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[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns - A Devin Booker/Jalen Green backcourt, Nigel Hayes-Davis, further roster adjustments

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Your weekly Inside the Suns analysis straight from the BSotS community who live and breathe the team.

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 — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week​

Q1 - The Suns have so far indicated that their starting backcourt for 2025-26 will be Devin Booker and Jalen Green. What do you see as the possible positives and/or negatives of this backcourt pairing?

GuarGuar: I think offensively in Ott’s high pace offense, these two can put up some really special numbers on offense. Defensively, I have questions about the fit. Who is going to be our point of attack defender? If we make Brooks the POA defender, does that mean Book is the 3 on defense? Also, who exactly is going to be the point guard, or is it a joint role between Book and Green?

I can see it going well, but also going about as bad as the Book/Beal duo was.

Ashton: First of all, if you have not read Brynne Tannehill’s articles on the subject, I highly recommend them. They are not flattering appraisals, so Sun optimists may want to steer clear. They are located here and here.

But this is an and/or question of positives and negatives. Great! Boolean Logic.

Let’s start with what everyone knows. There are too many shooting guards in this rotation. Sure, squint and you may be able to see a point guard or a shooting forward. As of this writing and before publication, this has not been addressed with an overabundance of shooting guards. Call this a solid negative.

Or…

One begins to realize that Jalen Green was the frigging number 2 pick of the 2021 Draft! Was rated as the best shooting guard in the 2020 class and also managed to win three gold medals in FIBA world championships. The list goes on and on. But if you read the wiki, you are seeing a shooting guard’s resume come true.

But the question is about the fit with Book. And this is in the eyes of the beholder. It sure looks like the Suns are going to run Point Book back. So, can Green become the heir apparent with time under Book’s tutelage? And that is the million-dollar question. My response to this is ultimately, maybe?

I honestly think this may be a quorum on the personality fit between Book and Green on the Suns. One may go eventually.

OldAz: I am intrigued to see how it works and what Ott brings to the table. We have seen the Suns try “positionless” basketball in the past, but those teams had far less talent so the lack of a true PG was noticeable. Starting with the negative, many of us would love to see Book return to a pure SG role where he can focus on getting his shots instead of facilitating, that will be very tough with Green as his backcourt mate. Green only had a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio (compared to Book being 2.4 and 2.7) over the last couple of years. This will have to get a lot better if the Suns intend to share ball-handling duties. If not, Book becomes the full-time PG, and this is really not a recipe for success as their best player can’t do the things he is best at.

On the positive side, Green will be (by far IMO) the most athletic backcourt partner that Book has ever had. I can’t remember the last time the Suns had a player that could simply blow past their defender 1:1 and finish so well at the rim. If Green can take a step forward and use that ability to then facilitate for others (as Book had to learn somewhere about Greens age) then there is potential for a really dynamic backcourt.

Rod: First, Book isn’t a natural PG, and neither of them are great defenders. Book has made some very good progress at becoming a PG though and I suspect that he would be more successful at it in a more structured offense that plays at a faster pace as Ott has stated he wants to do.

With Green, I think offensive efficiency will be important for him to work out in this pairing but, as he’s not going to be asked to play out of his natural position, I think that will be easier than for Book. He also won’t be counted on to be the #1 scoring option on the Suns which should take some pressure off him and give him the opportunity to grow as a player.

It won’t be a perfect fit but I feel as though it will be a better fit than Booker and Beal and I have much more confidence that Green won’t be sitting on the bench injured as frequently as Beal was, forcing the team to use frequent patchwork starting lineups that hindered the team in developing chemistry on the court.

While it isn’t strictly about them, both Book and Green should also benefit from having a better frontcourt this season and more youth with defensive talent overall.

Q2 - Is the signing of Nigel Hayes-Davis by the Suns a solid play or a ‘Hail Mary’?

GuarGuar: I’m pretty cool with this Hayes-Davis signing I think it’s a pretty low risk potential high reward. He league was decimals away from shooting 50/40/90 in the EuroLeague last year. That really pops out and it’s not like we signed him to some sort of big contract. A good move for a chance to try and find an edge for this team.

Ashton: A lot of commentators really like this acquisition. To me, it is a major reach. Scouting and the associated tools for analytics (dare I say AI?) should have caught this player and well before he spent all his time in EuroLeague from 2018 to the present (Now Suns). Did he play on the premier teams from across the pond and win championships? Yes. Did he receive honors like the EuroLeague Final Four MVP? Yes. Trained with the USA Select Team in 2024? Yes.

But it is so difficult to find a polished diamond in the rough these days with the technology that exists. So, I remain skeptical.

Also, I know where Rod is going to go with this without even reading his write-up. NHD owns a cat named Sly that he refers to as “Grey Shadow”. Yeah, let’s see if I called that right.

OldAz: I don’t know if I would go all the way to “solid” but I think it was a good signing. The Suns are still stuck signing players at the minimum because of their cap situation. In the past 2 years they have signed players that have one really good skill (like Yuta or Eric Gordon’s shooting or Okogie’s defense) and then we get really excited about how they will fit in and form a great bench. What everyone always missed was that there were very big reasons those players were available for the vets minimum, namely that they weren’t really that good.

In signing Hayes-Davis, they are trying something different within those same financial restrictions. They are getting a player who had shortcomings in their game and decided that playing time overseas was preferable to riding the end of an NBA bench. I have not dug into the video, but by all accounts Hayes-Davis took the opportunity to work on his game, played more minutes and now the Suns have a more well rounded player who is still hungry to show he belongs in the NBA.

Rod: I’d call it more of a solid play than a Hail Mary but there’s at least a little bit of Hail Mary in it. I’ve seen people on Twitter bringing up fears that he could be another Sonny Weems but also others with hopes that he could be another PJ Tucker for the Suns. We’ll only know for sure once he’s actually out on the court against actual NBA level competition but he’s bringing back some very impressive credentials earned in Europe so I’m pretty confident that he could be an even better contributor than PJ was back in his days with the Suns, especially on the offensive end of the court. At 30 though, he is what he is, and I believe he will likely turn into a solid contributor in the Suns’ player rotation rather than reach the same All-Star-like status he achieved in Europe.

And those that bring up Weems’ name would probably still find fault even if the Suns had somehow gotten Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster instead.

Q3 - In reference to the roster, what is now the most important thing for the Suns to accomplish between now and training camp?

GuarGuar: I really think we need to find more wing depth and cash in on our of our shooting guards to do so. Whether it’s Grayson or Beal (or both), we gotta find away to offload them and bring back a true athletic wing somehow. Way easier said than done though!

Ashton: Outside of moving some shooting guards, this one is pretty simple to answer. Our buzzword on the board, Cohesiveness. The Suns really did not have it last year, despite all the reports at the time to the contrary. If this means training sessions between the Vets and the Rooks with dinner and drinks afterwards, so be it.

But the quicker the roster is settled between now and the start of the Summer League is really on the Front Office. They can’t be messing around with probabilities and possibilities on this much roster churn during the Free Agency period.

OldAz: Execute on the plan in regards to Beal, Allen, O’Neale and Richards. We as fans talk talk and speculate all we want, but the front office has to have a plan with regards to these 4. They have a good young rotation and as Q1 discusses, they are probably not looking for another true PG so with lowered expectations, just to have fun and exciting basketball, the core is likely set.

Among Beal, Allen, O’Neale, and Richards, only O’Neale seems to have a role available as a rotational wing until Fleming (and/or Hayes-Davis) shows they are ready for NBA minutes. Richards would be next, but 3rd string centers tend to only play when the top 2 get hurt or into foul trouble. Something has to give! Having all those veterans on the bench that are good enough to deserve rotational minutes needs to be addressed. Hopefully that can happen before the season, with the return getting the team under the 2nd apron and/or returning a better (though still young) starting quality PF.

Rod: They really just need to find a way to move a few SGs and one of the centers. Bringing in another PG would be great but if they are truly set on starting Book and Green as the starting backcourt then another backup PG for insurance should be sufficient. Even if you are against the Book/Green backcourt, who could the Suns possibly get to start at PG? Yeah, many want CP3 back but Ott has already said he wants to play fast and that’s not CP3’s game. He likes to walk not run the ball down the court so I’m not sure of the fit. And even though he managed to stay healthy and play in all 82 games last season, there’s no guarantee of that happening again.

Another lengthy, versatile wing would be a nice addition too if possible. Even if it’s not, adding someone at almost any position that hustles and plays hard on defense would be a plus, even if he starts out buried deep on the bench.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Suns Trivia/History​

On July 11, 2012, Steve Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a 2013 1st round draft pick, a 2013 2nd round draft pick, a 2014 2nd round draft pick, and a 2018 1st round draft pick. In 2015, that 2018 1st round pick was traded to Philadelphia as part of a three-team trade that brought Brandon Knight to the Suns from Milwaukee.

Many fans were upset when that draft pick was traded, but later delighted when they still got the player selected with it (Mikal Bridges) in a draft night trade with Philadelphia in 2018.

On July 11, 2015, Devin Booker made his NBA Summer League debut for the Suns in Las Vegas against the Washington Wizards. He had 12 points and 4 rebounds on a disappointing shooting night, making only 4 of 11 shots and missing all four of his three-point attempts. Booker’s teammate-of-the-future and fellow rookie, Kelly Oubre Jr., also had his Summer League debut that night and led the Wizards with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Archie Goodwin led Phoenix in scoring with 22 points in the 86-77 Summer Suns win.

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Suns Summer League Schedule​

July 11 (Friday) - Suns vs Wizards @ 6:00 pm (ESPN)

July 13 (Sunday) - Suns vs Hawks @ 12:30 pm (NBA TV)

July 14 (Monday) - Suns vs Kings @ 7:00 pm (ESPNU)

July 16 (Wednesday) - Suns vs Timberwolves @ 2:00 pm (NBA TV)

Game 5 is TBD and will be on July 18, 19 or 20.

A Game 6 is possible if the Suns make it to the SL tournament stage.

All Suns Summer League games will also be televised on ESPN+

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Last Week’s Poll Results​

Last week’s question was, “Are you excited about watching the Suns Summer League team play this year?”

87% - Yes.

13% - No.

A total of 142 votes were cast.

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Important Future Dates​

July 10-20 - Las Vegas Summer League

October 3 - Preseason game vs LA Lakers (in Palm Springs)

October 21 - Regular Season Opening Night

Feb. 13-15, 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA

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This week’s poll is...

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ourt-analysis-nigel-hayes-davis-lineup-issues

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Notes from the Suns’ Rookie Introductory Press Conference

Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns introduced rookies Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea today.

