PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 21: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons fights for a loose ball against Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on December 21, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: In November, Ryan Dunn averaged 24.4 minutes per game. In January, his MPGs dropped to 16.4 and to 14.9 in the last 10 games. Both his field goal and 3-point (FG – 47.0, 44.8, 39.0, 3-pt – 42.3, 32.4, 31.6) percentages have dropped over time. What’s your opinion of Dunn’s recent struggles and whether he will be able to improve his shooting?
Ashton: Well at this point, he was not traded. I thought he may be part of a trade package.
I am going to hold the line that nobody should be moved if it upsets team chemistry. Let Dunn get out of his shooting slump and develop under proper coaching. The coach and the Suns are good at it.
OldAz: A lot of opinions are floating around about Dunn, and in typical Suns fans’ fashion, some are even calling for him to be first on the trade block. To just get rid of him. As usual, this is reactionary and shortsighted. Yes, he has slipped down the depth chart and is not playing as many minutes, but the same could’ve been said earlier in the season about Oso, who is now a key cog in their success. Another factor in his reduced playing time is the fact that he is not in any way, shape, or form a power forward. With the glut of guards on the team and the style of play, there is just no room for a wing that is less effective.
Interestingly, I think Dunn‘s problems actually stem from his struggles on the defensive end. He was an above-average one-on-one defender last year on a team of parking cones. This year, he is continuing to try to lock down his man when, in reality, the Suns are a much better team defensively, and he has not made the transition. He is often still stuck to his man when he should be switching or playing the passing lanes. This is a different mindset, and he needs to spend time watching someone like Jordan Goodwin (who also plays aggressive 1:1 but knows how to fit the team’s defensive concepts better) and adjust his style accordingly. Once Dunn does this and gets more comfortable on the defensive end within the team system, I think his offense will come around. His form and technique still look good on that end, so I have to believe he’s simply thinking too much.
Rod: For the most part, Dunn’s recent play has gotten me to the point where cold chills go down my spine whenever he touches the ball, and I hold my breath every time he attempts a shot. Whenever there’s a closeup of his face on TV, I see the look of a guy who seems to have lost his confidence.
As John suggested a few days ago, perhaps some time assigned to the Valley Suns in the G League might be good for him. He would get lots of reps there with the opportunity to get a confidence boost too. Seeing he court time and reps continue to dwindle with the Suns isn’t going to do anything to solve the problem so why not give it a shot?
We’ve seen him play better so there’s no doubt that he can do it again, and even improve, so calling for him to be traded as a few fans have done just seems like jumping the gun to me.
Q2: What are your thoughts on the Suns/Bucks/Bulls deadline trade?
Ashton: So, again, team chemistry. If Green is the biggest cheerleader in street clothes on the bench, then you keep him. And he was kept. Do the fans really know his injury status? Not in the slightest.
But this question has multiple parts. How exactly are the Suns going to fund Mark Williams, Goody, and Collin Gillespie extensions? The Suns are under the repeater tax for now, and I am fine with it. The numbers are beyond me, and I am not going back to school on this CBA and the complicated format it provides. Unless Rod starts an online class.
I thought the “backup” guards stunk it up against the Clippers and wondered if Green could have been a factor for a win. And then Portland happens, and the backup guards are not that bad. Then GSW happens, and the backup guards suck again. Green is still out. Should the Suns have made a trade for an injured Green?
But in the end, the team avoided the luxury tax. And if they do it for a second year (2027), the clock resets on the repeater tax.
Also, Phoenix will now have a 2026 second-round pick, a selection that will be the second-most favorable between Dallas (19-31), Philadelphia (29-21), and Oklahoma City (40-12). It is currently the 49th overall pick. (Arizona Sports). I love picks.
So, it was a good trade. The Suns are off the tax and needed to move Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to do it. But what they got back is not that impressive. Two guards, and if you squint enough, maybe one that one can play small-ball at SF?
Waive them both (Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey) and fill up the roster spots with the two-ways.
Old Az: My first take is about the entire league and how amazing it is that almost every team made some type of move at this deadline. As for the Suns, they did exactly what people have been saying they were going to do for four weeks. They made a small move on the margins to get under the luxury tax. This is far more important than many people recognize because of the Draconian penalties in the current CBA.
I don’t know much about the two players being brought in (at this point in their careers) but they traded away two players that weren’t playing, and even if the two players brought in give them nothing it created space to sign one or both of Bouyea and or Livers to a full contract. Both of those players have shown to be valuable this year. They also don’t have to be in a hurry to do anything as, for the first time in a while, they can be full participants in the buyout market and snag a player that really could contribute this season.
For the first time in a long time, we can actually see the Sun‘s front office with a plan that does not include making trades for the sake of trades or selling low after buying high. That is a nice change, and my biggest takeaway from the Suns’ moves at the deadline.
Rod: It was a small move that has a bigger impact than you would assume at first glance. The biggest plus from it was not only getting the Suns below the luxury tax line but also getting them far enough below it to possibly be able to eventually convert both Bouyea’s and Liver’s two-way contracts to standard NBA contracts if they eventually waive either Anthony (likely) or Coffey (unlikely) to create enough roster spots for both of them.
