With the 2014-15 campaign written and closed, Suns.com’s Matt Petersen takes an end-season look at each member of Phoenix’s roster heading into the summer. Key points include what went well, what could be improved, and a notable advanced stat for each player are included, as is their offseason status with the team.
MORE REVIEWS: Earl Barron | Eric Bledsoe | Reggie Bullock | Archie Goodwin | Danny Granger | Gerald Green | Brandon Knight | Alex Len | Jerel McNeal | Marcus Thornton | P.J. Tucker | T.J. Warren | Brandan Wright
Brandan Wright
Bio: 6-10, 210 pounds, 27 years old
History with Suns: Traded from Boston on Jan. 9, 2015
2014-15 stats: 19.3 mpg, 7.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 64.2 FG%
Offseason status: Unrestricted Free Agent
What Went Well
When Alex Len solidified the starting center spot in December, Phoenix needed another consistent rim protector to back him up. Enter Wright, one of the best in the business. The 6-10 journeyman used his length, vertical jump and timing to block more shots per 36 minutes than Andre Drummond, Nerlens Noel and Dwight Howard.
When trades and injuries opened up even more playing time at the end of the season, Wright got the chance to develop better chemistry with his new teammates, including Eric Bledsoe. Wright's ability to slither through the defense after setting a screen set up him for several alley-oop dunks, a big reason why his true shooting percentage ranked third in the league behind only Kyle Korver and Tyson Chandler.
What Could Be Improved
Before a trade-filled 2014-15 campaign, Wright ahd spent the previous three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. In their offensive scheme, he was asked to slip picks rather than fully setting them and then rolling to the basket. Should he return, he'll have a full training camp to compare notes with Bledsoe and the Suns' other playmakers, which should produce even more easy points for Wright.
Head Coach Jeff Hornacek experimented at times by playing Wright alongside Len, a combination which could work if Wright can be a consistent in-game threat from mid-range (42.9% this season).
Notable Advanced Stat: Wright earned his rebounding numbers this season. Over 46 percent of his boards were "contested", per NBA.com, a higher rate than Anthony Davis, DeAndre Jordan and Rudy Gobert.