The Phoenix Suns introduced their newest rookie class today at 3 pm local time, streamed live on YouTube, linked below. The rooks seemed to be... aligned.

The energy was high, and the primary focus was on the rookies, not on anything team-related or about the KD/Beal situations, which he will hit on later tonight in a separate availability after summer league practice.

The Phoenix Suns rookies have arrived at YMCA on 69th and Shea.

Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea.

Got Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro and Collin Gillespie in the building along with Suns head coach Jordan Ott and CEO Josh Bartelstein. #Suns pic.twitter.com/UGg3YsHc5L

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 7, 2025​

Maluach kicked it off by clapping for himself and each of his new teammates when they were introduced by GM Brian Gregory.

He is going to quickly become a fan favorite with how wholesome, humble, and most importantly, how hungry he is. You can tell he’s excited to be a pro and wants to be great. His answers checked all the boxes of the “what you want to hear”.

Brian Gregory introduced the trio with the following notes:

Khaman Maluach: “High-level, high-energy player. Tremendous on both ends of the floor offensively and defensively. His energy and enthusiasm that he plays with drew him to us the most. He brings it every single day.”

Rasheer Fleming: “He fights every day, and we know he’s tough. When you think of the NBA today, you think of players who are long and athletic and can shoot the ball and affect the game defensively, and that’s exactly what Rasheer is going to do.”

Koby Brea: “Point Blank has been the best three-point shooter in college basketball the last three years. In addition to that, he has a high basketball IQ and a tremendous work ethic.”

Khaman Maluach kicked it off, stating, “I’m so excited and happy to be here. I’m ready to get to work.”

"I'm excited to be here."

"Ready to get to work."

Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea in the building. #Suns pic.twitter.com/5IOedj1Azj

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 7, 2025​

Brian Gregory on the 10th pick: “Khaman was number one on our list (for the 10th pick), and we were hoping he’d be there. When we saw numbers 8 and 9 go, there was an explosion in the draft room.”

Duane Rankin asked the rooks what they were looking to get out of the mini-camp ahead of the Summer League. Here are their condensed, summed-up responses:

Koby Brea: “The mindset of wanting to get better every single day. It’s a long process, but trying to take it day by day and continue to grow and show the guys they can trust me.”

Rasheer Fleming: “Being consistent and being an 'everyday guy' and bringing the energy.”

Khaman Maluach: “Learning how to be a pro. learning how to take care of your body, navigate through everything, stay available throughout the season, and stay disciplined.

Gregory, when asked about his impression of this group, said, “We were already excited, but one practice in, we are even more excited than we were initially.”

Brea and Fleming have played each other before and grew up in the same area. Brea mentioned they both attended the Damian Lillard camp last year, and that was the first time they got to really talk to each other and get to know each other.

More importantly, Maluach said he enjoys mini golf, and he picked number 10 because he was the tenth pick. Fleming said there was no inspiration for it (his jersey number); he just thought it “looked good”. Brea had worn 14 before, and since he was the 41st pick it was 41 backwards. Had to throw this in there for all you number-obsessed folks.

The vibes were positive overall, and the youthful injection of energy and passion is needed in the desert.

Suns fans should be excited to see how these guys mesh with sophomores Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro to help reshape the culture and identity of this new era of Suns basketball.

Khaman Maluach with the kids at YMCA.

Ryan Dunn block incoming. #Suns pic.twitter.com/NwkUtxAjOW

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 7, 2025​

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...the-suns-rookie-introductory-press-conference

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: One-third of the Suns roster will be on display in Vegas

Who are you most excited to see?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phoenix Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Here comes the NBA Summer League.

Yes, four games in July that mean absolutely nothing…and yet, we flock to watch. Why? Because buried beneath the meaningless basketball is a glimpse of potential. Promise. Upside. Our first look at what’s new.

For the Phoenix Suns, that means something different this year. They’ll have five players in Vegas who they’ve drafted over the past two seasons. And for that reason alone, this Summer League matters.

Think back just a couple years ago. There was almost no one of significance wearing a Suns jersey in Vegas. A few two-way guys with flashes of potential, but no true youth movement to track. The draft wasn’t a tool for talent acquisition. It was an afterthought.

But that’s not the case as we head into Summer League 2K26. This time, there’s upside. There’s talent. There’s intrigue.

The Suns Summer League roster has been released pic.twitter.com/kUCQ6rtIJr

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 7, 2025​

Two second-year players. Three rookies. A third of the roster is playing developmental minutes under the spotlight in Vegas.

So, who are you most excited to see?

Let’s take Khaman Maluach off the board, because, come on, that’s the obvious answer. The No. 10 overall pick is who everyone wants to see. If we put him in the poll, it’s a landslide.

But beyond Maluach? There are some fascinating storylines:

• Ryan Dunn enters his second year, and according to the team’s official summer league roster, he looks like he’s added size. Now listed at 6’8”, 220 pounds…has Dunn grown? Has his game grown?
• Oso Ighodaro, the Suns’ second-round pick from last year. What does his summer look like? Did he add a jumper? Has his feel improved?
• Rashear Fleming, the rookie Phoenix aggressively moved up to snag. What’s his role, his impact, his edge?
• And of course, Koby Brea, the sharp-shooting guard on a two-way contract. Can he prove he’s more than just a sniper from beyond the arc?

Let us know below. Vote in the poll and drop a comment. Who are you most excited to see in Las Vegas this summer?

Because while the games don’t count, what we learn from them might.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ch-ryan-dunn-koby-brea-rasheer-fleming-roster

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Why the Bradley Beal buyout still hasn’t happened

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

The Suns are ready to move, but perhaps Bradley Beal isn’t.

We find ourselves in a familiar holding pattern, one that echoes the tense days before Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets.

Once again, anticipation hangs heavy in the air. The Phoenix Suns have yet to pull the trigger on what many around the league believe is inevitable: the buyout of Bradley Beal. It’s no secret. Everyone sees it coming. The only question now is when.

Teams Bradley Beal could consider joining if he is bought out by the Suns include the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers and Bucks, a source tells @FredKatz.

The Suns and Beal are increasingly optimistic that the two sides will agree to terms on a buyout, league sources say.

The goal… pic.twitter.com/1e0bdAS3ib

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 7, 2025​

The assumption, of course, is that the Suns will stretch the buyout amount across the next five seasons, a financial maneuver aimed at softening the blow on the cap sheet, especially during these next two crucial years. Dead cap space is never ideal, sure, but being trapped in the second apron while trying to retool and rebuild around Devin Booker is far more restrictive, both strategically and financially.

So then, the obvious question. If everyone sees it coming, if all signs point toward a buyout, why hasn’t it happened yet? What’s the holdup? Why not rip off the Band-Aid and move forward?

Just waiting on that Suns Beal buyout news to drop.. pic.twitter.com/MvggOZ53tj

— Gabe Guerrero (@GabeGuerrero03) July 8, 2025​

My assumption is that it comes down once again to the man who holds the carts. Bradley Beal.

Bradley Beal is owed $110.8 million over the next two seasons, and he has no interest in giving any of that back. From his standpoint, why would he? But from the Suns’ side, it’s clear they’re trying to negotiate a lesser buyout figure, hoping to find some middle ground before pulling the trigger.

Yes, Phoenix could simply waive him and eat the full $110.8 million while getting nothing in return. But that’s where the CBA steps in. You can only stretch a player’s remaining salary if the resulting dead cap doesn’t exceed 15% of the team’s total salary cap. In this case, stretching the full amount wouldn’t be allowed under those terms.

So technically, the Suns could just absorb the full hit over the next two years. But in a world of bad options, that’s arguably the worst one.

So what’s really happening here?

The Suns are likely trying to get Bradley Beal to accept a buyout worth around $96.8 million, roughly $14 million less than what he’s owed. That figure isn’t random. It’s strategic. If Phoenix can land on that number, they’d be able to stretch the remaining amount over five years and still stay within the league’s 15% dead cap limit, even with Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell already on the books from previous stretch-and-waives.

In short, Beal would have to eat $14 million for the Suns to make this work. And that’s the holdup.

Because Beal isn’t going to leave money on the table without a clear next step. He wants a suitor, a team ready to sign him once the ink dries. But the problem across the league right now? That market just isn’t there. There aren’t a lot of suitors lining up with the role, minutes, and money Beal would want. And the money is the key.

Yes, in theory, a team could pay Bradley Beal the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to make up the difference he’d lose in a buyout. That would make the math work for him and allow the Suns to stretch the remaining amount under the cap constraints.

The problem? The teams he actually wants to play for don’t have that kind of room.

The Milwaukee Bucks? They only have $3.6 million left of their mid-level.

The Los Angeles Clippers? Just $5.4 million remaining.

The Miami Heat? $5.7 million, give or take.

At this moment in time, according to Salary Swish, 17 teams are hard-capped, either at the first apron or the second. Only two teams in the entire league, the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, currently have any real cap space remaining. And once you’re over the cap, the rules are clear: you can’t just hand a player $20 million. Your tools are limited. Exceptions shrink. Flexibility disappears.

And that’s the stalemate. Beal’s not budging without a guaranteed landing spot, and the contenders he’s eyeing don’t have the means to offer what he’s looking for. Not financially, at least. So, unless he widens his net or lowers his ask, this thing stays stuck in neutral.

So yes, Bradley Beal technically holds the cards, but what he’s discovering is that they aren’t a pair of aces. It’s more like a jack and a joker. He’s staring down the reality that, no matter how badly he wants a clean break with a contender, he’s not going to make the kind of money he once thought was guaranteed over the next two years.

He might have to sacrifice $7 million just to suit up in Los Angeles. And honestly? That’s the most likely outcome. My guess? He becomes a Clipper. They’ll throw him $5.4 million and in return, Beal gets a fresh start on a playoff team in a major market.

And the Suns? They finally get some breathing room. The flexibility to maneuver. Access to their mid-level exception. The ability to aggregate will return to the fold. Suddenly, that cap sheet we’ve stared at in disgust feels a little lighter. A little more manageable. A little more hopeful. And the moves will follow.

Because, for once, we’d not be held hostage by a player obsessed with playing cards.

Go fish, Brad.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-salary-cap-space-los-angeles-clippers-rumors

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Oso added muscle, but still has work to do for the rotation spot

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

With the aim to prove himself again this upcoming season, Oso Ighodaro might suprise some fans and coaches

Phoenix Suns big man Oso Ighodaro is facing a major uphill battle to maintain minutes during the 2025–26 season that will be here before we know it.

Sized has been added with the additions of No. 10 overall draft pick Khaman Maluach and former Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. Oso has already used his first NBA offseason to his advantage. He understands that every second away from the court matters, and what fans see from him in the opening minutes of this upcoming season will be more important than ever.

