The Philadelphia 76ers are still waiting on the fruit of a three-team trade in 2015 with Phoenix and Milwaukee. So are the Suns in a way. While the Suns gave up the rights to a Los Angeles Lakers first-round draft choice that is top-three protected in the next draft, the Brandon Knight that Phoenix targeted in that trade may just be arriving. Knight has averaged 18.9 points and 5.1 assists over 1 ½ seasons with the Suns but has never felt as healthy or as at home as he does entering this training camp. Knight’s past two seasons ended in ankle and sports hernia surgeries for injuries that kept him to 63 appearances with the Suns. He exited last season talking firmly about his role not changing but clarified this summer that he defined that role as improving and being his best. “I definitely feel more into it this year,” Knight said after spending much of the offseason in Phoenix with teammates and athletic trainers. “Healthy. Just spending a lot of time off the court being with the guys. That helps.” Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said Knight looked better in voluntary workouts than at any time since joining the Suns. Knight was an explosive scorer at times but had not lived up to his defensive billing. Looking stronger now, he appears better equipped physically to press ball-handlers. “If not there, he’s really close,” McDonough said of Knight’s health. “He looks more like that guy. “Last year, he settled a lot for jab stepbacks (jump shots) and things like that just because he didn’t feel like he had the burst to get to the paint, get to the free-throw line, absorb contact, bounce back up without potentially aggravating an injury.” Knight, 24, again was asked about the possibility of being a sixth man as the Suns try to sort out a backcourt rotation that also includes Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Leandro Barbosa. - See more at: http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-suns-brandon-knight-looks-his-best/91173960/
