The Phoenix Suns went 3-1 during preseason play, with all eyes now turning to the regular season. The trade with the Houston Rockets which saw Kevin Durant leave for Texas this summer very much in the rear-view mirror - and for now at least - it looks like a trade which both franchises have won in their own way.
The Suns are quickly resetting their culture to be more defensive-minded around new additions such as Dillon Brooks, while the Rockets got what could be the final piece to their puzzle in one of the greatest scorers of all-time in Durant. Unfortunately for Houston, their point guard Fred VanVleet is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Suns have pair of point guards Rockets would love to have.
Which is why the Rockets would surely love to have one of Jordan Goodwin or Jared Butler to tide them over for the time being. Both are cheap players on veteran minimum deals - and although Devin Booker will be the creator on the court - both Goodwin and Butler proved themselves to be better than third-string floor generals during preseason. A great problem for the Suns to now have.
The #Suns suddenly have a pair of third string point guards in Jared Butler and Jordan Goodwin who have become too good to ignore (✍️ @LucaLockheart)https://t.co/XRmd09fXlX
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) October 15, 2025
The popular thinking had been that one of the two would be cut at some point during the season, as there simply is not enough minutes to go around when you consider the Suns also have to find time on the court for Booker, Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen. But to let one go now would mean allowing them to walk straight into an ideal situation in Houston.
Both Goodwin and Butler bring different styles to the court as well, with the added bonus of also being able to play together - and to do so well - as we saw during the preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Goodwin prefers to get his teammates involved early, and is the bigger player and better defender.
Butler on the other hand - which was on full display when pouring in 35 against the Lakers - doesn't mind calling his own number. His ability to use his speed to get into the paint and finish layups over taller players is another skill that has been lacking in Phoenix in recent seasons. So there's a real reason for the Suns to want both, while the Rockets could also do with having either run their team.
Perhaps as the season progresses the Suns could be clever and trade one of the two - assuming they do keep both as they should - for a pick in return. Depending on how desperate the Rockets get as they are in win now mode, the kind of pick they could extract from them might just increase. A final wrinkle to the dealings between the two franchises this summer that nobody saw coming.