2015–16 Phoenix Suns season

2015–16 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach Jeff Hornacek
Earl Watson (interim)
General manager Ryan McDonough
Owner(s) Robert Sarver
Arena Talking Stick
Resort Arena
Results
Record 23–59 (.280)
Place Division: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 14th (Western)
Playoff finish Did not qualify

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

Local media
Television Fox Sports Arizona
Radio KTAR

The 2015–16 NBA season is the Phoenix Suns' ongoing 48th season in the NBA.[1] It was their first season where the Suns played in the newly named Talking Stick Resort Arena, when it used to be called both the America West Arena and most recently the U.S. Airways Center.

Key dates

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 2015 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 13 Devin Booker Shooting Guard  USA Kentucky
2 44 Andrew Harrison Point Guard  USA Kentucky

The Phoenix Suns have only one first round pick and one second round pick this season. Their sole first round pick was their own that was also a part of the NBA draft lottery. The Suns initially had two other draft picks as well (one from the Minnesota Timberwolves and the other from the Los Angeles Lakers, both of which were coincidentally the top picks of this season's draft), but they were both involved with trades the Suns made last season. Minnesota's first round pick (which had lottery protections this season) was traded to the Boston Celtics, where Phoenix got center Brandan Wright in exchange. The Lakers' pick (which was top 5 protected this season), however, was moved in the trade deadline extravaganza of 2015, with Phoenix gaining guard Brandon Knight from the Milwaukee Bucks (as well as other players and future first round draft picks) in exchange for Milwaukee gaining the Suns' center Miles Plumlee and then-rookie point guard Tyler Ennis, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers' point guard Michael Carter-Williams, and Philadelphia getting the Lakers' protected first round pick out of it. The lone second round pick they have is also the pick they had on their own accord in spite of having a declining record when compared to two seasons ago in the process.

With the 13th pick, the Suns selected shooting guard Devin Booker from Kentucky University. Booker averaged 10 points off of 47% overall shooting, 2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during 21.5 minutes of play in Kentucky's near-undefeated season as a bench player. As a result, Devin would end up being the Southeastern Conference's Sixth Man of the Year for his performances that season, as well as made it to the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshmen Team. Despite his college season coming off the bench, Booker would make for the most immediate successful rookie the Suns have drafted (that was kept by them) in over a decade. After that, with the 44th pick, the Suns selected another player from the University of Kentucky, this time point guard Andrew Harrison. However, the Suns would end up trading Andrew's rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for power forward Jon Leuer. Harrison under his two seasons with the Wildcats as the starting point guard had averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds throughout his time with Kentucky. Despite that, though, Harrison's statistics wound up decreasing during his second and final season with the Wildcats, which was considered a likely reason for Harrison's drop from being a considerable first round talent to falling around the middle of the second round.

Free agency

Players Brandan Wright, Gerald Green, and Marcus Thornton; as well as the returning Earl Barron all became unrestricted free agents as of the end of the 2014-15 NBA season. In addition, combo guard Brandon Knight ended up being a restricted free agent. Small forward Danny Granger was also considered a candidate for unrestricted free agency, but he ended up exercising his player option to take on his final year of his contract for the rest of this season on June 17, 2015. Not only that, but one recent trade the Suns made by trading their most recent second round selection to Memphis for power forward Jon Leuer was fully guaranteed for the rest of the season after having his rights remain with the team after June 29, 2015. Point guard Jerel McNeal also had a team option that would make him an unrestricted free agent as well, but that option had to be decided upon and met before July 21, 2015, which was around the time Phoenix's Summer League campaign ended and a good portion of free agency had been completed. However, unlike the other players that had team options with the Suns, McNeal was waived four days before his contract was guaranteed on July 17, 2015 during the Summer League due to his less than stellar performance there.

To start off their free agency push this year, the Suns decided to lock down their biggest trade deadline piece last season, Brandon Knight, to a 5-year deal worth $70 million (the same deal offered to point guard Eric Bledsoe a year earlier) on July 1, 2015. In addition to keeping Brandon Knight, the Suns also signed up 2011 NBA Finals champion center Tyson Chandler on exactly the same day. The signing of Tyson came in conjecture to the Suns' personal meeting with Portland Trail Blazers free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge as well for the chance to lure him over to Phoenix.[11] In the meantime, Brandan Wright would be lost to the Memphis Grizzlies as he signed a 3-year deal worth $18 million. A day later, the Suns would trade small forwards Marcus Morris, Danny Granger, and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the Pistons' 2020 second round selection. This move was considered a point where Phoenix would potentially sign LaMarcus Aldridge to the team without taking any hits on their salary cap; unfortunately for the Suns, Aldridge decided to go to the rival San Antonio Spurs instead on the Fourth of July.

After failing to sign Aldridge, the Suns decided to sign CSKA Moscow shooting guard Sonny Weems to a two-year deal worth $5.8 million (with a team option on the second year) and former 2011-12 Phoenix Suns point guard Ronnie Price on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million (the veteran's minimum) on July 8, 2015. A day later, it was announced that the Brooklyn Nets' power forward Mirza Teletović from the nation of Bosnia & Herzegovina would sign a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, while Gerald Green would sign a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Miami Heat. Four days after the July Moratorium ended, the Suns' own Marcus Thornton that they got after their trade with Isaiah Thomas signed a one-year, veteran's minimum deal with the Houston Rockets. On July 31, it was revealed that Jerel McNeal would end up signing a deal to play for Aris Thessaloniki in Greece instead. After that, on September 25, 2015, center Earl Barron would sign a training camp deal to play with the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club after former Suns player Jason Richardson announced his retirement from the league due to an injury that he feared would risk his lifetime health, although Barron would end up playing for the Fubon Braves in Taiwan on November 17, 2015 after failing to make their regular season rotation.

