The Suns picked 22-year old, 6′10″, 245 pound power forward Markieff Morris with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Morris played in 38 games for Kansas last year and he averaged 24.4 minutes, 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots. He played in 109 games in his three years in college and he averaged 19.3 minutes, 8.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Morris will give the Suns some power along the front line, which is something they are in dire need of.

The Suns only have two free agents heading into this summer. PG Aaron Brooks is a restricted free agent and SF Grant Hill is a unrestricted free agent. Brooks is an interesting situation, the Suns probably want him to take over for Steve Nash in the near future. Maybe even next season if the Suns deal Nash. But some other team might view Brooks as a starting point guard and offer him a big contract. It will be interesting to see if the Suns match a big deal for Brooks. Grant Hill will probably return to the Suns on a 1-year deal, but it’s not for certain as another team might have an interest in bringing him in as he is still playing well.

29-year old SG/SF Mickael Pietrus has exercised his player option for the 2011-12 season to return to the Suns. Pietrus played in 38 games (4 starts) for the Suns last year and he averaged 18.1 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He played in 57 games (4 starts) overall for the Magic & Suns last year and he averaged 19.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game on only 39.2% shooting from the floor. Pietrus has now played in 496 games (150 starts) in his first 8 years in the NBA and he is averaging 21.5 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He will try to provide offense off the bench for the Suns in 2011-12.

The Suns have lost starting power forward Channing Frye for the next 2-3 weeks due to a dislocated right shoulder. Frye has played in 61 games (48 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 32.5 minutes, 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. While Frye is out of action, Hakim Warrick will need to step up for the Suns. Warrick has played in 59 games (1 start) so far this year for the Suns this season and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Warrick isn’t nowhere near the outside shooter that Frye is, but he’s a good offensive player so the Suns should be o.k.

The Phoenix Suns have acquired 26-year old PG/SG Aaron Brooks from the Houston Rockets for 24-year old point guard Goran Dragic and a first round pick. Brooks played in 34 games (7 starts) for the Rockets this season and he averaged 23.9 minutes, 11.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He was only shooting 34.6% from the floor and 28.4% from three point range so far this year. He is a much better shooter than that. Brooks has played in 247 games (124 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 25.7 minutes, 12.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Brooks has a much higher upside that Goran Dragic has.

Dragic played in 48 games (2 starts) for the Suns this season and he averaged 17.8 minutes, 7.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He played in 183 games (5 starts) in his three years with the Suns and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Dragic really showed improvement in his game, but Brooks is a better player than him, plain and simple.