The Phoenix Suns have gone all-in on trying to win their first-ever NBA championship in recent months.
They traded away two major depth pieces in Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges, as well as several first-round draft picks, for Kevin Durant in February, and this month they dealt Chris Paul and Landry Shamet, plus four more first-round picks, for three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal.
The two trades have left the Suns without any depth, but on Friday, they took a small step toward replenishing that depth by signing free-agent forward Yuta Watanabe.
Around Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Suns recruit a big wing pickup in Watanabe. 44.4 percent three-point shooter, depth in frontcourt and a reunion with Durant. https://t.co/hfVDIdh2Di
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2023
Watanabe, a 6-foot-8 forward who went undrafted in 2018, has emerged over the last couple of seasons as a reliable 3-point shooter.
This season, as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, he made an outstanding 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts, and he can help keep the floor spread for Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker.
With the Nets, Watanabe spent half a season with Durant, so perhaps the two won’t need to spend as much time learning how to play well with each other.
Phoenix is still in dire need of viable depth at multiple positions, and unless they find such depth, that deficiency could single-handedly prevent them from winning it all.
With all the draft picks they have gotten rid of, as well as the fact that Durant is injury-prone and nearing his 35th birthday, there is an immense amount of pressure on them to win a world title as soon as possible.
If they don’t do it next season, they may never get it done.
NEXT: The Suns Made A Minor Move On Friday