On August 20, 2015, the Suns agreed to training camp deals with former Ole Miss and Yenisey Krasnoyarsk shooting guard Terrico White and former Harvard and Helios Suns Domžale small forward Kyle Casey.[12] Five days afterwards, the Suns also decided to add former Philadelphia 76ers center Henry Sims and former Brooklyn Nets power forward Cory Jefferson towards their training camp roster as more likely potential additions to the team,[13] as well as former Nevada Wolf Pack and Ratiopharm Ulm point guard Deonte Burton.[14] However, all of those signings would not be considered official until September 16, 2015. With that said, Burton would not train with the team at all and instead became the first player to be cut on October 3, 2015, which was before the team's scrimmage at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum began. After that, the Suns would waive both Terrico White and Kyle Casey from their roster on October 15, 2015, two days after their overtime loss to the Houston Rockets.[15] Finally, on October 24, 2015, the Suns decided to waive Henry Sims from the roster and sign last year's Mr. Irrelevant Cory Jefferson to a non-guaranteed deal for the season. All waived players except for Henry Sims would later join the Bakersfield Jam. Henry Sims would end up joining the Grand Rapids Drive on November 12, 2015 instead. Out of all the players there, though, only Sims would find his way back into the NBA again, with him signing a deal to play with the Brooklyn Nets on March 17, 2016.

On November 25, 2015, the Suns would sign Tucson, Arizona native Bryce Cotton to a one-year deal as insurance in the event either Ronnie Price or Eric Bledsoe would be out of commission. He would make his debut, though, over a month later due to an injury involving Eric Bledsoe instead. Cotton would previously play point guard for the Austin Spurs in the D-League (twice) and the Utah Jazz before signing his deal to play for the Suns. On January 6, 2016, after winning at home against the Charlotte Hornets, the Suns decided to waive both Cory Jefferson and Bryce Cotton's non-guaranteed deals. To make up for these moves, they announced that Grand Rapids Drive point guard Lorenzo Brown would sign a 10–day contract to determine his future value to the team, especially as a backup point guard since Eric Bledsoe would not play for the rest of the season. Brown would end up performing just well enough to sign a second 10-day contract with the team, especially with Ronnie Price out around that timeline. On January 21, 2016, the Suns decided to have Cory Jefferson return to the roster for a 10-day contract due to the team's power forwards all being out of commission during the January 19 game against the Indiana Pacers. However, on January 28, 2016, Phoenix decided to sign former Philadelphia 76ers selection Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract in order to replace Lorenzo Brown after his second 10-day contract expired. In the meantime, the Suns decided to not extend Cory Jefferson's deal (again) after most of the team's power forwards returned healthy on January 31, 2016.

During Jordan McRae's first 10-day stint, Phoenix decided to sign another 10-day contract out for former NBA and Austin Spurs player Orlando Johnson on a 10-day contract on February 5, 2016 due to the season-ending injury of T.J. Warren earlier in the month of February. After trading Markieff Morris away to the Washington Wizards, the Suns decided to both waive Orlando Johnson's 10 day contract and let go of Jordan McRae after his second 10-day contract expired in order to replace them with former Philadelphia 76ers and Idaho Stampede point guard Phil Pressey for 10 days, starting on February 20, 2016. Furthermore, after waiving DeJuan Blair from the roster, the Suns decided to sign former Dallas Mavericks shooting guard John Jenkins to a 3-year contract (two years non-guaranteed) on February 24, 2016. In addition to that, they would also waive players Kris Humphries (from their Markieff Morris trade) and one of their recent free-agent signings in Sonny Weems on February 28 and March 5, 2016 respectively. To replace Sonny, though, the Suns decided to sign former Indiana Pacers and Arizona Wildcats forward Chase Budinger to the team for the rest of the season on March 8, 2016. Furthermore, on that exact same day, the Suns would go after former Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles and California–Santa Barbara Gauchos center/power forward Alan Williams (a Phoenix, Arizona native) to a 10-day contract as a means of replacing Kris Humphries in the event one of Oleksiy "Alex" Len or Tyson Chandler get injured again. While Phil Pressey would not sign with the team for the rest of the season due to the return of Brandon Knight as the starting point guard on March 11, Alan Williams would get to sign with the team for the rest of the season (and potentially for their next season as well) on March 18, 2016, thus finally ending the Suns' free agency spree that season.

The Morris twins situation

For a majority of the season, many of the problems the team had there as a whole were projected by many fans as problems relating to that of the Morris twins' behaviors (primarily Markieff Morris' behavior). Before the start of the season, both Markieff and his twin brother Marcus Morris were subject to many problems both on and off the court, from behaving poorly in front of (now) former head coach Jeff Hornacek to getting multiple technical fouls to calling out the team's fanbase for not stepping up properly to even having an upcoming court case involving a former mentor of theirs named Erick Hood. In an attempt to help cool down the problem earlier on before their season began, the Suns decided to trade what was considered (at the time) to being the lesser talented twin brother (Marcus) alongside their influx of small forwards in Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to the Detroit Pistons on July 2, 2015 in exchange for a 2020 second round draft pick in what was seen as an effort to open up cap space to lure LaMarcus Aldridge away from the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs. When that failed, Marcus would start lambasting the team's front office and fans for not inquiring to them about the oncoming trade when it happened. Furthermore, it was revealed that on August 3, 2015, both of the Morris twins would fail to show up for the pretrial conference that was set for them on that date, which forced the judicial system to delay the case until later on in September.[16]