And there’s also the upcoming buy-out market to consider. Under the tax aprons, the Suns can now sign anyone who gets bought out, no matter what their previous salary was. I can hardly wait to see who is available. There may be no one there that fits the Suns’ needs but, if there is, they can at least make a play for them now.
Q3: Two-way player Koby Brea has not played exceptionally well in the G League. While he’s averaged 16.6 ppg, his FG and 3-point percentages are 38.9% and 32.5% (10.2 3-point attempts per game), respectively. If he continues to struggle in the G League, should the Suns let him go this summer or sign him to another two-way contract?
Ashton: Suns have a fan base problem. We like our young developmental talent, and Brea is at the top of the list. Eventually, I think there is going to be a culling. And Brea may be on the list.
My knee-jerk reaction is to give him to another two-way. The Suns may have a generational three-point shooter that I would hate to see develop on another team.
But this is a good problem to have. Youth in development in the G league is not a bad thing (even though the Valley Suns keep losing games). But based on some of the previous questions, there are players who may need to be sent there.
OldAz: Professional sports are a performance game, and there’s not much room for a shooter who can’t shoot. Admittedly, I have not watched any of Koby play this year because I don’t watch much G League. However, the Suns’ front office has shown an excellent ability to maximize the two-way contracts this year. Unless they see something in Brea that is bubbling below the surface, then I expect they will move on and look for the next Gillespie, Livers, or Bouyea.
I am not worried about his shot as much as I am wondering if he is showing other abilities to stay on the floor by being part of the defense or offensive system. If he is showing any other positive qualities, then maybe he gets another year, and with some extra minutes, maybe he gets his shot back. Again, however, it’s tough to keep a roster spot for a shooter who can’t shoot.
Rod: When the Suns drafted him, he was promoted as already having one NBA-ready skill…shooting threes. So far, he hasn’t been able to do that consistently in the G League, let alone in an NBA game. I haven’t watched enough of the Valley Suns games to get a good idea as to why his percentages are so low, but whatever problems he’s having in the G League are likely only going to be amplified at the NBA level. I’d say that his sticking with the Suns next season, even on another two-way contract, is going to depend on him making some progress/improvement before this season ends.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“You can do it (pick-and-roll) so many different ways, so many different locations, so many guys can be involved, and our offense is just going to be heavy in concepts. We’re gonna have to read and react a ton. … This is gonna be a constant evolution of our team, but specifically our offense over time.” – Jordan Ott
“I think he (Oso Ighodaro) is taking a gigantic step defensively with his activity. He’s one of those guys that are elite athletes in this league, just a little undersized for his position.” – Jordan Ott
“Goodie (Jordan Goodwin) does so much good stuff for us, rebounding, guarding, picking up full every possession. He brings a spark to the game that we need each and every night.” – Oso Ighodaro
“I am just trying to make it difficult for them, trying to get the shot clock down. Just get extra possessions for our team but I do take on a lot of assignments, and it’s not just me. I got the bigs behind me, guys giving me good shifts and stuff like that, so it’s really a team effort. I’m just trying to make it difficult.” – Jordan Goodwin
“I think he (Collin Gillespie) has caught a lot of people by surprise, but nobody in this locker room. He does everything out there. He’s a warrior for us. He’s been consistent since he got here, and I’m happy he’s on our side.” – Devin Booker
Suns Trivia/History
On February 6, 2008, the 34-14 Suns traded Marcus Banks and four-time All-Star Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal, who had been sidelined with a hip injury before the trade, was inactive for his first 5 games as a Sun but would start for the Suns, averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds, in 28 of their final 29 games of the season, in which they were 17-11. The Suns would finish the season as the 6th seed in the West with a 55-27 record and bow out of the playoffs quickly, losing their 1st round series with the San Antonio Spurs 4-1.
On February 7, 2018, the Suns tied the team record (set earlier that season on Oct. 18, 2017, against the Portland Trail Blazers) for the worst loss in team history as the San Antonio Spurs defeated them 129-81 (a 48-point margin). The Suns scored only 9 points in the 1st quarter, shot 9.4% (3 of 32) from three, and 34.0% from the field. The Suns’ starting lineup for that game was Tyler Ulis, Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss. This record would stand until earlier this season when the Suns were trounced by OKC (138-89) on Dec. 10, 2025, to set a new record with a 49-point loss.
On February 9, 1986, the NBA All-Star game was played with no Phoenix Suns player on the roster for the West. It was the first time in team history that no Suns player was selected for the All-Star game. The Suns struggled through the 1985-86 season to a 32-50 final record.
On February 11, 1979, the Suns defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-101 in a game where 8 of the 10 Suns that played scored in double figures. The Suns were led by new acquisition Truck Robinson’s 24-point, 15-rebound double-double. The Suns also made more free throws (36) than the Cavaliers attempted (25) and out-rebounded them 65 to 45.
This Week’s Game Schedule
Saturday, Feb 7 – Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 pm)
Tuesday, Feb 10 – Suns vs Dallas Mavericks (7:00 pm)
Wednesday, Feb 11 – Suns vs OKC Thunder (7:00 pm)
This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule
Tuesday, Feb 10 – Valley Suns vs Winchester Knicks (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Thursday, Feb 12 – Valley Suns vs Salt Lake City Stars (12:00 pm)
Important Future Dates
Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA
March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends
March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
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