Grayson Allen Emerging as Crucial Piece for Suns

Grayson Allen wasn't the biggest name swapped in the Phoenix Suns-Portland Trail Blazers-Milwaukee Bucks deal prior to the start of preseason play, though it's hard to say he hasn't been the most impactful.

Many had questions on Allen's presence in Phoenix - even Suns fans themselves - though he's quickly established himself as a prominent starter for Frank Vogel thanks to strong three-point shooting and tough defense on the other end. 

“When our team shares the basketball, the basketball gods rewards you and he’s always been aggressive. Sometimes we don’t get enough shots for Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen, but we’re training our stars to look for those guys and we’re training our role players to make smart plays with one mores," said Vogel after Phoenix defeated the Miami Heat on Friday.

"Like when they have one more to those guys, look for them as well, so Grayson and Eric Gordon as well, we’re trying to get more threes for those guys and it paid off tonight.” 

Paid off might be an understatement, as Allen dropped 31 points on a career-high nine three-point shots to go along with four assists, four rebounds and two blocks against the Heat, a performance that only placed the cherry on top of a promising first stint with Phoenix.

"I didn't foresee the way he's played for us this year. I think he's exceeded all of our expectations from that standpoint," Vogel added. 

The Suns desperately needed to add three-point shooters around their star trio of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant this past offseason. With those names, others are sure to see space on the floor. 

More times than not, Allen's been able to make teams pay.

“Impressed. I mean you just said it. He is a sniper. Somebody that I have a bunch of trust in on the court. Not only to make threes, but to play make and to defend at a high level," Booker said of Allen. 

"Everybody is going to see the threes made. But people start running him off the line, he is not one of those guys that is one dimensional where you run him off the line and he does not know what to do. He still gets in the paint, still draws fouls and still makes the right play for other people. So, it is super impressive.” 

Only Jusuf Nurkic (33) has more starts than Allen (30) this season. Every major statistical category from three-point shooting percentage to rebounds, assists and points per night are on pace for Allen's career high in averages.

“I got two good ones early, where I am one pass away from Book (Devin Booker) and Brad (Bradley Beal) on the second one. They draw two or three guys and kick it out so, I got two good ones early to go in," Allen said following the game. 

"From that point, it was an ‘are they going to adjust and get out of their gaps and let Brad or Book drive and get into the paint or are they going to keep trying to show and get out late for contests?’ If they mix it up, we can go for a little bit of both, but I was still able to get some of that one pass away shots and take advantage of that."