On August 11, 2015, Markieff Morris revealed to the The Philadelphia Inquirer that he officially wanted to be traded out of Phoenix, thanks mainly due to how he and his twin brother were notified of the news of the July 2 Detroit Pistons trade where Markieff's brother was traded alongside Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger for the Pistons' 2020 second round selection.[17] He would eventually be fined $10,000 for his comments there. Four days later, he noted that he would prefer to either play for either the Houston Rockets or the Toronto Raptors, but he wouldn't mind any other location like the Washington Wizards as well. However, the Suns decided to counter on Markieff's demands by saying they would not trade him at this time due to his considered importance to the team on August 31, 2015. Even with that said, on September 3, 2015, Markieff would remain adamant on his decision by posting out on his Twitter account that his future would not be in Phoenix just a day after the Suns wished Markieff a happy 26th birthday, and would continue with it a week later saying he won't accept any apologies from the team. At the end of the offseason, though, Markieff would ultimately remain on the team throughout most of the season, with Marcus continuing to bash the team and their fanbase along the way as an official Detroit Pistons player. It would be later revealed that the Suns had tried to work out a trade involving Markieff for eight months before it would finally be completed in February, with general manager Ryan McDonough stating that if a better deal for Markieff had come before the start of the season, it would have been done by then.[18]

While Markieff suggested that he had learned from the mistakes he made during the summertime, he would continue to have problems with the team and even struggled with his performance once Markieff received his first ever injury as a player in the middle of November. Once his injury became official, Markieff would be relegated into a bench player role, with there being points where he wouldn't even play altogether for various reasons. His performance would drop even further from averaging around 13 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes of action in November to 6.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17 minutes of action in December with Jon Leuer replacing Markieff at points. It would soon reach a tipping point on December 23, 2015 against the Denver Nuggets (which was also the last full game Eric Bledsoe would play before having a season-ending knee injury) where Markieff would throw a towel (accidentally) at head coach Jeff Hornacek after being frustrated at a play he did. The incident would draw parallels to when former Suns player Robert Horry would throw a towel at former Suns head coach Danny Ainge back in the 1996-97 Phoenix Suns season.[19] Like Robert Horry before him, Markieff Morris would be suspended for the next two games without pay. However, unlike the Robert Horry situation, Markieff would still remain with the team for not just the rest of December, but also for the entirety of January and halfway through February. Also, unlike the situation involving Robert Horry and Danny Ainge, the player that instigated the problem would end up lasting longer than the head coach that got affected by it in more ways than one, as well as two of his top assistants in Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi.

When head coach Jeff Hornacek got fired on February 1, 2016, and assistant coach Earl Watson replaced him as the interim for the rest of the season, Earl would try and designate Markieff as the team's newest leader after having injuries decimate their entire roster. During the five games Morris held that designation, Morris helped the team by recording his best averages of the season with the team by scoring 20.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in over 30 minutes of action, even though the team would not win any of those games in the process. However, the ultimate breaking point for Markieff and the Suns came during the February 9, 2016 home game against the defending champion Golden State Warriors, where during the first timeout of the game in the first quarter, Markieff would end up attacking his fellow teammate Archie Goodwin due to Archie not performing well at the time. While the Suns would lose in a close match to the Warriors, the team would soon realize that enough was enough with Markieff, and would then ask for a first round draft pick and a young player back for Markieff to go far away from their franchise forever. At the end of the February 18, 2016 trade deadline, despite him now actually wanting to stay with the team, the last Morris brother would be traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for power-forward/center combo players DeJuan Blair and Kris Humphries, as well as a Top-9 protected 2016 first round draft pick and a $1.56 million traded player exception. Four days after the trade, though, the Suns would waive DeJuan Blair's non-guaranteed contract from the team. However, to replace DeJuan Blair, the Suns decided to use their traded player exception to sign John Jenkins to a 3-year contract (with the second and third years being non-guaranteed) worth the league minimum. Furthermore, the Suns would also decide to buyout Kris Humphries' contract that he had for two more years (including this one) on February 28, 2016 in order to try and help get him to a playoff team in the Atlanta Hawks, while also replacing Humphries with Phoenix, Arizona native Alan Williams to a 10-day contract on March 8, 2016, and then for the rest of the season on March 18, 2016.

Coaching changes

On May 29, 2015, it was revealed that assistant coach Kenny Gattison would end up leaving the team and former Phoenix Mercury coach and Suns player development coach Corey Gaines would be promoted to full-time assistant coach again. At the same time, it was announced that Bakersfield Jam coach Nate Bjorkgren would replace Corey as a player development coach (as well as being an assistant head coach in his own accord) and Mark West would be relegated back into the front office as a Director of Player Relations. It would be revealed a few days later that former NBA player and Austin Spurs assistant coach Earl Watson would take on assistant coach duties as well. Joe Smith was also revealed as a potential candidate for another player development assistant coach position as well. However, on June 27, 2015 — two days after the 2015 NBA Draft — the Suns would hire former Villanova University player and director of student-athlete development, Harlem Globetrotter, and Austin Spurs assistant coach Jason Fraser as the last player development assistant coach, being joined by fellow player development coach Irving Roland from the team's 2013–14 season.