Focused on physical development, Oso has worked tirelessly this summer to add 12 pounds of muscle and often stays late after practice to get extra reps in. He knows what’s at stake with the Suns’ revamped frontcourt and is determined to carve out a role through hustle, defense, and versatility.

For a player like Oso, who thrives on intangibles, it’s not about flash, it’s about earning trust, playing smart, and making an impact in the minutes he does get.

Oso Ighodaro said that he and Ryan Dunn are moving into “more of a leadership role” for Suns’ Summer League team in Las Vegas this year. They were the Suns’ draft picks in 2024z

Ighodaro also said he’s gained 12 pounds of muscle this offseason. pic.twitter.com/t03jUnbOoL

— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) July 8, 2025​

But will Oso be used as a true big, or more of a third-string center?

He fits the mold of what many call a “tweener”, a player caught between two positions. In his case, it’s center and power forward. The real question is how he would look next to Mark Williams or Khaman Maluach coming off the bench. While it’s easy to assume he’ll slot in as a backup center or even behind someone like Dillon Brooks in certain lineups, this season could unfold differently. Oso might surprise us, and so might new Suns head coach Jordan Ott.

As Summer League head coach DeMarre Carroll noted, Ott thinks outside the box.

That mindset could be the perfect match for a versatile tweener like Oso. His ability to switch defensively, run the floor, and make quick decisions in short bursts could make him a valuable chess piece in some unconventional, even experimental, rotations. If Ott is serious about creativity and mismatches, Oso could carve out a niche by simply doing what others don’t.

"He tries to change before (the game) changes."

Suns assistant DeMarre Carroll on new head coach Jordan Ott.

Called Ott a "mastermind," saying he "thinks outside the box." #Suns pic.twitter.com/husVGT3dlU

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 8, 2025​

That’s why it’s important not to count out Oso or overlook what he might bring to the Suns this upcoming season. Just as important is how he performs in the Summer League. It will be a key opportunity to see if he’s ready, based on how he handles himself against rookies and sophomores out in Las Vegas.

If he stands out, then the Suns might have something brewing, an unexpected piece who could end up playing a bigger role than anyone anticipated.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...r-battle-khaman-maluach-mark-williams-minutes

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker’s $145 million extension is about more than just the money

Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images

How Booker’s deal keeps Phoenix competitive and in control.

It’s the headline we’ve been waiting for: Devin Booker is expected to sign a two-year, $145 million max extension to stay with the Phoenix Suns.

BREAKING: Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker has agreed to a two-year, $145 million maximum contract extension with the franchise through the 2029-30 season, the highest annual extension salary in NBA history, CAA’s Jessica Holtz and Melvin Booker told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/A5U5VPlSgx

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2025​

This isn’t breaking news. We’ve known this was coming. But even so, seeing the number — two years, $145 million — still stops you in your tracks.

Some might scoff at it. Say Devin Booker isn’t worth it. But he absolutely is. Maybe not in a box score sense, but in every other way that matters. This extension isn’t just about rewarding your franchise player. It’s about maintaining leverage. It’s about protecting your future.

You don’t let Booker enter free agency. You don’t let the face of your franchise get to a place where he can walk away for nothing. You sign him now, lock him in through 2030, and in doing so, give yourself optionality.

Look no further than Kevin Durant. When the Suns traded for him, he had just signed a four-year deal. That contract gave Brooklyn the power to demand the world. Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and every pick in sight. Fast forward to this summer? Durant only had one year left on that deal, and Phoenix got dimes on the dollar in return. Same player, different leverage.

This Booker deal? It’s about leverage. It’s about vision. The contract kicks in for the 2028–29 season with an average salary of $72.5 million. Sounds massive. Until you factor in a projected $200 million cap. This year, Booker accounts for 34.3% of the cap. When the new deal starts? 36.3%. And with a 10% annual increase expected, that number drops again over time. to 33% of the team’s cap in 2029-30.

In short: this deal is a no-brainer. You pay your star. You send a message to the league. You plan ahead.

Congrats to Devin Booker on securing the bag. And congrats to the Suns for doing something I fully support.

---

Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ion-nba-contract-details-leverage-145-million

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Are the Suns stuck in the Western Conference?

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Even with more moves on the horizon, what is the ceiling for this team?

The Phoenix Suns made it clear following a disappointing season that changes would be necessary to reshape the team’s culture. They went out and reshuffled the front office and coaching staff, letting go of GM James Jones and head coach Mike Budenholzer. These moves were made so the Suns could replace them with Brian Gregory as GM and Jordan Ott as head coach.

This was the Suns’ first wave of moves, designed to change their identity and ensure everyone was aligned on the same page. (Fair warning, I will use that buzzword as long as Gregory does, as it just hits on a funny note and he now knows it lol)

Even after those front office moves, the Suns were not done, as they also wanted to reshape the roster. The team decided it was finally time to move on from Kevin Durant after trying to trade him at the trade deadline and sent him to the Houston Rockets.

This gave the Suns back Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, two starters from the #2 seed in the Western Conference. The Suns also acquired their number ten overall pick in the draft, alongside five second-round picks. They turned those into three players from the 2025 NBA Draft, adding Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea.

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The Suns, despite making multiple moves, were not done, as they traded Vasilije Micic to their longtime friends, the Charlotte Hornets, for Mark Williams. Not to mention, in free agency, the team made two signings to complement this roster, with Collin Gillespie and Nigel Hayes-Davis.

That being said, when looking at the depth chart, it is obvious there are still some holes on this roster. The team has too many shooting guards and centers, with some key pieces still missing. So, how will the Suns get out of this, and even if so, are they still stuck in a tough Western Conference?

Bradley Beal Dilemma​

This has been the situation: all fans have kept their eyes on the offseason. After a disastrous season with Bradley Beal in the rotation for the team, in a role that did not feel comfortable for him or the team, it is said that the time has come. Not to mention that he has an untradeable contract; even though Beal is still a productive player on the court, he is not worth the contract he is currently receiving.

That is no surprise to the Suns either, as teams around the league are aware of this, and that is why no trade has been proposed for Beal that would allow him to waive his no-trade clause. The no-trade clause itself is a significant hindrance, as he can choose his destination, but the added uncertainty of staying healthy and fitting in with this roster is causing the departure from both sides.

At this moment, the Suns and Beal are currently working on this solution, which will be implemented via a buyout of his contract, followed by the stretching and waiving of that money over five seasons.

Now, with the Suns unable to buy out Beal at his full amount due to them already having dead money from Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell last season. Therefore, the buyout is taking longer than expected, which can benefit the Suns. If a team is willing to give Beal more than what the Suns can buy him out at, then they can save more money and use it for other contracts.

While we wait for Beal to be bought out, we all know it will benefit the Suns, as not only will they free up a roster spot (and eliminate another shooting guard), but also drop below both aprons, allowing for complete flexibility in trades and free agency. This allows the team to aggregate salaries via trade and have every ability to sign someone in free agency.

Now, even though it’s exciting, will this truly save the Suns this season?

Suns’ Expectations This Year?​

When examining this roster, the expectations for this team are that they may not have a better record, but they will provide a better product on the court. That being said, teams in the Western Conference have only continued to improve.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are locking up their Big 3, the Rockets got KD and made other moves as well to competive, the Nuggets moved MPJ and brought back familiar faces to fill out depth they need, the Clippers are going all in as well within this two year window making big moves left and right.

This all doesn’t mention teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves who made back to back Western Conference Finals and still look to be dominant, the Lakers with Lebron James and Luka Doncic, the Warriors with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the other moves they make and even the Spurs with Wemby and Fox for a full season with the two draft picks they added.

This is why the Suns may be stuck even for this season, regardless of the changes they make. That is eight teams that are currently in a better spot than the Suns for next year. This would mean competing with teams like the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Kings, and Mavericks. Now, the Suns are better than some teams I listed, but this seems to be their home court, and if the play-in is their best hope, what does that mean for the future?

Suns’ Expectations For the Future?​

Even with all the above, I am sure the Suns’ front office knows this is the case, and this is their plan to establish a new identity.

By bringing in young players and signing rookies, they can maintain that flexibility in future offseasons, building off the last two. With at least four players on those deals and one needing an extension in Mark Williams, this allows the team to reshuffle the salary not into three top-heavy ones, but throughout the roster. The Suns’ primary goal should be to find those depth pieces who can help develop their young prospects.

And they have already started that. All three draft prospects from this class have a “mentor” in my eyes.

Maluach has Williams, a shot-blocking, rim-protecting, and rebounding big who went to the same college. Similarly, Brea has Booker, who models his shot-making ability, and also attended the same school as Book, Kentucky. Lastly, Fleming has a mentor in Hayes-Davis, someone who is returning to the NBA but shares a similar frame and play style with the rookie from St. Joe’s.

By having these mentors, the Suns can have a representation of what their role should be for this team. It will make the growing pains easier and ultimately provide a guide for their rookie season.

Alongside that, you would have Ryan Dunn continuing to grow with Dillion Brooks still being that feisty wing on the side and Collin Gillespie still growing, hopefully getting a mentor of his own. CP3 anyone?

All of this depends on what the Suns want to do with the contracts of Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Oso Ighodaro, Jalen Green, and Nick Richards, as they finish this offseason and head into next. This could also indicate the direction this team is heading with its younger core.

This will all depend on the Suns having this youth movement go in a positive direction. Having the young guns playing with heart and hustle while showing grit on the court will buy you right back into the potential this team had, similarly, when they had the twins just a few seasons ago. Not to mention that with more cap space, the Suns have the option to acquire another star-level player down the line. That, combined with the growth of these young guns, will surely set the Suns up for success down the line, so it is not all doom and gloom.

You take all that into account with Devin Booker buying back into this team with this latest extension, and it gives you hope for the future. Even if the Suns are stuck now, it seems that the front office, alongside Devin Booker, sees a brighter light at the end of this tunnel, and by the time his new contract kicks in I assume the Suns will be on that right path of trying to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Valley for the first time, which will tasts sweet for all the believers who saw us at our lowest and counted us out.

Booker, the Suns No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 Draft, has played all 10 NBA seasons in Phoenix and now lands his third contract extension with the franchise. He doubles down again on his loyalty to the Suns – and wanting to win there – in an era of frequent player movement. https://t.co/P3Q8Bl9Fjh

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2025​

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...al-buyout-brian-gregory-booker-extension-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Baller – Summer League Edition: Suns look good in Vegas opener

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

The rookies showed up, and the defense showed out in the Suns’ Summer League opener.

What’s this? A Bright Side Baller during Summer League? Hell yes it is.

