates Opening For Suns to Change
Oct 26, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (20) against Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) in the first half of the home opener at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jusuf Nurkic is out again.
The bruising center, who survived his first season in Phoenix with a clean bill of health, had too many lower-body injuries to count in the first six weeks of the season. Now, the Suns have ruled Nurkic out for at least the next week with a right thigh contusion.
The move comes off a breakout night for rookie Oso Ighodaro in a win over the Golden State Warriors. In that game, Ighodaro outplayed veteran center Mason Plumlee and more than doubled up Plumlee’s minutes. The matchup favored Ighodaro to be sure, but Ighodaro is also a more natural fit in how the Suns want to play.
Ighodaro is smoother putting the ball on the floor and has a hoops IQ beyond his years. Compared with his ground-bound fellow Suns centers, Ighodaro allows the Suns to be more versatile on defense as well. Add in highlight plays as a rim protector and finisher inside, and it’s clear Ighodaro has earned playing time.
The question of how much could be solved during Nurkic’s absence. With four games this week against smaller teams that Ighodaro should thrive against, the rookie could really build some momentum.
On today’s episode, we debate whether it’s time for the Suns to put an end to their commitment to Nurkic and invest in Ighodaro. The team is much worse when Nurkic plays and his personal statistics are ugly so far.
You could make an easy case the team is better with Ighodaro starting and Plumlee off the bench. Both players certainly have their own weaknesses, but the team’s small-ball identity works better with them.
The Suns could decide it’s too early for such a colossal starting lineup change. Maybe they never do it.
But Nurkic’s latest injury at least creates an opening that Ighodaro could leap through, shaking up the Suns season in the process.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) is helped up by center Jay Huff (30) and forward Jaylen Wells (0) during the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum. | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
In mid-November, when the Lakers beat the Grizzlies at home in L.A., it was in large part to the efforts of Dalton Knecht. The rookie was upset that a week before that game the Grizzlies very tidily (to the tune of 131-114) put the Lakers away in Memphis, but more specifically, that Ja Morant challenged LeBron James. Knecht told ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin that Morant said “he was pretty much the new king around here when Bron’s still in the league.”
This is about the Grizzlies, it is, but Knecht’s umbrage was directed at the crucial element that’s powered Memphis for so long, and what’s put them back on top after last year’s wash of a season: outsized confidence.
It’s been called disrespect, showboating, ego, but whatever the Grizzlies are being called is less important than the baseline quality of confidence the labels all spring from and the team embodies. I’ve also found these other monikers telling— like a league temperature check — depending on who is levelling them and as a result of what. In Knecht’s case, he felt it disrespectful that Morant would make such a claim but Morant’s been saying it for seasons now. What started as general agitation and prowess for his own team seasons ago, a means to get an underdog Grizzlies team fired up, worked. It also turned into something greater: Morant hasn’t replaced James yet but the weight of expectation is there, so is the pathway. The side-effect, this time, was giving a rookie like Knecht his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
The Grizzlies are sitting third in a densely competitive Western Conference, ranked fifth overall in offence and fourth in defence, and they’ve secured these spots despite largely being without Morant, their diamond-in-the-rough of Desmond Bane, and big man Zach Edey. Jaren Jackson Jr. sits comfortably on over a dozen league leaderboards, including points per 36 minutes, field goals per 100 possessions, block percentage and defensive win shares. Scottie Pippen Jr. Is an assist machine with the kind of court vision that usually takes seasons to sharpen; Jay Huff can sharp-shoot the three and the next possession take the ball up for a reverse dunk right in front of LeBron James.
And there’s no slouch in them. All down the roster, despite the injury gaps, Memphis counts seven players who average at least and typically more than 10 points a game. Of those seven, all split their minutes, with Jackson Jr. averaging the most at 29:20 a game. The result is an early depth that not many other teams can rival...
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Trade A potential trade involving Josh Okogie could save the Phoenix Suns millions and open opportunities for roster enhancements. Strategic moves are being considered for optimal team performance. (Bright Side of the Sun)
Preview The Spurs will face off against the Suns at the Footprint Center at 10:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Preview Breaking down the NBA Cup: Here’s a primer for the final night of group-stage games. (The Athletic)
Dec 2, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis/Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Injury Updates and Player Returns
As we navigate the NBA season, keeping an eye on player injuries and returns is crucial for fantasy basketball success. Jeremy Sochan is potentially making a comeback, and I recommend adding him in all league formats. Mark Williams is another player to watch, as he’s been upgraded to questionable. While his return isn’t guaranteed, it’s worth considering adding him to your roster. Meanwhile, Draymond Green is listed as questionable, but Steve Kerr has expressed doubts about his availability. This opens up opportunities for Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, and Trace Jackson-Davis to step up in his absence.
Waiver Wire Trends
The waiver wire is buzzing with activity, and it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve. Vasa Micic is the most added player, filling in for the injured LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann. While this isn’t a long-term solution, Micic is a solid pickup until one of them returns. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another player to consider, especially with the Magic’s favourable schedule. He’s a great streaming option, but don’t expect consistent season-long value. Marcus Smart is also gaining traction, and his recent performances make him a worthy addition.
On the flip side, Isaiah Stewart, Moussa Diabate, and Naji Marshall are among the most dropped players. Stewart’s value is inconsistent, making him an easy drop. Diabate’s minutes are dwindling, and Marshall’s role is uncertain. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have also seen significant drops, with Jerome’s value plummeting due to Caris LeVert’s return.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Suns podcasts.
Are the Trade Rumors Dragging the Phoenix Suns Down, Or Is It Something Else?
The Phoenix Suns dropped two terrible losses right as Bradley Beal for Jimmy Butler trade rumors started flying. Coincidence? Brendon Kleen and Ben Garcia debate how much the trade whispers are to blame for the Suns’ poor play as well as what the actual biggest issue is for the Suns right now. Then, one big Christmas wish for the Phoenix Suns to close out the show.
Phoenix Suns Lose Another Game and Another Star As Devin Booker Injures Groin Vs. Pacers
As soon as Bradley Beal is back for the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker goes out and the Suns drop another bad home L to the Indiana Pacers. Is it too soon to call this rock bottom? Brendon Kleen and Ben Garcia bring a dispatch from inside Footprint Center after another disheartening Suns loss. Does the team’s spirit need an adjustment in addition to getting healthy? And why did they lose even with Booker’s injury?
Should the Phoenix Suns Big 3 Look More Like a Big 2? Plus Favorite Non-Jimmy Butler Targets
The Phoenix Suns have been elite this season with just Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the court, begging the question of what they really need from Bradley Beal. Brendon Kleen and Ben Garcia break down whether the Big 3 should play more like a Big 2, and what the best role for Beal might be if he stays on the team. To close, we each pick our favorite non-Jimmy Butler trade target this season.
