Phoenix Suns to go big in stature, size in free agency

The Suns put a full year into college and international scouting to draft one player, Devin Booker, on Thursday night. Their returning players use May through September to make individual improvements.

Despite all that effort, there is no better time for the Suns to get better than this week.

At 9 p.m. Tuesday night, the Suns can start negotiations with free agents and again approach it with a wide-eyed vision to land a much-needed star.

The Suns are expected to start with pursuits of All-Star power forwards Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge, who are unrestricted free agents, and have another priority to quickly reach contract terms with their restricted free agent, guard Brandon Knight. Signings will start July 10.

The Suns have about $12 million of salary cap space, although they will be allowed to exceed the cap in re-signing Knight. Love and Aldridge would demand maximum-level contracts, which would entail the Suns trading players to create the space.

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The Suns are not permitted to comment on free agents but Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough, in keeping with an approach he laid out upon his 2013 introduction, said the team would pursue top talent by free agency or trade.

"We're going to be aggressive and target the best players," McDonough said. "I think you'll see us go after the top guys. We hope to get meetings with some of the top free agents and sell them on all Phoenix has to offer.

Notable free agent signings in Phoenix Suns history:

"You win big in this league with elite players. We had some success over the past couple years, not as much as we'd like this past year, but we're going to be aggressive. There's a great history and tradition here. You saw how a player like Steve Nash transforms an organization when he arrives. We'd be doing a disservice to ourselves and our fans if we didn't go after the top guys."

The Suns have a large gap to close on the competition for top players, like when they tried to woo LeBron James last year. Getting Love or Aldridge is more realistic but still a longshot, considering Love is believed to be returning to Cleveland or favoring the Los Angeles Lakers or hometown Portland and Aldridge is likely headed for his home state (San Antonio, Houston or Dallas) or the Lakers.

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The Suns would sell building a team around Love, 26, or Aldridge, 29, and playing with a dynamic backcourt, Bledsoe and Knight, and a budding center, 22-year-old Alex Len.

They have to determine quickly whether they are in the mix. Free agency scenarios move fast. If there is no realistic chance at the top players, the Suns do not want their time taken or cap space frozen while other targets move on. The Suns have needs to fill with the frontcourt, shooting and a third point guard.

"We'll ask them to be honest with us about our chances," McDonough said. "Some of it is a gut feel and a gut call about how much of a chance you have and how realistic it is to be picked by a player."

Their feel for where they stand with Knight is less cloudy after spending the last two months of the season with him. They had a chance to express their vision of him as a franchise cornerstone and future leader. After Knight was nearly an All-Star in Milwaukee last season, the in-season system switch and an ankle injury prevented Knight from playing as well in Phoenix.

Knight, 23, expressed a desire to stay with the Suns and in the two-playmaker system with Bledsoe. Because Knight is a restricted free agent, the Suns can retain him by matching any offer sheet he might sign with another team. They also can negotiate a five-year contract, one more than other teams. They plan to keep Knight after cashing a big chip, a Lakers first-round pick, to get him.

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The Suns were in this situation with Bledsoe a year ago and it dragged out the entire summer before he signed a five-year, $70 million deal. The Suns will be more proactive and are working with a more communicative client.

"He's a guy who made a good impression on us," McDonough said of Knight. "He didn't play as much as we'd like because of the injury but, at 23 years old, it's amazing how young he is given he's been in the league four years and was a borderline All-Star last year for Milwaukee. He's certainly one of our top priorities, if not the top priority. We want a quick process with all of our guys, him included. We've got good vibes from him about his time in Phoenix. I imagine he will be one of the first guys we call, if not the first."

With all free agents, contract structure will be interesting, considering the 2017 jump in the salary cap that will prompt some free agents to sign shorter deals.

The Suns need help most on the frontline, where only Len, Markieff Morris and newly acquired Jon Leuer are traditional big men under contract. The Suns are likely to target backup centers for Len, not that Marc Gasol is leaving Memphis anyway and DeAndre Jordan already has his list. Backup center targets could include Kosta Koufos or Alexis Ajinca.

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After Aldridge or Love, the Suns' next wave of big spending could be on a "3-and-D" free agent like Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll or San Antonio's Danny Green, outstanding defensive wing players who hit about 40 percent of their 3-point shots. Both are 28, prime NBA age, and unrestricted free agents. They also play with high effort, character and IQ, which the Suns need. Swingman Khris Middleton was Knight's best Milwaukee friend but he is a restricted free agent that the Bucks plan to re-sign.

The Suns will need to add more affordable size and shooting, sometimes in one player. Amar'e Stoudemire would be interested in returning to Phoenix but has averaged 50 games over the past four seasons and made $21.9 million last season.

The Suns are interested in returning power forward Brandan Wright, who is an unrestricted free agent with the shot-blocking, athleticism and maturity the team desires. Other potential free agent frontcourt fits could include Amir Johnson, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass, Ed Davis, Andrea Bargnani, Jonas Jerebko and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

The Suns also need a part-time backup point guard because they plan to keep Bledsoe or Knight at the point next season. Ish Smith played that role two seasons ago and is a free agent. Other options could include C.J. Watson, J.J. Barea, Ronnie Price and Euroleague point guards.

If the Suns enter trade talks, they have five first-round picks in the next three drafts to use as chips.

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.

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Open market

NBA's top four unrestricted free agents:

1. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland

2. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis

3. Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland

4. DeAndre Jordan, C, LA Clippers

NBA's top four restricted free agents:

1. Jimmy Butler, SG, Chicago

2. Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Antonio

3. Draymond Green, SF/PF, Golden State

4. Brandon Knight, PG, Phoenix