Because even when the games don’t “matter,” I’m still here tapping the keys, delivering something that blends stats with soul, sarcasm with sincerity. I started this little tradition last year. Thought it might be a one-off. But then I realized, nah. This is the good stuff. This is the basketball gumbo. And I’m ladling it out whether it’s July in Vegas or January in Denver.

Game 1 of the Summer Suns is in the books. Suns 103, Wizards 84. A comfortable win.

This wasn’t a disjointed pickup game with a bunch of hopefuls throwing bricks. No, this Suns squad showed a bit of bite. They were disruptive on defense, swarming like bees at a picnic. They knocked down triples and they introduced us to rookies with just enough flair and fearlessness to make us sit up straighter in our couches.

Ryan Dunn slick fadeaway pic.twitter.com/En0RPhhFWM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 12, 2025​

It was aggressive. It was entertaining. It felt like something.

Now look, yes, it’s Summer League. The box scores disappear into the void. The banners aren’t real. But that doesn’t mean this doesn’t matter.

Culture starts here. Want a team that plays hard in February? Watch how they hustle in July. Want a deep bench? Look at who’s cutting their teeth in Vegas. Want a winning mentality? It starts when no one’s watching.

Because even when the lights are low and the stakes are fake, the passion’s still real.

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The Nominees​

Ryan Dunn​

17 points (7-of-12, 2-of-5 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +13 +/-

Koby Brea​

19 points (7-of-10, 4-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, +0 +/-

Boogie Ellis​

16 points (4-of-8, 4-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 3 turnovers, +25 +/-

Khaman Maluach​

14 points (5-of-13 FG, 1-of-6 3PT), 5 rebounds (1 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -6 +/-

Oso Ighodaro​

11 points (4-of-5 FG, 3-of-4 FT), 14 rebounds (6 offensive), 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, +4 +/-

Moses Wood​

9 points (4-of-11, 1-of-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +23 +/-

Yuri Collins​

9 points (4-of-7 FG, 1-of-1 FT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +2 +/-

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First one of the summer. Who you voting for?

---

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ryan-dunn-koby-brea-boogie-ellis-oso-ighodaro

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: The Suns and Hawks are clash in Vegas

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

Bring on Game 2 of the Summer League for Phoenix.

Who: Summer Suns (1-0) vs. Summer Hawks (1-0)

When: 12:30pm Arizona Time

Where: The Pavilion — Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: NBATV

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It’s a heavyweight clash. Two undefeated titans squaring off on a Sunday afternoon. Two teams enter. One leaves unscathed.

...Or not.

Sorry, got ahead of myself. It’s Summer League. I need to calm down. Got about eight months before I can bust out those kinds of headlines, if the regular season gives me anything close to that kind of drama. And with this Suns team? Let’s just say I’m not holding my breath. So I’m cashing in my dramatic phrasing now. Here. In July. In Vegas.

Because the Summer Suns are back.

They take on the Summer Hawks in game two of the Las Vegas showcase. After a convincing win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night, the Suns are looking to double down, focusing not on the scoreboard, but on what Summer League is actually about: development, cohesion, vision, and execution.

Fewer turnovers. Sharper sets. Cleaner rotations. More flashes of what could be.

Game one started as expected — jittery, frantic, chaotic — but somewhere in that second quarter, things clicked. The team found its rhythm. So now, we get to see what growth looks like between games. We get to see who learned something from Friday, and who’s still just running.

It’s not a championship bout. But it is something. And for July basketball in the desert, that’s more than enough.

Probable Starters​

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Rasheer Fleming — DAY TO DAY (Right Knee Soreness)

What to Watch For​

All eyes will once again be on the rookies. Which one, you ask? All of them.

But our focus centers, as it should, on Khaman Maluach, the No. 10 overall pick. His debut was uneven. Nerves were visible, butterflies firmly intact. The physicality wasn’t quite there. His handle looked shaky. And the three-point shots? Not his strength. Not yet, anyway. But context matters.

Maluach was asked to stretch the floor. Why? Because he was sharing it with Oso Ighodaro, a non-shooter in every sense. And instead of retreating into comfort, Maluach leaned into growth. He tried. And that’s what Summer League is for: development, not dominance. It’s trial and error in real time.

That willingness to stretch — literally and figuratively — is a good sign.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Koby Brea, who didn’t just shoot the three, he owned it. There was something smooth about his release, something eerily familiar. Too early to throw out a name like Devin Booker, but if Brea keeps up this level of marksmanship, the Suns might have a future bench weapon built for the modern game. A career sharpshooter. One who, hopefully, stays in Phoenix.

And then there’s Rasheer Fleming, the man everyone wanted to see… and didn’t.

Knee soreness kept him sidelined last game. Maybe we'll see him today. And no, I don’t expect fireworks. Maybe six points, three rebounds, a couple of deflections. But it’s not the box score I’m watching. It’s his feel. His movement off the ball. His anticipation on defense. Phoenix has been starving for a 3-and-D wing who plays with grit in the margins. Fleming might be that guy. Or he might not. But this is just the beginning, not the verdict.

As for the Hawks, don’t expect to see Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s not suiting up for Summer League. But they do have Asa Newell, taken 23rd overall. In his opener, he chipped in with 8 points and 8 rebounds.

The breakout star? That would be Jacob Toppin — yes, Obi’s younger brother — who poured in 19 and grabbed 10 boards. But the engine was Kobe Bufkin, who exploded for 29 points, including 14 in the fourth to bury Miami.

So that’s the setup. Suns. Hawks. A canvas for kids, hopefuls, and question marks.

Prediction​

It’s Summer League. No need to go in-depth here. It’s not about the score...unless you’re a degenerate gambler trying to cover the spread.

Summer Suns 97, Summer Hawks 91

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-roster-matchup-analysis-vegas-unbeaten-teams

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Why waiting until after July 15 to buyout Bradley Beal makes sense for him and the Suns

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Diving into the numbers brings the probable motivation to light.

Whether you want Bradley Beal bought out by the Phoenix Suns or not, I feel safe in saying that pretty much everyone would like this decided one way or the other quickly. No matter how it’s resolved, a resolution allows everyone to just move along and put this all behind us.

On July 15, Beal’s contract specifies that he will get a 25% advance on his 2025-26 season salary. That equals a lump sum of $13,416,567.50. I said earlier in the comments section of John’s earlier article on this topic that the advance payment would have no effect on the buyout numbers...but I was wrong about that. After giving it some more thought, I realized that it actually does change a few things that work out in favor of both Beal and the Suns.

While that amount being paid to him early normally would have no impact on the Suns’ cap sheet or their luxury tax obligations, waiting until after this payment is made will lower the amount of cash that would have to be stretched after he is bought out. It almost lowers the stretched amount to the point of being below the 15% limit of stretched dead salary that teams are allowed to carry on their cap sheets, just not quite enough to get all the way there.

Once that advance payment is made, stretching the remaining 75% of Beal’s 2025-26 salary plus the full amount for 2026-27 equals yearly stretch payments of $19,475,662.50. Adding in the dead money already owed to Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell brings the total up to $23,289,703.50, which would be 15.06% of the cap, just a tiny bit over the maximum amount allowed...but still over the limit.

But the important thing is that waiting until he gets his advance also means that Beal could be bought out for a sum significantly smaller than the nearly $14 million buyout that has been previously reported, and the Suns could still stretch his remaining salary over 5 years if they wish to do so. That’s the key here.

It’s been reported that the most Beal could now get from any of his preferred teams to sign with them after his buyout would be a contract for around $5.3 million. After receiving the 25% advance, a buyout equal to that $5.3 mil amount would work to bring the total of the Suns’ stretched dead salary down to 14.4% of the cap while also ensuring that Beal doesn’t actually lose any of the money already owed to him.

Mission accomplished and in a way which hopefully allows everyone to part company amicably.

Like it or not, it makes financial sense for both sides to wait a few days longer to complete the buyout.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...etch-dead-money-cap-space-2025-advance-salary

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns face the Kings, look to bounce back

Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns are back at it for round 3!

Who: Summer Suns (1-1) vs. Summer Kings (2-0)

When: 7:00 p.m. Arizona Time

Where: Cox Pavilion — Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: ESPNU/ESPN+

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The Phoenix Suns rested Khaman Maluach and Ryan Dunn in yesterday’s loss to the Hawks, deflating some of the hype and momentum from game one. They fell short and looked outmatched against the now 2-0 Hawks, who were paced by Asa Newell.

Phoenix’s next challenge comes against an undefeated Kings team led by Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud, among others.

Our John Voita wrote this ahead of yesterday’s game: “Fewer turnovers. Sharper sets. Cleaner rotations. More flashes of what could be.” I will copy and paste that same formula heading into the third Summer League game for the Suns. The chemistry will always be rough in this setting, but we should see some gradual improvement today, hopefully.

There were a couple of promising flashes from the squad in Sunday’s loss, including a furious run in the third quarter, but they ultimately ran out of gas.

Stats from Game 2 Atlanta

Ighodaro: 18 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK
Brea: 15 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
Collins: 12 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
Wood: 10 PTS, 5 REB, 5 BLK pic.twitter.com/LpIMl9UuXe

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 13, 2025​

We are hopeful the team will unleash the young guys, and our fans get to see what we all want to see: the full youth movement. Khaman, Ryan, Oso, Rasheer, Koby.... just let us see this lineup once.

Probable Starters​

Your guess is as good as ours. No word on if Fleming will play in this one, and we’ll see if they’ve seen enough from Oso and shut him down.

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Rasheer Fleming — DAY TO DAY (Right Knee Soreness)

What to Watch For​

All eyes will be on Summer League sweetheart Koby Brea. He has looked quite impressive through his first two games, drawing plenty of visual comparisons to Devin Booker with his combination of movement, patience, and shot form, specifically off the dribble. He looks like the steal of the 2nd round at this point.

Through his first two games: 17.0 PPG, 54% FG, 6-10 3PT, 4.5 REB

That's too smooth Koby ‍ pic.twitter.com/WXFd76pr6Z

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 13, 2025​

Another storyline is the play from big man Oso Ighodaro. He clearly looks too good for the Summer League, which is exactly what you want to see from your second-year guys. We call the progress and growth!

Oso posted 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 stocks on 8/12 shooting in Sunday’s loss, including this emphatic slam. He looks good.

Oso Ighodaro HUGE slam off the dribble pic.twitter.com/zaTpMv7hw8

— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 13, 2025​

Can we get a more confident, comfortable Maluach in what would be game two for him? Will Ryan Dunn get to unleash some havoc defensively? How does Fleming’s debut look? There are plenty of headlines to watch in this one for the Suns.