On December 27, 2015, a day after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers (who before playing Phoenix had only one victory beforehand), it was announced that both Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren would wind up being promoted to full-time assistant coaches into their system, while both long-time assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi would be fired for their poor overall performances throughout December. Over one month later, the Suns' head coach Jeff Hornacek would be fired due to a generally poor season on February 1, 2016. Replacing Jeff would be assistant coach Earl Watson, who had previously had experience coaching with the Austin Spurs as an assistant during the 2014-15 season. In addition to that, it was announced that former San Antonio Spurs and Seattle SuperSonics head coach Bob Hill would be the newest assistant coach added with the recent hiring of Earl Watson as the new head coach. After this season was over with, the Suns would designate Earl Watson with the full-time head coach tag for the next three seasons moving forward.

Front office changes

On May 29, 2015, it was revealed that former Suns player and assistant coach Mark West would move back into a front office role as a Director of Player Relations and John Treloar would be fired from his Director of Player Personnel duties with the team as he decided to take on that same role for the Atlanta Hawks instead. Former President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby would end up being relegated as the team's Senior Adviser on June 10, 2015 after his initial contract as the team's President of Basketball Operations expired, although he would still take part of plenty of the team's free agent moves as the President of Basketball Operations for the rest of June and July. As of August, however, that absent role would be taken up by general manager Ryan McDonough instead. On July 7, 2015, the Suns announced that the Los Angeles Clippers' Courtney Witte would take on the team's newest Director of Scouting role. On July 30, 2015, Phoenix announced that the Bakersfield Jam's own general manager Bubba Barrage would take on the Director of Player Personnel role while keeping his role in Bakersfield and Antonio Williams would be the team's newest scout, replacing Ronnie Lester in the process.[20][21] Finally, on September 30, 2015, the team's strength and conditioning coach Mike Elliott was confirmed to be promoted to the Director of Performance for the Suns.[22]

Roster

2015–16 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 2 Bledsoe, Eric  (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1989–12–09 Kentucky
G 1 Booker, Devin (R) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 206 lb (93 kg) 1996–10–30 Kentucky
F 10 Budinger, Chase 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1988–05–22 Arizona
C 4 Chandler, Tyson  7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1982–10–02 Dominguez HS (CA)
G 20 Goodwin, Archie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1994–08–17 Kentucky
G 23 Jenkins, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1991–03–06 Vanderbilt
G 3 Knight, Brandon  (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1991–12–02 Kentucky
C 21 Len, Alex 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1993–06–16 Maryland
F/C 30 Leuer, Jon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1989–05–14 Wisconsin
G 14 Price, Ronnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1983–06–21 Utah Valley State
F 35 Teletović, Mirza 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1985–09–17 Bosnia & Herzegovina
G/F 17 Tucker, P. J. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1985–05–05 Texas
F 12 Warren, T. J.  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1993–09–05 North Carolina State
F/C 15 Williams, Alan (R) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1993–01–28 UCSB
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Nate Bjorkgren
  • Corey Gaines
  • Bob Hill
  • Jason Fraser (player development)
  • Irving Roland (player development)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate
  • Injured

Roster • Transactions

Salaries

Player 2015–16 Salary
Eric Bledsoe $13,500,000
Brandon Knight $13,500,000
Tyson Chandler $13,000,000
P.J. Tucker $5,500,000
Mirza Teletović $5,500,000
Oleksiy "Alex" Len $3,807,120
Devin Booker $2,055,840
T.J. Warren $2,041,080
Ronnie Price $1,499,187
Archie Goodwin $1,160,160
Jon Leuer $1,035,000
John Jenkins $981,349
Chase Budinger $258,082
Alan Williams $114,284
Total $63,952,102

For the first time since the 2009–10 season, the Suns don't have to pay any money to Josh Childress whatsoever as the amnesty clause for the NBA officially expires. However, the still owe Michael Beasley $777,778 this season due to the buyout the Suns did on September 3, 2013. Michael Beasley's contract still affects the Suns' salary for both this season and the next. Furthermore, the Suns would also buyout Kris Humphries' contract on February 28, 2016, which makes the payment amount he was owed this season get off of Phoenix's books (which was around $3,440,000), as well as payout the rest of Sonny Weems' $2,814,000 that he didn't get earlier on (which totals out to $660,000) for the rest of the season on March 5, 2016.[23]

Pre-Season

The six pre-season games the Suns played for this season tied the 1975–76 and 1981–82 seasons as the shortest amount of pre-season games the Suns had in a season (excluding the lockout shortened pre-seasons of the 1998–99 and 2011–12 seasons).

2015 pre-season game log
Total: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
2015–16 season schedule

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
z – Golden State Warriors 73 9 .890 0.0 39–2 34–7 15–1 82
x – Los Angeles Clippers 53 29 .646 20.0 29–12 24–17 9–7 82
Sacramento Kings 33 49 .402 40.0 18–23 15–26 8–8 82
Phoenix Suns 23 59 .280 50.0 14–27 9–32 6–10 82
Los Angeles Lakers 17 65 .207 56.0 12–29 5–36 2–14 82
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z – Golden State Warriors * 73 9 .890 – 82
2 y – San Antonio Spurs * 67 15 .817 6.0 82
3 y – Oklahoma City Thunder * 55 27 .671 18.0 82
4 x – Los Angeles Clippers 53 29 .646 20.0 82
5 x – Portland Trail Blazers 44 38 .537 29.0 82
6 x – Dallas Mavericks 42 40 .512 31.0 82
7 x – Memphis Grizzlies 42 40 .512 31.0 82
8 x – Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 32.0 82
9 Utah Jazz 40 42 .488 33.0 82
10 Sacramento Kings 33 49 .402 40.0 82
11 Denver Nuggets 33 49 .402 40.0 82
12 New Orleans Pelicans 30 52 .366 43.0 82
13 Minnesota Timberwolves 29 53 .354 44.0 82
14 Phoenix Suns 23 59 .280 50.0 82
15 Los Angeles Lakers 17 65 .207 56.0 82

