Phoenix Suns Rumors: To Sign Jordan McRae, Who Set D-League Scoring Record Recently, Plans On Being Active Before Trade Deadline
The Phoenix Suns will make a couple roster moves in hopes to improve their backcourt production with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, and Ronnie Price out of action. According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, the Suns’ plan on calling up 6-foot-5 guard Jordan McRae from the Delaware 87ers.
Suns are planning to sign Delaware's Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract, league sources tell Yahoo. McRae scored D-League record 61 points.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2016
McRae, a 2014 NBA selection second round draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs, poured in a NBA Developmental League record 61-points to lead the 87ers to a 130-123 overtime victory over the Canton Charge on Tuesday night.
The 58th overall selection was traded by the Spurs to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night for the rights to Serbian Nemanja Dangubic, who was the 54th pick in the draft. Philadelphia also received the rights to Cory Jefferson from the Spurs, who they shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in a separate trade.
McRae made 21 of his 34 shots from the field, and was 16 of 18 from the free throw line against the Charge. The University of Tennessee product added 11 rebounds and seven assists for his third double-double of the season. He scored 17 in the first quarter, eight in the second, 16 in the third, 14 in the fourth and then added six in overtime.
Delaware 87ers SG @JordyMac52 @sevens broke the @nbadleague scoring record in an OT victory over the @CantonCharge pic.twitter.com/ik3KdL3Xe5
— Synergy Basketball (@SynergySST) January 27, 2016
McRae averages 23.1 points along with 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 28 games for the 87ers. He was shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from the three-point line, as well as 79.8 percent from the free throw line. McRae has tallied double-figures in each game this season and has 18 games of at least 20-points along with four contests of 30 or more points.
McRae opted to begin his professional career in Australia, where he starred, last year but returned to the States to finish the D-League season with the 87ers. Last year, McRae averaged 18.4 points while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc in 13 contests. He appeared in seven preseason games with the 76ers this season, but wasn’t able to unseat any of the wings ahead of him on the depth chart.
McRae should be a pretty good fit with the Suns, as he has a big-time scorers mentality and is a very good passer. He has great size and athleticism and should be able to help the Suns on the defensive end.
To make room for McRae, Phoenix is expected to release backup point guard Lorenzo Brown. Brown’s second 10-day contract with the Suns expires today, meaning that the team would have to sign him for the rest of the season if they wanted to keep him, per SB Nation.
Adding McRae apparently isn’t the only move Phoenix plans on making in the near future. According to Arizona Sports, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough was on the Burns and Gambo radio show and said that the team will be active at the trade deadline.
“I think we’ll be active, I think we’ll be active for sure,” McDonough said. “Will we do a deal or how many deals will we do, I don’t know at this point. The deadline is three weeks from tomorrow and usually the conversations at this point are just kind of two teams feeling each other out, seeing what teams may be looking to do, what they may be looking to add positionally in terms of draft picks or what have you.”
Phoenix has struggled mightily this season due to injuries and internal conflict. It all started with the Suns breaking up the Morris twins when they traded Marcus to the Detroit Pistons, which enraged Markieff. Markieff Morris has had a disappointing season so far, and was suspended two games by the organization for throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek.
The Suns are also without three of their top guards as Bledsoe is out for the season with a knee injury while Knight (groin) and Price (toe) are not expected to return until after the All-Star break. So, Phoenix has gone with Archie Goodwin at point guard the last five games. Goodwin, who has played in only 27 games this year, has responded quite well – producing 18.8 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Phoenix (14-33) is sitting near the bottom of the standings in the Western Conference, having lost 8-of-10 and is just 6-24 since beginning the season 8-9. The Suns’ biggest issue has been their defense, as they are surrendering 106.9 points a game, which ranks 29th in the league.
[Photo by Rick Browner/Associated Press]
