Last night’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers marked the Phoenix Suns’ third straight victory, something they haven’t done since January. For weeks, this team has looked different. Defensive effort isn’t just an afterthought; it’s a priority. Communication and chemistry aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the foundation. The result? A steady climb in the win column.
But why now? What changed? And more importantly, can it last?
There’s no neat, tidy answer, but one undeniable shift is happening: minutes that once belonged to Bradley Beal are now being spread elsewhere. You remember him, right? Sixth-largest contract in the NBA. Career 22-point-per-game scorer. The guy who was supposed to complete a Big Three but has instead been a limited-time offer.
Let’s be clear. Beal is a talented player. You don’t land max deals without serious skill, and in Washington, he was the guy. He turned that into financial security, a no-trade clause, and the ability to call his own shots. But in Phoenix, the price for value paid has been…let’s just say, not great. And the fit? Always just a little off. Like squeezing into a large shirt in your 30s when life has very clearly nudged you into an XL. You want it to work. You try to make it work. But deep down, you know the truth.
Beal has missed a significant chunk of the season, suiting up for just 48 of the Suns’ 71 games (67.6%). When he plays, the team is 21-27. When he doesn’t? 13-10. And lately, guys like Collin Gillespie and Cody Martin have thrived in minutes that once belonged to Beal. It’s a glaring reminder that the money tied up in his contract isn’t just wasted in terms of raw talent, it’s wasted in terms of fit.
Some fans are in the “Kevin Durant needs to go this offseason” camp. I’m not one of them. I still believe that building around the Booker-Durant window is the best path to a championship. A soft reset around Booker and Beal? That just delays the timeline another two seasons. The biggest roadblock to this team’s future hasn’t been Durant. It has been and continues to be Beal. His $50.2 million could be better spent on players who complement the Suns’ core rather than complicate it. And lately, we’ve been seeing exactly why that matters.
Fun fact: The Suns have played 15 games this season without Bradley Beal but with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Their record? 12-3.
Now, you can interpret that stat in different ways. The roster stays the same whether Beal is available or not, and on paper, benching a max-contract player alongside two stars seems counterintuitive. But Beal’s absence has given way to players who bring grit, hustle, and defensive disruption, the kind of intangibles that fit better within the Suns’ ecosystem.
The Suns’ record when Booker, Durant, and Beal all play together? 19-18.
The numbers don’t lie. Beal’s fit has been questionable all season, and the players filling his 32.2 minutes have stepped up in ways that, frankly, make the team better.
The vibes are immaculate in Phoenix right now. Winning cures all. Three straight victories, including a smackdown of the NBA’s best team (even if they’ve eased off the gas a little). The Suns hit them harder than B. Powder when he’s out pimping.
But there’s a question lingering in the back of everyone’s mind. What happens when Bradley Beal is healthy enough to return? Will he disrupt the rhythm? Will he rock the boat?
It’s just another chapter in the ongoing saga of Suns vs. Beal-induced fuckery. Not a bad dude. Not a bad basketball player. But without question, a bad fit.
We’ll do our best to enjoy these final 11 games, hoping for a world where the Suns finally course-correct this offseason. A world where Bradley Beal gets traded. Where Kevin Durant stays. Where Devin Booker remains the franchise cornerstone.
The return for Beal won’t be much—that fact alone speaks volumes. But whatever limited assets they do get could be used to build a roster that actually fits around Booker and Durant. Because connectivity matters. Chemistry matters. Fit matters. And for the past two seasons, fit is exactly where the Suns have gone wrong.
And honestly? It gives me fits.
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