Game log

2015–16 game log
Total: 23–59 (Home: 14–27; Road: 9–32)
2015–16 season schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Bledsoe, EricEric Bledsoe 31 31 34.2 .453 .372 .802 4.0 6.1 2.0 0.6 20.4
Booker, DevinDevin Booker 76 51 27.7 .423 .343 .840 2.5 2.6 0.6 0.3 13.8
Brown, LorenzoLorenzo Brown* 8 0 7.6 .320 .125 .750 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.1 2.5
Budinger, ChaseChase Budinger* 17 0 11.8 .511 .235 .625 1.7 0.9 0.2 0.1 3.2
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler 66 60 24.5 .583 .000 .620 8.7 1.0 0.5 0.7 7.2
Cotton, BryceBryce Cotton* 3 0 11.0 .250 .000 .000 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.3
Goodwin, ArchieArchie Goodwin 57 13 14.1 .418 .235 .674 2.5 2.1 0.5 0.2 8.9
Humphries, KrisKris Humphries* 4 3 18.5 .278 .300 .750 8.0 1.8 0.8 0.5 7.3
Jefferson, CoryCory Jefferson* 8 0 6.3 .409 .000 .667 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.8
Jenkins, JohnJohn Jenkins* 22 2 13.0 .467 .406 .800 1.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 5.0
Johnson, OrlandoOrlando Johnson* 2 0 23.5 .278 .200 .833 4.5 0.0 1.0 1.5 8.0
Knight, BrandonBrandon Knight 52 50 36.0 .415 .342 .852 3.9 5.1 1.2 0.4 19.6
Len, Oleksiy "Alex"Oleksiy "Alex" Len 78 46 23.3 .423 .143 .728 7.6 1.2 0.5 0.8 9.0
Leuer, JonJon Leuer 67 27 18.7 .481 .382 .762 5.6 1.1 0.6 0.4 8.5
McRae, JordanJordan McRae* 7 0 11.7 .423 .273 .533 1.1 1.4 0.4 0.0 5.3
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris* 37 24 24.8 .397 .289 .717 5.2 2.4 0.9 0.5 11.6
Pressey, PhilPhil Pressey* 9 0 12.6 .391 .000 .571 0.9 3.2 0.8 0.3 2.4
Price, RonnieRonnie Price 62 18 19.5 .384 .347 .756 1.6 2.4 1.2 0.2 5.3
Teletović, MirzaMirza Teletović 79 1 21.3 .427 .393 .774 3.8 1.1 0.4 0.3 12.2
Tucker, P.J.P.J. Tucker 82 80 31.0 .411 .330 .746 6.2 2.2 1.3 0.2 8.0
Warren, T.J.T.J. Warren 47 4 22.8 .501 .400 .703 3.1 0.9 0.8 0.3 11.0
Weems, SonnySonny Weems* 36 0 11.7 .393 .406 .538 1.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 2.5
Williams, AlanAlan Williams* 10 0 6.8 .417 .000 .643 3.8 0.5 0.4 0.5 2.9

* – Stats with the Suns

Injuries/Personal missed games

Player Duration Reason for Missed Time Games Missed
Start End
Booker, DevinDevin Booker November 1, 2015 November 4, 2015 Tweaked ankle during practice 1
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris November 13, 2015 November 18, 2015 Sprained left knee during the first quarter against the L.A. Clippers 2
Price, RonnieRonnie Price November 13, 2015 November 18, 2015 Had concussion during the first quarter against the L.A. Clippers 2
Warren, T.J.T.J. Warren November 18, 2015 November 20, 2015 Illness 1
Bledsoe, EricEric Bledsoe November 23, 2015 November 25, 2015 Hurt leg after the road New Orleans Pelicans game 1
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler November 25, 2015 November 27, 2015 Illness 1
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler November 29, 2015 December 13, 2015 Hurt right hamstring during the first quarter against Golden State 8
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris December 2, 2015 December 4, 2015 Hurt left knee after the Brooklyn Nets game 1
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris December 9, 2015 December 18, 2015 Had a sinus infection after their six-game road trip ended 5
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris December 26, 2015 December 30, 2015 Suspended after throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek 2
Bledsoe, EricEric Bledsoe December 28, 2015 The Entire Season Tore his left meniscus during the home Philadelphia 76ers game 48
Price, RonnieRonnie Price December 30, 2015 January 2, 2016 Hurt his toe during the home Cleveland Cavaliers game 2
Leuer, JonJon Leuer December 31, 2015 January 2, 2016 Injured his leg during the road San Antonio Spurs game 1
Knight, BrandonBrandon Knight January 12, 2016 January 15, 2016 Had food poisoning before the road Indiana Pacers game 1
Len, Olexsiy "Alex"Olexsiy "Alex" Len January 12, 2016 January 19, 2016 Injured left hand continued bothering him 3
Price, RonnieRonnie Price January 12, 2016 February 19, 2016 Stubbed his great right toe before the road Indiana game 15
Leuer, JonJon Leuer January 19, 2016 January 29, 2016 Had lower back spasms before the home Indiana Pacers game 5
Morris, MarkieffMarkieff Morris January 21, 2016 January 26, 2016 Had a right shoulder strain during the first quarter of that same home Indiana game 2
Teletović, MirzaMirza Teletović January 21, 2016 January 23, 2016 Had a left ankle sprain during the third quarter during that same home Indiana game 1
Knight, BrandonBrandon Knight January 21, 2016 March 10, 2016 Had a left adductor strain before the first home game against the San Antonio Spurs began 21
Warren, T.J.T.J. Warren January 31, 2016 The Entire Season Injured the middle part of his right foot on the road against Cleveland 34
Len, Oleksiy "Alex"Oleksiy "Alex" Len February 19, 2016 February 21, 2016 Had a right ankle sprain before the second home game against Houston 1
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler February 21, 2016 February 25, 2016 Had a right shoulder contusion in the second quarter against Houston 2
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler March 23, 2016 March 28, 2016 Had back spasms during the second quarter at home against Memphis 3
Knight, BrandonBrandon Knight March 25, 2016 March 26, 2016 Had a stomach ache before the road game against Sacramento 1
Leuer, JonJon Leuer March 26, 2016 March 28, 2016 Had a stomach ache before the home game against Boston 1
Teletović, MirzaMirza Teletović March 30, 2016 April 1, 2016 Had an upset stomach before the road game against Milwaukee 1
Knight, BrandonBrandon Knight April 1, 2016 The Entire Season Aggravated a sports hernia during the same road game against Milwaukee 7
Leuer, JonJon Leuer April 1, 2016 April 7, 2016 Had a right ankle strain before the home game against Washington 3
Goodwin, ArchieArchie Goodwin April 11, 2016 April 13, 2016 Sprained his left ankle during the same New Orleans game 1
Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler April 11, 2016 April 13, 2016 Under a concussion protocol during the third quarter against New Orleans 2