The Kings have second-year standout Devin Carter, who dropped 30 points in their blowout win over Chicago during the weekend. Along with Carter, they have a pair of talented scorers in Mason Jones and rookie Nique Clifford, who have each had an offensive outburst to help push the Kings to a 2-0 start.

Big man Maxime Raynaud, who many Suns fans probably remember from our coverage of him as a potential target at 29, has impressed through his first two games as well. Isaac Jones is another interesting prospect for them. It’s a good team that should be a strong test for the Suns.

Maxime Raynaud in his 2 SL Games:

— 16.5 PPG
— 5.5 RPG
— 2.0 APG
— 1.0 SPG
— 53.8 FG%
— 33.3 3P%
— 27.8 MPG pic.twitter.com/UXcVmKupjt

— KingsMuse (@kings_muse) July 14, 2025​

Suns. Kings. Let’s do this!

Prediction​

It’s Summer League. We’ll see what happens... let’s say the Suns win at the buzzer for fun.

Summer Suns 101, Summer Kings 99

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...eview-suns-face-the-kings-look-to-bounce-back

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: Should the Suns regret trading for Bradley Beal?

Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

Was it the right move at the time? Even if the results didn’t pan out as anticipated?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phoenix Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Whether it’s two hours, days, weeks, or months, it appears Bradley Beal’s tenure with the Phoenix Suns is coming to a close. As numerous reports suggest, Beal is expected to be bought out of his contract in the near future, officially ending his time in the Valley.

Since he came to the Valley from the Washington Wizards after being acquired for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and a bounty of second-round picks and first-round swaps, the Suns have massively underperformed, winning no playoff games and making the playoffs just once despite having the highest payroll in NBA history.

While the team performed significantly worse than expected, before the trade, Phoenix was in a financial bind with Chris Paul at the time and were not going to have significant flexibility to build the roster around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant whether he was released or traded because of the asset and financial situation the team put themselves in by signing Deandre Ayton to a max extension the summer before and trading for Kevin Durant months earlier.

When making the trade for Durant, the new CBA rules were not announced, and by the time the offseason came around, it was very clear Phoenix was likely to be a second-round team with their core, no matter what they did around Booker and Durant.

The Suns logic by trading for Beal was to maximize their talent as much as possible at the current moment, independent of the financial or asset situation the team would be in and a trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, all players who were coming off of seasons averaging at least 23 points a game, would light the league on fire. Even if the team were in a tough spot down the road, they would have nothing to be sorry about because they would be winning.

“They went for it, which I’ll always respect. I think they gave up a little too much, especially considering they had none of their own firsts, and they kind of drained themselves of assets. So I think maybe in asset management, I would have done something different. But in terms of the trade, like, I can’t sit here and say that, that I wouldn’t have done it, they made a move to go all in around a core that they felt comfortable in. And so I would have done that. Now that we can talk about the moves they made after, because I think they kind of fumbled from there. But in terms of the trade, like, I have no gripes about I think Phoenix wanted to try to win, and they made a move that just didn’t work,” one of Bullets Forever’s lead writers Greg Finberg told Bright Side last month in a piece reviewing the Bradley Beal trade two years after it became official.

While he’s on a max contract, Beal has been hard to trade for the Suns, not just because of his salary, but also his no-trade clause in his contract, the Wizards gave him when he signed his deal in 2022. When the Suns were looking to get out of the Beal business at the trade deadline to acquire Jimmy Butler, they reportedly had a tough time dealingwith him and instead had to look to trade Kevin Durant if they wanted a shot at adding Butler because of his no-trade clause.

While Beal individually had some strong moments including his 43 points in his first game back in Washington in his first year as a Sun, or his huge steal in game 81 of the regular season in the 2023-2024 season against the Sacramento Kings that helped keep the Suns out of the play-in tournament, but overall, his averages are down since joining the team and so were the Suns wins and by the time the 2024-2025 season ended, many Suns fans and pundits were frustrated with his attitude, including the way he took Mike Budenholzer asking him to play like Jrue Holiday.

According to @ChrisBHaynes, Bradley Beal was offended when Mike Budenholzer asked him to be the Suns’ version of Jrue Holiday - sorry, but this anecdote is the sign of a soft player and not a terrible head coach. https://t.co/6Vkf8LJnNM

— Dan Bickley (@danbickley) April 14, 2025​

Hindsight will always be 20/20, but were the Suns right at the time to trade for Beal considering the situation they were in?

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ntract-no-trade-clause-durant-booker-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

New additions to bring motivation and technical fouls

Dillon Brooks wants a technical...and I love it.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a future technical foul.

Technical fouls are usually a source of frustration, not excitement, right? Well, not for new Phoenix Suns’ wing Dillon Brooks. He recently spoke about his anticipation and even responsibility to energize the home crowd...by getting a technical foul.

Yes, you read that correctly, a technical foul as a spark for crowd engagement. And honestly, I’m 100% here for it.

"No bullshit. I don't back down from anybody or anything." New Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks.

Starting off saying being with Phoenix has been "written in stone" since 'miscommunication' trade that didn't go through when he was in Memphis.

MarShon Brooks. Dillon Brooks.… pic.twitter.com/IRzYUw44Ta

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 12, 2025​

“No bullshit,” Brooks said. “I don’t back down from anybody or anything.”

It’s a bold statement, but exactly the kind of chaos you expect from Brooks. Love him or hate him, he thrives on emotion, intensity, and being the villain. If it fires up the fans and fuels the team’s energy, maybe it’s not such a bad strategy after all.

This is exactly where the Suns need to find themselves heading into next season: the villains. Led by Dillon the Villain.

Let the league hate. Phoenix just might need that edge.

Welcome to the Valley, Dillon the Villain. You get a drop! https://t.co/dtvFGkciOY pic.twitter.com/pEVuEL7p1I

— Suns JAM Session Podcast (@SunsJAM) July 10, 2025​

Brooks is already my favorite player on the Suns, and it’s only taken one interview since he joined the team.

This is a story of two former teammates: Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Both played for the Houston Rockets, a team that surprisingly finished second in the Western Conference last season. But instead of sticking with that core and building forward, Houston moved on. Brooks and Green? Bounced.

What comes with that? Motivation. A chip on their shoulders.

During Brooks’ interview with the Suns, Jalen Green — now also in Phoenix — crashed the session just to remind everyone of that fact. The message was clear: They won’t forget.

Jalen Green asked Dillon Brooks about the historic 7-team trade as the Houston Rockets dealt them to Phoenix Suns in acquiring Kevin Durant.

"I love the trade. It gives me and Jalen an opportunity."

Green's response: "Motivation."

Clears throat. "Motivation." #Suns #Rockets pic.twitter.com/trXaiL9RWd

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 12, 2025​

You know this one stings the most for Green. He spent the early years of his career in Houston, envisioning himself as the future face of the franchise, until the Kevin Durant trade happened. That’s the NBA. One day, you think you’re the guy. The next morning, you’re headed to Phoenix, trying to rebuild your confidence alongside Devin Booker.

Green didn’t hide from it either. He admitted it was tough at first. But you can already tell—he’s ready to prove himself here in Phoenix.

Jalen Green says he’s excited to join the Phoenix Suns, even though it was tough being traded from Houston, a place he’ll always view as home pic.twitter.com/ljNojSja3N

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) July 12, 2025​

I sat myself in front of the TV, excited to watch the young core on the floor, but it was the new additions from Houston that stole the show. The heart and the soul of the Suns look to be in good hands moving forward.

The soft Suns of old will find a true identity behind these two. It might take some time, but when it finally shows itself, it will make for some entertaining basketball in the Valley.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-identity-villains-energy-technical-foul-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

What it’s like to cover the NBA Draft at 21 years old for Bright Side

An inside look at what it’s like to be one of the youngest reporters in a crowded media room.

As I walked over to the luxurious and beautiful New York Lotte Palace on Madison Avenue for pre-NBA Draft interviews with top prospects a day before the draft, my mind was disoriented.

Sure, I had my nice Brooks Brothers shirt I bought just for this event, I was ready to speak to NBA prospects, whether it was Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, or Ace Bailey. I was prepared, and yes, from my time covering NBA games and general networking, I knew enough reporters around that I wouldn’t feel like an outsider or an imposter; it was the fact that this is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m doing it and much earlier than I anticipated.

I’m not special. Once I realized I wasn’t even going to be 5’7” (thanks mom and dad!) and was not talented enough to be shooting like Steph Curry (which, for my sake, was at a young age), I wanted to do what any other kid wants to do: go into sports media and still be apart of the sports story when they realize their hoop dreams are gonna come up short (literally and figuratively).

This was me nearly 10 years ago when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up:

From missing school to go to Yankees playoff games (hopefully none of my old teachers are reading this), to coming home from school and hearing Colin Cowherd talk about how Sam Darnold is tougher than an $8 steak, to the numerous Sunday Night Football’s’ I stayed up for in high school just to feel like a mess on the way to school and still be behind on my homework. Watching, listening and going to sports games, just like many kids, is and was a huge part of my identity.

It’s why I early decisioned to Syracuse University, where Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, Scott Hansen, Ian Eagle, Nick Wright, and many other all-time great sports journalists went to college, including the Suns’ play-by-play radio guy, Jon Bloom!

Going to Syracuse has helped open doors for me that I never thought were possible, like covering nearly 10 NBA games while still being in college and getting locker room access, reporting on the 2024 ACC Tournament, and now interning at SNY, where the New York Mets games are broadcasted. All of these experiences have taught me so much, from how to be a better broadcaster, journalist, to person, but something about covering the NBA Draft a few weeks ago just felt different.

Since I’ve realized that what I really want to do is tie my three loves together: food, sports, and talking to people, I’ve been incredibly hard on myself. Whether it’s getting frustrated on how I did in a live shoot for my school’s TV station, the conciseness with which I asked Mike Budenholzer a question at a press conference, to the cadence I speak with on my podcast, Holden Sherman’s Conversations (where I interview young people across the country on their media experiences and goals), I’m always wanting more. I’m always thinking about the next thing I need to do to accomplish my goal of having Gen Z’s version of Hot Ones. Truthfully, it can feel incredibly overwhelming and make it difficult to be present often.

Like marathon runners, who get into a flow state and forget how far they’ve come, when you’re young and everything feels so new and shiny, it can be hard to appreciate, let alone acknowledge the steps you’ve taken to help accomplish your goals because you have no perspective.

Because I’ve known what I wanted to do for so long, I have difficulty taking things slowly. All I want to do is get to the day when I’m talking to Patrick Mahomes the day after he wins his 13th Super Bowl as we’re sharing my homemade Birria Tacos or Chicken Vodka Parm and he’s telling me about what was going through his mind on the game-winning drive after the Chiefs were down 14 with 7 minutes to go.

