I’m continuing by Bright Side Six-Pack this week, you know, where I pop open a six-pack of Suns’ issues and talk through them, but taking my first stab at suggesting a fix for the team.
The Phoenix Suns have a problem. Sure, it’s early December, and the team has only played 23 games with 59 more ahead. Mathematically, you’d be correct if you said it’s too soon to worry. You can also point to the fact that Kevin Durant has missed 13 games due to injury, but when he’s on the floor, the Suns are 11-2, ranking among the top teams in the NBA. Again, mathematically, you’d be right.
But as a longtime Suns fan, I know when something doesn’t feel right. And right now, something doesn’t feel right. There’s a cramp in my stomach and no amount of Pepto is helping.
This season feels different from last. A year ago, the Suns leaned heavily on their top talent, most notably Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, who each averaged 27.1 points per game. That was enough to propel Phoenix to 49 wins and a sixth seed in the Western Conference. (That’s it?! Just 49 wins and the sixth seed?!) But this season, with the West as stacked as ever, that formula isn’t cutting it. The Suns don’t have “it” right now.
Why? It’s not the same issue they faced last season. Back then, the problem was a lack of bench depth, so much so that James Jones traded away most of it to bring in veteran players who could step up. Even with those moves, the gaps weren’t properly filled. Last season was a learning experience.
This offseason, Jones addressed many of those gaps, all while navigating the restrictions of operating as a second apron team. But this season, the absence isn’t from the bench — it’s from the stars. The issue lies in Kevin Durant’s health, Devin Booker’s killer instinct, and Bradley Beal’s inconsistency.
The Phoenix Suns don’t have many options. They’re one of the few teams with three maximum contracts on their roster, which leaves them with limited flexibility. Simply put, there aren’t many moves they can make that would improve the team both in the short term and long term.
A couple of days ago, I threw an open question on Twitter, asking what people would do if they were the GM. The responses were revealing, and it’s clear I’m not alone in thinking the Suns have some serious issues. The answers were as interesting as they were diverse.
No more golf for Booker, he is also not allowed to talk about "youthful energy" of others while he is still under 30. He must watch Kobe tapes again and to kiss 40 times a day "Be Legendary" that was written on his tennis shoes
— jim rose circus (@jimrosecircus1) December 9, 2024
Don’t panic. See it through.
If you can trade Nurkic or Grayson or Okogie or all three for something fantastic, might be worth it.
But mostly deal around the margins. You cannot panic too soon. You traded for KD and for this big 3. Gotta. See. It. Through.
— JDW (@JDW303i) December 9, 2024
Dlo is best friends with book.. so why not KD to LA for Dlo, Rui, AR, Wood, both firsts and all first swaps. Not bad tbh. It works financially , resets the suns but still competitive . LA back to title contender for sure w/ couple margin moves. James Jones/Lebron connection
— Ryan Lucas (@RyanLucas_LA) December 9, 2024
Oh, Twitter. That’s what you get when you ask armchair GM’s what they should do, and when Lakers’ fans sneak in and give their opinion, which always results in more titles. You greedy bastards.
But since we’re doing the whole “armchair GM” thing, I’d tell you what I’d do to fix the Phoenix Suns. It’s simple. Although not really. I would do everything I could to move Bradley Beal to Chicago.
Bradley Beal is an exceptional player, and it’s been a pleasure watching him join the Suns. Experiencing his personality, positivity, resilience, and leadership has been eye-opening, especially for someone who only watched him from afar during his 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards. We didn’t truly know the character of Bradley Beal. He deserves admiration, respect, and appreciation as a person.
But when it comes to roster construction, he just doesn’t fit with Phoenix. He never has. Trading for Beal made sense in some ways. It got the Suns out of the Landry Shamet contract and maximized the return for Chris Paul. However, from a positional standpoint, it didn’t add up. We already have Bradley Beal. His name is Devin Booker. We already have one of the best shooting guards in the league, so why would we need another one? It takes me back to the 2017 draft when the Suns selected Josh Jackson instead of De’Aaron Fox. With TJ Warren already in the starting lineup, why would we need a duplicate at the same position?
The downside of acquiring Beal, of course, is his massive contract, which still has two years remaining, including a player option for $57.1 million in 2026-27 and a no-trade clause. That makes the situation far from simple.
If the Suns want to improve, Mat Ishbia and James Jones need to have a candid conversation with Bradley Beal about that no-trade clause. They need to explain that playing as a tertiary option in Phoenix isn’t allowing him to reach his full potential. There’s an opportunity for him to return to All-Star form by moving to a team where he can thrive. A place where he can earn one final lucrative contract before his playing days come to a close.
What about the Bulls?
In a conversation with one of my friends this week, we annotated all the reasons why Beal to Chicago would make sense for both organizations:
He’s getting older, and Chicago needs a star. Why not Brad Beal?
Chicago may be a mess, but it’s closer to home for him — he’s from St. Louis — and Brad is a proud family guy.
He’d have the chance to be the No. 1 option and continue his legacy with one of the greatest sports franchises of all time.
A potential reunion with his Florida college coach, Billy Donovan.
Phoenix can only do one-for-one trades (oh, that second apron...), so you have to seek contracts that teams are trying to get off of as well. Enter the Bulls.
Chicago has been actively looking to trade 29-year-old Zach LaVine and his contract, which mirrors Beal’s in structure — he’s owed $95 million over the next two seasons with a player option in 2026-27, but without the no-trade clause. While it might not be the ideal deal, LaVine’s contract offers flexibility, something the Suns currently lack as they prepare for next season.
Yes, easier said than done. How do you tell someone earning $110.7 million through 2027 that they should consider moving elsewhere to work harder? Bradley Beal has it made in Phoenix. He’s paid millions and plays as the third option. That’s why James Jones earns more in a year than I will in a lifetime: he’s the one having these difficult conversations and making them convincing.
What Beal has shown in the absence of Kevin Durant this season is concerning. Setting aside health issues, he hasn’t stepped into the secondary role that’s needed when one of the other Big Three is out. This isn’t a recipe for success, now or in the future. The biggest issue with the team’s construction is their inability to move on from such a massive contract for a player who isn’t living up to the value paid.
Is there a scenario where Bradley Beal can’t be traded? It’s up to Mat Ishbia and James Jones to present that scenario to him and convince him it benefits everyone involved. It’s a world I hope we see, but I’m doubtful it will happen.