Awards, records, and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

All-Star

Records

Team Records

Milestones

Team Milestones

Transactions

Trades

June 25, 2015
 To Memphis Grizzlies

United States Andrew Harrison

 To Phoenix Suns

United States Jon Leuer

July 2, 2015
 To Detroit Pistons
United States Marcus Morris
United States Reggie Bullock
United States Danny Granger
 To Phoenix Suns

2020 second round pick

February 18, 2016
 To Washington Wizards
United States Markieff Morris
 To Phoenix Suns
United States DeJuan Blair
United States Kris Humphries
2016 Top 9 Protected first round pick
$1.56 Million Traded Player Exception

Free Agents

Re-signed

Player Signed
Brandon Knight Signed 5-year deal worth $70 Million
Cory Jefferson Signed a 10-day contract worth $55,722 (total combined earned price $362,878)a[›]

Additions

Player Signed Former Team
Tyson Chandler Signed 4-year deal worth $52 Million Dallas Mavericks
Sonny Weems Signed 2-year deal worth $5.8 Millionb[›] Russia PBC CSKA Moscow
Ronnie Price Signed 1-year deal worth $1.5 Million Los Angeles Lakers
Mirza Teletović Signed 1-year deal worth $5.5 Million Brooklyn Nets
Cory Jefferson Signed 1-year non-guaranteed deal worth $845,059a[›] Brooklyn Nets / Phoenix Suns / Bakersfield Jamc[›]
Bryce Cotton Signed 1-year non-guaranteed deal for $700,901d[›] Utah Jazz / Austin Spurse[›]
Lorenzo Brown Signed two 10-day contracts worth $111,444 Minnesota Timberwolves / Grand Rapids Drive / Phoenix Sunsf[›]
Jordan McRae Signed two 10-day contracts worth $61,775 Philadelphia 76ers / Delaware 87ers / Phoenix Sunsf[›]
Orlando Johnson Signed a 10-day contract worth $55,722 Austin Spurs
Phil Pressey Signed two 10-day contracts worth $111,444 Philadelphia 76ers / Idaho Stampede / Phoenix Sunsf[›]
John Jenkins Signed 3-year non-guaranteed deal worth $3,211,302 Dallas Mavericks
Alan Williams Signed a 10-day contract / 2-year deal worth $114,284 China Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles
Chase Budinger Signed 1-year deal worth $258,082 Indiana Pacers