The draft, however, was not only a first step in helping me soak in every moment of my journey, but also one that helped me get closer to my goals. The madness surrounding me forced me to truly immerse myself in the unique experience.

My wifi went out when the Suns selected Khaman Maluach, so I had to adjust and get a quick reaction to the selection and Mark Williams trade as soon as possible on Twitter, instead of updating our live article, I had soundbites I needed to get out fast so people could see them when they were most relevant and I’ve never transcribed a 1-on-1 interview in my life faster than the one I did with Khaman Maluach.

pic.twitter.com/l9Ef4zDQAv

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) June 26, 2025​

In a pressure cooker environment like the draft, where there’s not just reporters from across the country but the world, any soundbite, video, or headline can be up for grabs, and you can miss your chance to be the first one to the scoop.

I didn’t have the time to bask in my own frustrations or trepidations; I had to keep reporting or someone else would get information before I did. I was the only Suns reporter there, but many people did stories with Maluach, including the great Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and ESPN and Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. Spears actually gave me great advice when I spoke to him, which was to make sure to always find a way to make your work is distinctive from others.

With the crazy atmosphere and sheer number of people doing the same thing as I did, I felt like a pro. When I’ve covered Suns’ East Coast games, Bright Side Managing Editor John Voita trusts me, he knows that I know what to do and how to do it in a way that will best help all Bright Side readers get the best experience possible. Fortunately, because John is awesome, he trusted me again at the draft.

As a writing team we spoke a little bit about planning but I mainly once again had free rein, and with my chance to get great access to all things in the NBA world at that time, I felt obligated to get as much content as possible, which is why on the Bright Side Twitter account there was a lot of soundbites from many players, including some who weren’t likely to be a Sun or didn’t end up one at all.

With the opportunity being such a unique one, I had to take advantage, which is where I needed to not only know how to navigate the maze that they call the Barclays Center, but also of the one called sports journalism on a deadline, meaning you can’t get fixated on your every move and that you need to forget about your missed opportunities like Dion Waiters would chuck up another three even if he was 0-of-9 before it (Go Syracuse!).

There are a few things I wish I had done a little bit better.

I wish I had asked Khaman Maluach a few more questions in my 1-on-1, including diving a bit deeper into his talk about how being delusional helped him get drafted. It would have been nice if I were more concise in some of my questions to prospects when there were other reporters around, but in this particular instance, I recognize that’s just called doing a job and not being perfect. I’ve seen and read enough reporters reporting reports to know no one is perfect and we all in life have things we want to work on, and good can’t be the enemy of great.

While I think it’s undeniable that I am a better reporter than I was before all the draft festivities, a lot of it stems from how my floor is raised because I know how to deal with chaos better. I’m still young and stupid, but at the very least, like how great restaurants know how to work around a broken oven or tables being overbooked, I’ve learned a way to navigate a problem that I had never encountered in a situation with this much at stake.

While it could have been easy for me to just soak in the moment and not care about pace or speed and just enjoy the fact that I was at the draft, the rush of stress that came with every story, tweet or soundbite I published kept me on my feet and enriched the experience.

I got to every event very early like I do for every NBA game I cover, so I was still able to talk to many people including former Suns reporter Gina Mizell, ESPN Front Office NBA Insider Bobby Marks, other college students covering the draft, (all of whom I spoke to on the podcast episode linked above!) and more folks. That was by far one of the best moments of the whole experience, being in a spot where I could speak to people who are doing the same job as me and compare and contrast my experiences to theirs.

Just like my first few NBA games I ever covered, this experience made me think a lot about not just 12-year old Holden who said he wanted to be a sports analyst, but the 18-year old one who stepped on a college campus absolutely terrified and unsure if he could ever do anything in the sports world.

If someone had told me when I graduated high school that just three years later I’d be covering the draft as a credentialed reporter, getting 1-on-1s with lottery picks, moments after they were drafted and speaking to some of my biggest media role models like Tim Bontemps, Spears, Dave McMenamin and Fred Katz, not only would I not have believed them, I would’ve laughed in their face.

It just goes to show you where hard work can go if you give it no boundaries, and a little bit of luck, of course. Hopefully, the All-Star game is next...we shall see!

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...uns-khaman-maluach-syracuse-sports-journalism

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns JAM Session Podcast: The Brad Beal Buyout

Shooting the shit about the Phoenix Suns since 2019.

We knew it was coming. Now that it’s happened, what does it mean? Where do we go from here?

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Watch it right here!

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Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/7/16/24462086/suns-jam-session-podcast-the-brad-beal-buyout

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Phoenix chose 5 years of dead cap over 2 years of Bradley Beal. Here’s why it makes sense

The Bradley Beal buyout is bad. But perhaps it’s not as bad as you think.

Bradley Beal. A great person. A good player. An absolutely catastrophic contract. And now, the most expensive financial blunder in Phoenix Suns history.

The team has officially bought him out for $96.9 million. Let that number sit for a second.

Per Zillow, the average home price in Phoenix is $418,453. With $96.9 million, you could buy 231 homes. Or 1,229 brand-new 2025 Ford F-150 Lariats to park in each of their garages. And if you needed to repaint those homes, Rhino Exterior House Painting charges roughly $1.55 per square foot (give them a call at 602-488-4895 for your free estimate today!). With that buyout money, you could paint 30,218,750 square feet of walls.

All to pay someone not to play basketball for you.

The Suns will stretch that buyout over five years, committing $19.4 million annually through 2030 for a player no longer on the roster. That’s a half-decade of dead cap. A half-decade of financial constraint. A half-decade reminder of one of the worst decisions the franchise has ever made.

And all of it, signed off for the sake of flexibility. Whatever comes next better be worth it.

I’ve stood on both sides of this debate. Back in March, I was one of the voices suggesting that buying out and stretching Bradley Beal might actually be the most logical path forward. But in recent days, especially after seeing how the Suns navigated the draft, I found myself shifting. I believed it was in the best interest of the organization to hold onto Beal for at least one more year.

The Suns aren’t built to win a championship this season. That much is clear. And with that reality in mind, keeping Beal gave them the chance to re-evaluate his market next summer, hoping that both his value and his willingness to explore options would align in a more productive way. It felt like the smarter play. Don’t turn a two-year problem into a five-year one.

Remember: the Suns don’t have to do anything with Beal. Are teams interested in him if they buy him out? Yes. Good. Use that as leverage to trade him or keep him on the team.

Don’t make a 2 year issue a 5 year one. Don’t compound a mistake with another mistake pic.twitter.com/02J1ihwZcq

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 4, 2025​

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter how I justify it from the outside looking in.

What matters is what the Suns' front office believes is best. They’re the ones in the trenches, living and breathing this decision from within the locker room, in the film rooms, and during the day-to-day grind of building a basketball team at the professional level.

So while I don’t necessarily agree with the decision, I can understand it.

Because when you really step back and look at it, paying Bradley Beal $96.9 million to not be on your team, and absorbing that financial hit across five years, might be preferable to keeping him on the roster for the next two.

And here’s why.

A Fractured Relationship​

It’s easy for us to sit behind keyboards and debate what’s best for the organization. We see contracts and cap hits. They live relationships, personalities, and pressure. For us, it’s black-and-white numbers next to names. For them, it’s people. People with egos, pride, and expectations. And when those dynamics break down, the numbers stop mattering.

My assumption? At the heart of this decision is a fracture. The Suns and Bradley Beal have reached an impasse.

They do NOT want him back. But he is untradable and if he does not agree to a buyout they may be stuck with him. One of the questions they asked candidates during the coaching cycle was what you would do with Beal. They 100% don't want him and are looking at how to get out. https://t.co/skFOPh7T1r

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 5, 2025​

Much like last season, when Mike Budenholzer and Jusuf Nurkic struggled to see eye to eye, something fundamental between Beal and the organization feels broken. And if that’s the case, you can’t keep him around. You don’t keep him around.

Sure, on paper, it would’ve been great to have Beal stay for another year, mentoring young players, showing Jalen Green the ropes, offering his voice in the locker room. But that’s only possible if the relationship is still intact.

And from where I sit, this buyout isn’t just about cap flexibility or long-term planning. It’s about a relationship that soured beyond repair. And once that happens, no number — no matter how big — can fix it.

This isn’t new territory for Phoenix. Perhaps it’s time to look inward and ask why this keeps happening.

Jae Crowder. Deandre Ayton. Jusuf Nurkic. Now Bradley Beal.

The Suns are starting to build a troubling pattern: a growing list of players they haven’t managed well. Their inability to foster and nurture relationships, to build something collaborative, flexible, and sustainable, has cost them. It’s hurt their chemistry, their competitiveness, and their cap sheet.

So while we volley opinions back and forth about whether this move was the right one, the truth is, we’ll probably never know the full story. The hows and whys of this fractured relationship may never come to light.

But this move signals one thing loud and clear: whatever broke between Beal and the Suns, it was beyond repair. And when that happens, someone has to go.

Short Term Roster Flexibility​

I know this isn’t what people want to hear. The idea of financial flexibility doesn’t exactly stir excitement, especially when $19.4 million of the Suns’ cap will be dedicated to Bradley Beal every year for the next five years. I get it. Nobody’s throwing a parade because Mat Ishbia isn’t paying $300+ million in luxury tax anymore.

But these things matter. And they’re exactly why getting off the Beal deal, as painful as it looks, is actually a win for Phoenix.

Let’s talk numbers.

Bradley Beal was set to earn $53.7 million this season. By agreeing to a buyout and stretching that money over five years, the Suns save $34.3 million this year alone. Yes, $19.4 million now counts against the cap as dead money, but that’s still $34.3 million in relief. And with Beal officially gone, the team also gains an open roster spot.

Before the buyout, the Suns were sitting at a $219.5 million cap hit (per Salary Swish, acknowledging that numbers vary slightly across sources and rookie deals weren’t yet included). After the buyout? That number drops to $185.2 million.

The first apron sits at $195.9 million.

So for the first time in what feels like forever, the Suns have room to maneuver. They’ve exited second-apron hell, opened up flexibility, and finally put themselves in a position to reshape the roster instead of being handcuffed by it.

That doesn’t mean it’s not painful. But it does mean they’ve given themselves a way forward.

When Beal is bought out and stretched, the Suns can add a player up to $5.7M without triggering the hard cap.

They’ll also regain flexibility to:

Aggregate salaries
Use the MLE
Do sign-and-trades
Take back more $$ in trades
Send cash in deals

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 6, 2025​

Looking ahead to the summer of 2026, the Suns have saved themselves another $37.8 million in cap space that would’ve gone to Bradley Beal as part of the $57.1 million he was owed. That’s no small chunk of change.

