The Phoenix Suns currently have 15 players under contract a little less than a month before training camp begins. It is very possible that they bring in more players for competition in training camp or even only keep 14 when the season starts. Due to that fact, the two guys that just signed, Henry Sims and Cory Jefferson, are not guaranteed roster spots. Sims, though, looks like he has a very good shot of making the team as a depth center, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
The Suns current roster is very well balanced for the most part with depth at almost every position. The only position that didn't have depth was center until Sims signed on. Tyson Chandler will be the starting center while Alex Len backs him up, but after them there was nobody else, so if either were to get hurt they would have been in a bind. Now that Sims is signed he should have a leg up on making the roster for that reason as long as he proves in training camp that he can play.
Sims started 32 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season and played in a total of 73 contests. In those games he averaged 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game which are really solid numbers. Sims is not satisfied with last season's performance and still thinks he has a lot to prove.
"This is an opportunity for me to show what I can do for a team that can make the playoffs. I want to show the NBA I can do what I was doing there in Philadelphia on any team and do more. It gives me an extra boost of energy to be here for a potential playoff team," said Sims.
Sims seems highly motivated to make a mark on a winning team, and he may get that chance. Chandler will be 33 years old and has had injury issues in recent years when he missed 43 games combined between the 2012 and 2013 seasons so Sims may get a chance for some playing time. If both Len and Chandler are healthy, Sims likely won't get much run, but he is still as good a third center as you will likely find in the league.
Sims is still just 25 years old and will be making less than $1 million this season, so the Suns definitely got a bargain with him. Sims seems to have a great shot to make the Suns opening day roster and based on the injury history of the two centers in front of him on the depth chart, he may be a big part of a team that has playoff aspirations.