^ a: While Cory Jefferson initially signed with the Suns when he was the only training camp invitee that would become a part of the team earlier in the season, he would end up being waived after the January 7, 2016 game against the Charlotte Hornets, thus earning only a partially guaranteed salary in the process. However, he would end up returning to the Suns on January 20, 2016 for a 10-day contract due to the Suns having no further power forwards to work with when Markieff Morris, Mirza Teletović, and Jon Leuer were all out either due to injuries or ailments around that period. Once all three players would return to action when Cory Jefferson was due for a new contract, the Suns decided not to give him another 10-day contract to work with this season. As a result of those two deals and the time he spent with the group, Cory would end up with a grand total of $362,878 earned throughout with time with the team.
^ b: While Sonny Weems would earn guaranteed money throughout his time with the Suns this season, he would not be fully guaranteed for not only the season after this current season, but this season as well. While Sonny was initially guaranteed the money he was fully expected to get this season, he would stop receiving money from the team on March 7, 2016 when he was waived from the team. For the rest of the cash the team owed Sonny this season, he was paid the rest of the amount needed to make sure he was satisfied and left in the process.
^ c: Cory Jefferson was originally a part of the Brooklyn Nets when he first signed up with the team. However, when he earned that 10-day contract in January, he got it when he was signing up with the affiliate Bakersfield Jam a day earlier. Yet even though he signed a contract with the Jam earlier in the season, he never really played with the Jam until after his 10-day contract expired with the Suns, so it technically meant that Jefferson re-signed with the team when he entered that 10-day contract of his.
^ d: When Bryce Cotton initially signed his one-year deal with the Suns, he signed a non-guaranteed deal that was worth $700,901, almost similar to what Cory Jefferson was originally getting when he first signed up with the team. However, when he got waived in the same day that Cory Jefferson got waived, Bryce would earn somewhere around $218,000 for the services he provided for his hometown sports team.
^ e: Even though Bryce Cotton was originally a player for the Utah Jazz when the season initially began, he would end up spending the start of the regular season with (assistant) coach Earl Watson's former team, the Austin Spurs, before signing his contract with the Suns in November 2015.
^ f: While all three of these players would end up earning their second 10-day contracts with the team on various days of their original tenures, each one of them would earn them in various, different tenures at the time. For Lorenzo Brown, he first started out as a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves team earlier in the season before starting his regular season out with the Grand Rapids Drive and then starting his tenure with the Suns on January 8, 2016. Meanwhile, both Jerel McNeal and Phil Pressey would begin their seasons as teammates on the Philadelphia 76ers, they'd wind up being with the Suns under different manners with Jerel taking part of Philadelphia's D-League affiliate team, the Delaware 87ers, for starting out his season before starting his official NBA tenure on January 28, 2016, and Phil decided to start his season in the Idaho Stampede (during their last year under that team name) before beginning his tenure with the Suns on February 21, 2016. All three of these players would earn two 10-day contracts, but none of them would stay on the team beyond their required amount of time (including Jerel McNeal staying on for two more days because of an NBA rule requiring the player being involved with at least three games during their contract).

Subtractions

Player Reason left New team
Andrew Harrison Traded after being draftedg[›] Memphis Grizzlies / Iowa Energyh[›]
Brandan Wright Unrestricted free agent Memphis Grizzlies
Marcus Morris
Reggie Bullock
Danny Granger		 Traded Detroit Pistonsi[›]
Gerald Green Unrestricted free agent Miami Heat
Marcus Thornton Unrestricted free agent Houston Rockets / Washington Wizardsj[›]
Earl Barron Unrestricted free agent Atlanta Hawks / Taiwan Fubon Bravesk[›]
Jerel McNeal Waived / Unrestricted free agent Greece Aris Thessaloniki
Cory Jefferson Waived / 10-day contract expired Phoenix Suns / Bakersfield Jaml[›]
Bryce Cotton Waived Austin Spurs / China Xinjiang Flying Tigers / Memphis Grizzliesm[›]
Lorenzo Brown Second 10-day contract expired Phoenix Suns / Grand Rapids Drive / Detroit Pistonsn[›]
Orlando Johnson Waived / 10-day contract expired Austin Spurs / New Orleans Pelicanso[›]
Markieff Morris Traded Washington Wizards
Jordan McRae Second 10-day contract expired Phoenix Suns / Delaware 87ers / Cleveland Cavaliersp[›]
DeJuan Blair Waived Unknownq[›]
Kris Humphries Waived / Contract Buyout Atlanta Hawks
Sonny Weems Waived Philadelphia 76ers / Israel Maccabi FOX Tel Avivr[›]
Phil Pressey Second 10-day contract expired Phoenix Suns / Idaho Stampedes[›]