Yes, the roster is essentially filled out for this year. They’ll have some wiggle room and can even offer more than the minimum for certain players, though, let’s be honest. Most free agents still on the board are probably just hoping for a vet minimum anyway. No need to overpay.

But next offseason? That’s where things open up in a meaningful way.

The Suns are entering year two of a retool around Devin Booker, and they’ll finally have the capacity to pursue real free agents, players of actual value, because this team is no longer shackled by a Big Three.

Notable 2026 NBA Free Agents (UFA)

LBJ Porzingis
A. Gordon
D. Fox
Mikal Bridges
C. White
C. Sexton

When the Suns buyout & stretch Beal, they’ll set themselves up to go fishing next offseason. Stacked FA class—and stretching this summer saves them at least $37.8M next year

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 7, 2025​

It’s Booker on the books at $57 million in 2026–27. It’s Jalen Green at $33.3 million this year and $36 million the next. After that? It’s a series of tradable contracts and guys on reasonable deals.

Is having $19.4 million in dead cap ideal? Of course not. Is it problematic that the Suns don’t control their own draft capital for the foreseeable future? Absolutely. But what they’ve regained is flexibility. And in the NBA, that’s currency.

They can now turn future free agents into trade chips, flip mid-tier contracts into picks, or use their newfound trade margin to go big. Thanks to the second apron rules being behind them, the Suns can now take back 110% in a deal. That means if you package Royce O’Neale’s $10.1 million with Grayson Allen’s $16.9 million, you can bring back a player making up to $29.7 million.

That’s the realm of a Derrick White. A Jaden McDaniels. A Draymond Green.

Or maybe you go the other direction, turning those contracts into draft assets and leaning into a long-term reset. Either way, you now have choices.

Before? You were stuck. All you could offer was a veteran minimum. No aggregation. No mid-tier deals. No maneuvering. Now? Now you can build again.

So yes, having Bradley Beal’s contract still sitting on your books for five years isn’t ideal. Noted. But it’s also what gave you the breathing room to start thinking — and acting — strategically again.

Long Term Impact​

When you zoom out and look at the next five years, yeah, it gets a little tougher to swallow.

$19.4 million in dead cap. Every single year. Just for Bradley Beal. And that’s not even the full picture. Nassir Little and EJ Liddell are also contributing to the Suns’ dead money moving forward.

Put it in perspective: $19.4 million is basically the going rate for Collin Sexton. Harrison Barnes. Malik Monk. Alex Caruso. Guys who contribute. Guys who play. That stings.

So let’s do some math, shall we? Let’s try to reframe this, not as a win, but as something less catastrophic than it first appears. Because when we talk buyouts, we tend to react emotionally. But this is a thought exercise. A long-term one.

Bradley Beal’s dead cap hit this year is $19.4 million. The current NBA salary cap? $154.6 million. That means Beal’s buyout accounts for 12.5% of the Suns’ total cap space.

That’s significant. But here’s the thing: that percentage won’t stay static. The cap is expected to rise. And as it does, the weight of that $19.4 million shrinks.

Let’s assume a modest 7% year-over-year cap increase over the next four seasons. That is what the 2026–27 cap rise will be, which puts the league at $165.4 million. If that growth continues, by the time we reach the final year of Beal’s stretched deal, 2029–30, the cap would hit approximately $202.6 million.

At that point, Beal’s $19.4 million would make up just 9.5% of the total cap.

To put that in perspective: 9.5% of the current cap equals about $14.7 million, a deal in the range of what Royce O’Neale or Grayson Allen might command. So when you think of it that way, what the Suns are sacrificing in 2029–30 isn’t some massive anchor weighing them down.

It’s a role player.

In other words, this move stings now. But five years from now? The financial hit won’t be nearly as painful as it looks in today’s dollars.

Here’s the same concept with a more aggressive increase in the cap structure.

If Beal is bought out for $96.7M, and that is stretched, here is the percentage of the cap it will be for the next 5 years, knowing the cap goes up:

12.5%
11.7%
10.6%
9.7%
8.8%

For reference, 8.8% of this year's cap is $13.6M https://t.co/M2Le7PzVX3

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 6, 2025​

Keep in mind, we’re being conservative here. The NBA salary cap can rise by as much as 10% per year, and with the new TV rights deal kicking in as soon as next season, it’s not far-fetched to imagine a scenario where the cap starts hitting that maximum increase by 2027–28.

If that happens? The Bradley Beal buyout becomes even less of a burden. As the cap balloons, that $19.4 million hit shrinks proportionally. What feels like a heavyweight today could be little more than a ripple in the financial landscape just a few years from now.

Does it hurt to the point where you can live with it? That’s for you to decide. Any time the Suns run into a wall, any time they’re limited or boxed in because of this Beal situation, fans are going to curse his name. And honestly? Rightfully so.

It was a bad decision. A reckless one. And we’re all stuck with the fallout.

Is This the Future?​

The new CBA is suffocatingly restrictive, and in Phoenix, we know that better than anyone. We’ve lived it. We’ve breathed it. For the past two seasons, the second apron hasn’t been a guideline. It’s been a wall that we’ve run ourselves into ad nauseam.

Now, entering year three under this new reality, a tough question emerges: Is this just what the NBA is now? Are teams going to keep handing out contracts to players who ultimately don’t fit, then stretch those deals just to breathe again?

Maybe not always to the scale of Bradley Beal. But the concept — dead cap as a cost of doing business — may be here to stay.

I can't do this much more, folks! Now everyone is an expert on the new CBA and the dead money rules IT WILL BE THE NORM really soon across the league. It's really not that serious, SMH... DEAD MONEY is the newest member of the Phoenix Suns and he has no NTC too. C'mon man https://t.co/jl6JQrEM6w

— FLEX From Jersey (@FlexFromJersey) July 7, 2025​

Look at Milwaukee. They just stretched Damian Lillard, eating even more money than Phoenix did, all to gain the flexibility to pursue Myles Turner.

One injury, a little age, and they pulled the plug. No drama. Just math.

So no, this isn’t ideal. But it might become the new norm. In a league bound by punitive rules, front offices may have to embrace a hard truth: sometimes, you pay players not to play, not because you want to, but because it’s the only way forward.

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The more I research, the clearer it becomes: this was probably the best path forward for the Phoenix Suns.

Start with the obvious. Bradley Beal can’t be on the team next season. That relationship was done. And once that reality set in, the options became painfully limited. He has a no-trade clause. That alone makes moving him nearly impossible. Pair that with a contract that’s flat-out obscene, and you’re looking at an asset no one wants. So what do you do?

Do you buy him out and eat the full amount over two years? Absorb it all upfront, knowing you have no draft capital to rebuild with? That’s not a plan. That’s a fast track to mediocrity.

Instead, the Suns chose to stretch the deal. And while that’s not ideal, it at least gives them a chance. It gives them cap space. It gives them options. And now, it’s on them to make the most of it.

We don’t yet know what Brian Gregory and this new front office are capable of. This is their proving ground. Can they be strategic? Can they build a contender over the next few seasons? One competitive enough to attract free agents? Can they use that flexibility to flip those additions into draft capital year after year?

Remember: just a month ago, the Suns held two late picks in the draft, 29 and 52. Now they’re sending three rookies and two sophomores to the Summer League. That’s a third of the roster, devoted to development.

So no, the Suns aren’t in an ideal position. But the NBA is fluid. Ever-changing. There’s always a new path if you know how to walk it.

No one’s pretending the Beal buyout is a good thing. It’s not. But maybe it’s not as bad as it looks.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-dead-cap-space-nba-roster-salary-flexibility

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns' front office might be eyeing a bold Kuminga swing

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Squinting at the sight of Kuminga in a Phoenix jersey is still a possibility.

Now that the Phoenix Suns are under both the first and second tax aprons, new options have opened up, one of them being the ability to complete a sign-and-trade. Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors has reportedly worn out his welcome and is seeking a fresh start somewhere he’ll be appreciated.

The Suns remain one of those potential destinations. And according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, there’s still a slim chance it could happen.

I won’t say no. Suns have liked Kuminga for a while. I don’t think it’s likely so chances more in the low range. But won’t rule out. https://t.co/Gv6dLKMqBs

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 17, 2025​

Kuminga is intriguing, but from the outside looking in, he often comes across as a selfish player, someone who might be too self-centered at times. That’s likely why Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr benched him for most of the second half of the season. Or perhaps it was because Jimmy Butler was added to the roster at the trade deadline.

The reason I lean into the “selfish” label is that Kuminga might believe he’s better than he is. In reality, he’s a role player.

But despite all that, I like the fit.

It makes sense for many reasons to move on from Grayson Allen and Nick Richards in exchange for a player who can fill the small forward position and offers significant upside.

Now that the Suns have Jalen Green, another player with something to prove, you have to ask: Would adding Kuminga hurt the team’s chemistry and disrupt ball movement on offense?

I say screw it. Roll the dice. Kuminga’s next contract likely won’t exceed $20 million per year, and if he’s replacing Allen and Richards, it’s a gamble worth taking. Although acquiring him via sign-and-trade, as Rod Argent points out, would hard cap ther Suns.

This Suns team is already full of rascals. Why not add another?

What do you say? Should the Suns look to sign-and-trade for Kuminga?

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...uminga-grayson-allen-nick-richards-nba-rumors

 

[Phoenix Suns]

We have reached the end of the superteam era in Phoenix

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A new Suns era begins with humility and hope.

Mat Ishbia is wearing his missteps. “We are going to do it the right way here in Phoenix for the long term,” he informed Eddie Johnson and Justin Termine on Sirius XM’s NBA Today show yesterday, adding, “You gotta have vision and identity from day one. I did not do that.”

“I’ll take the blame”.

“We are going to do it the right way here in Phoenix for the long term.”@Suns owner @Mishbia15 tells @TermineRadio and @Jumpshot8 he’s learning from past mistakes and is committed to constructing a winning team in Phoenix #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/vzzSAyc8HR

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 18, 2025​

The aggressive, all-in approach he brought with him to the Phoenix Suns failed. We’ve heard the words of accountability. This offseason, the actions have spoken louder than any press conference ever could. And those actions — calculated, necessary, and unflinchingly direct — have come via the man now tasked with cleaning up the aftermath: general manager Brian Gregory.

I think back to the middle of last season, when the wheels weren’t just wobbling, they were damn near off. The effort was erratic, the energy disjointed. A team with the league’s highest payroll was sleepwalking toward irrelevance, flirting with missing even the Play-In.

