Three summers ago, when the Ryan McDonough-Jeff Hornacek era began in Phoenix, the Suns were set on going younger, collecting assets and trying to build through the draft. Phoenix was able to nab six first-round picks in the last three NBA drafts. Among them, Alex Len started over half the season last year, T.J. Warren got consistent minutes near the end of the year, Tyler Ennis was traded, Bogdan Bogdanovic is overseas, and Devin Booker is entering his rookie season. Archie Goodwin, 29th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, has been there for two years but has yet to crack Phoenix's rotation. 

Archie Goodwin shocked many when he chose to go pro after his freshman year at Kentucky. At just 18 years old, the potential was there, but he was extremely raw. Nonetheless, the Suns scooped him up near the end of the first round. After completing year number two of his career, he has seen court time in just over half of Phoenix's games despite not battling any injuries and only started two. He has also been designated for D-League assignment multiple times. Does this high-flying two guard have a future in Phoenix?

Flashed Potential

Although Archie Goodwin only just turned 21 years old and has only seen limited time in his first two years in this league, that does not mean he hasn't flashed potential. In his rookie season, he only averaged 10 minutes per game, which is normal for a rookie. However, on the final game of the year, he put up 29 points on 11-13 shooting from the field. It was the only game of the year in which he played over 30 minutes. That had fans wondering if they had possibly, unknowingly, been watching the steal of the NBA draft in front of their own eyes all season. 

What was supposed to be more of a breakout season for Goodwin, his sophomore year turned into the complete opposite. The Suns, while keeping Gerald Green, whom many wanted gone to see Goodwin get more playing time, also signed Isaiah Thomas. That put Archie Goodwin behind Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and Gerald Green on the guard side of the depth chart. He played just 41 games last season and was sent down to the D-League on more than one occasion. Only once did he see court time for over 30 minutes in a game last season.

After scoring double-figures just four times in 52 games his rookie year, he scored double-figures 11 times in 41 games last season. In the three games in which he played over 25 minutes, he averaged almost 15 points per game. There is no denying the talent he has, the question is whether or not the Suns have room for him. 

His D-League and Summer League numbers, which you may take with a grain of salt, were even more impressive. In his 14 career NBA D-League games, he has averaged 24 points per game. He was named the D-League showcase cup championship game MVP. In this summer's NBA Summer League, Archie Goodwin averaged almost 17 points per game and helped lead the Suns to the championship game. 

Lack of Opportunity

While it is completely normal to see a late first-round pick struggle to see playing time in his rookie year, especially on a guard-loaded team, it was sort of strange watching Goodwin's sophomore campaign. After only appearing in 12 out of Phoenix's first 45 games last season and seeing the team sign Isaiah Thomas, Archie had some interesting quotes midway through the season. 

From Sean Deveney of Basketball Insiders:

“Of course it is going to be frustrating for me, because I am a competitor...I feel like I could be playing right now. In that sense, it is very frustrating."

“I don’t know what they’re doing.” Goodwin said.

He also hinted at a potential disaster if he didn't get playing time this upcoming season.

“If it don’t come next year, I’m not going to take it. That’s basically what it’s going to come down to. But that’s not for me to worry about, that’s for my agent to talk to those guys about.”

Yikes. About that Archie, the Phoenix Suns drafted Devin Booker this past June, who is also a shooting guard. They then signed former Toronto Raptor and now overseas man Sonny Weems this summer, who is a guard/forward. In a season where fellow former first-round picks Alex Len, who is going to be the backup center, and T.J. Warren, who is going to be given plenty of playing time whether as a starter or reserve, it seems unfair to Goodwin that he is being pushed back on the depth chart. It doesn't help that guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is on par to join the team next season after playing overseas since being drafted.

Archie Goodwin must have also been ticked off when, just a month after those quotes, when Phoenix traded away Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and Tyler Ennis for Brandon Knight and Marcus Thornton, two more guards.

Guard Loaded

The Phoenix Suns have their starting backcourt set in stone in Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight. The backup point guard duties will be split among Bledsoe and Knight, with spot appearances from Ronnie Price. The backup shooting guard position, which appeared to be locked down by Archie Goodwin is now wide open with the Booker draft pick and the Weems signing. 

None of the Suns guards are exactly aging either. Eric Bledsoe is just 25 years old, Brandon Knight is 23, Bogdanovic is 23, Devin Booker is just 18, and Sonny Weems is still in his basketball prime at 29. 

This speaks volume on what the Suns see in Archie Goodwin. Perhaps they are not as high on him as others are? Perhaps they know something we don't? Or perhaps they just want to give him some competition for training camp to see him work harder and motivate him for the season. That remains unknown, but what is known is that the other recent Suns draftees are getting opportunities while Goodwin has to fight to prove he belongs. 

Conclusion

Although it is widely talked about that Archie Goodwin came out of college far too early, there is no denying his value in this league. At worst, he can be a scoring combo guard off the bench while providing superb athleticism. His ceiling is much higher than that, though.

The Eric Bledsoe-Brandon Knight duo will be the starting backcourt not just for this upcoming season, but likely for the future, and the Suns spending a lottery pick on shooting guard Devin Booker does not speak well for Archie Goodwin's chance on this team. He believes he should be getting minutes, and he likely won't be happy with the new additions to this Suns team. 

After not being able to crack Phoenix's rotation so far in his short career, this year will be make or break for Goodwin. There's no denying Archie has a future in this league, but is his future in Phoenix?