^ g: While Andrew Harrison never played for the Suns throughout his tenure, he was officially drafted by the Suns before being traded away for Jon Leuer the exact same day, thus technically making him a brief member of the team at that time.
^ h: Andrew Harrison was traded away to the Memphis Grizzlies during the aforementioned draft day trade involving Jon Leuer, but he would never play a game for the Grizzlies this season. Instead, Harrison would wind up spending his entire season playing with the Grizzlies' own D-League affiliate team, the Iowa Energy.
^ i: While all three of these players would end up going to the Detroit Pistons on July 2, 2015, they all would have different experiences throughout this season there. Marcus Morris (the twin brother of Markieff Morris) would wind up being a starter for the Pistons, while Reggie Bullock would alternate his time between coming off the bench for Detroit and playing in their own D-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive, throughout the season. Former All-Star small forward Danny Granger, though, would continue healing up from his injury he had back when he was still with the Miami Heat and would be waived by the Pistons before the start of the season because of it. As of April 11, 2016, Granger has still not found a new team to play for in the NBA, and is rumored to be facing potential retirement in the process.
^ j: Marcus Thornton originally signed a one-year deal to play with the Houston Rockets as a result of them making it to the Western Conference Finals last season. However, as a result of the Rockets having a rather poor season this year, the Rockets attempted to trade Thornton in a three-way deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons where Thornton would be dealt alongside Donatas Motiejūnas to the Pistons in exchange for Detroit's 2016 first round draft pick during the trade deadline. However, a few days after the trade, the Pistons rescinded the trade due to a problem involving Donatas Motiejūnas, and the Rockets were eventually forced to waive Marcus Thornton in order for them to get rid of their mistake they had with having Ty Lawson on their team. A few days after Thornton was waived, instead of reuniting with former teammates Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock in the Pistons, he wound up being reunited with former teammate Markieff Morris in the Washington Wizards during March, replacing the injured Gary Neal in the process.
^ k: Initially, Earl Barron signed a one-year deal to play with the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club during the regular season. However, before the regular season even began, Earl was waived from the team. With nowhere else to turn to, he decided to play out in Taiwan as the newest center for the Fubon Braves this season.
^ l: Cory Jefferson originally signed a contract with the Bakersfield Jam on January 19, 2016, a few weeks after being waived from the Suns earlier in the season. However, because of the aforementioned problems involving the team's power forwards during the stretch of January 20-30, 2016, Jefferson would end up returning to the Phoenix Suns a day after he signed his original contract with the Jam. Once his second stretch with the Suns ended, Cory decided to return to the Suns' D-League affiliate team, the Bakersfield Jam, for the rest of the season a few days after not having his 10-day contract renewed before the team would rename themselves as the Northern Arizona Suns at the end of the NBA season.
^ m: When Bryce Cotton was originally waived by the Suns on January 7, 2016, he'd return to the Austin Spurs in the D-League during most of January afterwards. However, Bryce would soon afterward leave the Austin Spurs in order to play with future NBA Draft prospect Zhou Qi and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association on January 30, 2016. After the Flying Tigers got eliminated from the 2016 CBA Playoffs by former Phoenix Suns player Hamed Haddadi and the eventual champion Sichuan Blue Whales, Cotton would eventually find himself playing in the NBA again on April 1, 2016 with the very shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies, which ended up leading to signing with the Grizzlies for the rest of the season on April 11, 2016.
^ n: After completing his first 10-day contract with the Suns, Lorenzo Brown would end up returning to the Suns to complete his second 10-day contract before returning with the Grand Rapids Drive soon afterward. On March 25, 2016, Lorenzo would end up signing with the Detroit Pistons for the rest of the season.
^ o: When Orlando Johnson finished his only 10-day contract with the Suns, Orlando would end up returning to the Austin Spurs after the All-Star Weekend before making a brief stint with the New Orleans Pelicans late in March. After he finished his 10-day contract with New Orleans, Orlando would end up returning to Austin once more for the rest of the season.
^ p: When Jerel McNeal would end up finishing his first 10-day contract with the Suns, he'd continue playing for the Suns in order to complete his second 10-day contract before briefly returning with the Delaware 87ers on February 25, 2016. After a few days in his return with Delaware, he'd end up signing with the Eastern Conference Finals champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
^ q: Even though DeJuan Blair was never a player for the Suns during the brief time he was in Phoenix, he did stay with the team for four days before being waived on February 22, 2016. With that said, Blair would not find a new team to play for the NBA as of April 11, 2016.
^ r: Despite Sonny Weems being waived by the Suns on March 7, 2016, he would wind up finding a new team to play for the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers a few days later. However, because of an injury involving his leg later in the season, Weems would be waived by the 76ers on March 29, 2016, with him returning to Europe with future draft pick Dragan Bender and his team, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, on a two-year deal worth $5,755,000 on April 7, 2016.
^ s: When Phil Pressey completed his first 10-day contract, he'd end up returning to Phoenix to finish his second 10-day contract. After completing his second 10-day contract in March, Phil would end up finishing the season with the last games of the Idaho Stampede's existence before the team moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and became the Salt Lake City Stars, similar to what happened with the Bakersfield Jam becoming the Northern Arizona Suns after this season ended.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 2015-16 Phoenix Suns
  2. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/05/29/phoenix-suns-coaching-staff-jeff-hornacek-kenny-gattison/28170329/
  3. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/06/27/phoenix-suns-add-jason-fraser-coaching-staff/29382195/
  4. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2015/06/30/suns-morris-twins-court-appearance-abrk/29505127/
  5. ↑ http://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-sign-teletovic-weems-price
  6. ↑ http://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-announce-basketball-operations-staff-changes
  7. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/8/24/9198433/steve-nash-to-be-inducted-into-suns-ring-of-honor
  8. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/9/16/9340601/morris-trial-timeline-aggravated-assault-phoenix-suns-detroit-pistons
  9. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/26/9618894/phoenix-suns-pick-up-2016-17-options-on-len-warren-and-Goodwin
  10. ↑ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/delle-donne-to-play-in-nba-cares-special-olympics-unified-basketball-game-at-nba-all-star-2016/n-5099131
  11. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/7/1/8879977/phoenix-suns-sign-tyson-chandler-bring-him-to-the-lamarcus-aldridge
  12. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/20/suns-add-training-camp-players/32086997/
  13. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/08/25/suns-add-henry-sims-cory-jefferson-training-camp/32357631/
  14. ↑ http://valleyofthesuns.com/2015/08/26/report-phoenix-suns-sign-deonte-burton-to-summer-deal/
  15. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/10/15/9546021/phoenix-suns-waive-white-and-casey
  16. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/2/18/11054838/foolishness-timeline-of-morris-destruction-phoenix-suns
  17. ↑ http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20150812_Markieff_Morris_demands_trade_from_Suns.html
  18. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/2/22/11081676/phoenix-suns-give-credit-to-earl-watson-for-markieff-morris-trade-to
  19. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/heat-index/2016/02/12/10-biggest-villains-arizona-sports/80281252/
  20. ↑ http://www.nba.com/suns/news/phoenix-suns-staff-directory
  21. ↑ http://www.valleyofthesuns.com/2015/07/31/phoenix-suns-announce-staffing-changes/
  22. ↑ http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/09/30/phoenix-suns-markieff-morris-remains-happy-camper/73122276/
  23. ↑ "HoopsHype - NBA Salaries - Phoenix Suns". hoopshype.com. September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  24. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/11/18/9753898/Eric-Bledsoe-Brandon-Knight-lead-Phoenix-Suns-T-J-Warren-Archie-Goodwin
  25. ↑ http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/1/6/10727692/tv-analysts-make-history-in-phoenix
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