What once looked like a championship blueprint had curdled into something far more frustrating: a cautionary tale. The roster had talent, no question, but it lacked edge, lacked chemistry, and most of all, lacked the will to translate that raw ability into winning basketball.

We were watching the consequences of ambition without cohesion. Now, we’re watching the first real attempt at course correction.

In a league that’s constantly evolving, success now belongs to the young, the energetic, and the relentless. The game moves fast, faster than ever, and those who can’t keep up get left behind.

The Suns, simply put, were old. The second-oldest roster in the NBA, trailing only the Golden State Warriors. And when they faced the league’s rising powers — the youthful, hungry teams built for speed and chaos — the results were damning. Swept by the Thunder. Swept by the Rockets. Time and again, the Suns were run off the floor by fresher legs and hungrier hearts.

Their age didn’t just show; it cost them. It dulled their physicality, weakened their presence at the point of attack, and left them overmatched on the boards night after night. And in the end, they accomplished what once felt unthinkable: they missed the Play-In entirely. A team built to chase a championship never even got the chance to compete for one.

Beating the Suns is easy.

Play physical and slow the game down. Game over.

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) March 3, 2025​

It was a bleak chapter in Phoenix. A season wrapped in heavy expectations, only for those expectations to be laughed off the court with each passing loss. What should have been a contender became a dark comedy. The promise turned parody, and every defeat was another shovel of dirt in the grave of what was supposed to be a golden era.

And now, just a few months later, the course correction has begun.

The Suns have moved on from both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, resetting the franchise and reclaiming something that had been lost: flexibility. Will that flexibility translate into wins next season? Probably not. And deep down, we all know that. There’s a penance to be paid for the overreach, for the desperation disguised as ambition that led to the Durant and Beal acquisitions. That penance is time. A season, maybe two, without the illusion of contention, without the burden of championship expectations.

This roster isn’t as talented as the one we saw three months ago. That much is clear. But if the last few seasons have taught us anything, it’s that talent alone isn’t enough. The game is a pendulum, swinging between talent and tenacity, between aging stars and youthful hunger. And for the first time in a long time, the pendulum in Phoenix is swinging back toward effort, energy, youth, and a long-term vision.

And I welcome it. I applaud it. I’m genuinely intrigued to watch this team next season, not because I expect 50 wins or a deep playoff run, but because I believe in what they’re trying to build. If the effort is real, if the identity shifts toward youth and hunger rather than just names on paper, I can live with the losses. Sometimes the hardest path is the right one. And this time, the Suns just might be walking it.

With the departures of 36-year-old Kevin Durant and 32-year-old Bradley Beal, the Phoenix Suns now boast the seventh-youngest roster in the NBA.

Last season, the Suns had the second-oldest roster in the league. After moving on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they now have the seventh-youngest team in the NBA.

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 16, 2025​

The youth movement is officially alive in the Valley. And we all know what that means: youth brings energy, sure, but it also brings mistakes. It brings turnovers, missed assignments, learning curves, and the kind of nights that test your patience as a fan. But it also brings growth. It brings development. It brings a chance to build something real. And for the first time in a while, I’m ready to embrace that.

I’m looking forward to not just watching basketball but to watching these players grow. To root for guys who were drafted here, developed here, and who wear “Phoenix” across their chest with pride. Although I guess we don’t have jerseys that say that anymore. I’d rather invest in that than in another collection of high-priced mercenaries, assembled overnight with no roots and no real identity.

That said, I’m not going to pretend it’ll all be sunshine and highlight reels. I remember the dark days. A full decade with no playoff appearances, where hope was often pinned on young prospects who never quite panned out. Year after year, we told ourselves to trust the process, only to watch it collapse under the weight of poor development and directionless leadership.

The Suns' starting lineup Thursday had an average age of 21 years, 14 days.

Feel old yet? (via @espn) pic.twitter.com/uqL5zyOXaR

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 24, 2017​

But this isn’t the same. This time, the foundation feels different. Devin Booker isn’t a 19-year-old project anymore. He’s a four-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and the face of the franchise. That matters. And this time, there’s an owner who’s not afraid to spend. Say what you will about Mat Ishbia, but he’s aggressive, engaged, and willing to do what the last regime wouldn’t: invest in the team.

So no, I’m not bracing for another lost decade. I’m bracing for a rebuild with purpose. And if that rebuild comes with growing pains, so be it. I’ll take the journey over the shortcut. Every time.

We’re at the beginning of a new journey. One I won’t let myself get too carried away with, but one I can allow myself to hope for. And really, that’s the core of fandom, isn’t it? Hope. It’s what sustains us through the highs and the heartbreaks. Every year, every season, we show up because maybe this is the year something special starts to take shape.

There’s no spinning it: the decisions made by this front office in the early days of Mat Ishbia’s tenure were missteps. Bold, brash, and ultimately misguided. He’s paying the price financially. We, as fans, are paying for it emotionally. But at least now, the correction has begun. The pivot away from a flawed philosophy is underway.

And if we can accept that the path forward might not be paved with immediate wins, that there may be growing pains, setbacks, and stretches of ugly basketball, then maybe we can also see the value in the rebuild. Maybe, for the first time in a while, we’re building something sustainable. Something real. And for that, I have hope. Not blind optimism. Not hype. Just quiet, grounded hope that Phoenix is finally on its way back to something that resembles prosperity.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-durant-bradley-beal-departure-ishbia-gregory

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Phoenix Suns made the right move. Now it has to make the smart one

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Cap space means nothing if the Suns don’t use it right.

Buying out, waiving, and stretching Bradley Beal’s contract might prove to be the right move. Or it might not. Reasonable minds can debate whether this decision benefits the Phoenix Suns in the short term, the long term, or at all.

But what’s not up for debate is this: it’s done. And with it comes something that’s been missing in Phoenix for a while: possibility.

For the first time in what feels like forever, the Suns aren’t just sifting through the veteran minimum bargain bin, praying to strike gold. They have options. Flexibility. A sliver of creative freedom in a cap landscape that has felt more like a cage.

And for me? That’s what makes this moment exciting. The possibilities. The hypotheticals. The chance to ask, “What if?” and not be met with a contractual dead end.

No, the Suns aren’t free of obstacles. As Rod expertly outlines, hard cap triggers still loom, and navigating this new space won’t be easy. But after so many months of rigid limitation, even imperfect freedom feels like fresh air.

The door isn’t wide open, but it’s cracked. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

The tax aprons and new restrictions have reshaped the NBA in countless ways, but one of the most overlooked casualties has been flexibility, particularly for restricted free agents. As the new collective bargaining agreement enters its second full season, we’re beginning to see where the real impact lies: with young players coming off rookie-scale contracts who are looking to get paid.

Restricted free agency was meant to strike a balance. A team extends a qualifying offer to a player, giving them a chance to test the open market. If another team makes an offer and the player accepts, the original team can match. It’s a mechanism that allows players to gauge their value while still giving teams the ability to retain the players they’ve invested in and developed.

But under this new CBA, that system is starting to break. The league’s increasingly rigid financial landscape, driven by the tax apron penalties, has made it harder for teams to extend those offers in the first place, and even harder for opposing teams to make competitive bids.

Think back to this very month, three summers ago. Deandre Ayton signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers: four years, $132.9 million. The Suns matched.

As soon as the Suns received the four-year, $133M offer sheet, the franchise matched it. Deandre Ayton returns to Phoenix and can't be traded without his consent for a full year. https://t.co/dBXGN3qbCK

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 15, 2022​

Back then, the system worked as designed. Imperfect, yes, but functional.

That kind of flexibility? It’s vanishing. And the ones feeling it most are the players just beginning to step into their prime.

The difference between now and then? There aren’t any teams out there who have cap space. There aren’t any teams out there who have the ability to make an offer on restrictive free agents that exceed the qualifying offer enough to move the needle for those players.

This matters because players can only discover their market value if a market actually exists. And right now? It doesn’t. With nearly every team capped out, there’s no open bidding. Just stalled negotiations and qualified hope.

Look at players like Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago’s Josh Giddey, Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas, and Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes.

All are restricted free agents. None have been re-signed. None have accepted their qualifying offers. Why? Because they’re holding out, hoping for a fresh start, a new opportunity, and, most importantly, a meaningful payday.

But in a league with no cap space, there’s only one way that can happen: sign and trade.

Those three words were off-limits to the Suns just a week ago. As long as Bradley Beal’s contract kept Phoenix pinned under the weight of the second apron, sign-and-trade deals were a non-starter. But that’s changed.

Now, the Suns are one of just nine teams currently operating under the first apron. And with that comes new life. They can finally engage in sign-and-trades, targeting young talent like Kuminga or Grimes in hopes of reshaping the roster without sacrificing financial flexibility.

After buying out, waiving, and stretching Bradley Beal, the Suns went from one of the highest payrolls in the NBA to the third lowest, per @SalarySwish

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 17, 2025​

In a market with no money, creativity becomes currency. And for once, the Suns might be positioned to spend it wisely.

Take Jonathan Kuminga, for example. He’s a player the Suns have reportedly shown interest in, and someone who has yet to sign a long-term deal with the Golden State Warriors. His qualifying offer sits at $8 million. What he’s hoping for is simple: that a team out there values him enough to not only offer more than that figure but to facilitate a trade to bring him in.

I won’t say no. Suns have liked Kuminga for a while. I don’t think it’s likely so chances more in the low range. But won’t rule out. https://t.co/Gv6dLKMqBs

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 17, 2025​

Kuminga can’t just walk. He needs a team to step up, make an offer, and then find a trade partner willing to send something of value back to the Warriors.

Let’s say the Suns are that team. And let’s say they prefer Kuminga over Grayson Allen, who is set to make $16.9 million next season, more than double Kuminga’s qualifying offer.

To make that deal happen, the Warriors would need to agree to a sign-and-trade that pays Kuminga at or near Allen’s salary range, then send him to Phoenix in exchange for Allen. It’s not cut and dry, but it’s doable. Especially now.

Why? Because the Suns are no longer hamstrung by the second apron. As a team under the first apron, they now have the flexibility to take back more money than they send out in a trade.

There are variations and nuances, of course. The final salary figure for Kuminga could shift, and additional assets could be involved, but the bottom line is this: for the first time in a while, the Suns can play in the sign-and-trade sandbox.

This is exactly what Kuminga, Giddey, Thomas, and Grimes are all hoping for. That a team sees enough potential in them to not only take a chance but to trade for them and elevate their salary in the process.

And now, the question lands squarely on the desk of the Phoenix Suns’ leadership.

After all the effort to escape apron hell — waiving, stretching, sacrificing depth for flexibility — they’re finally in a position with options. But here’s the catch: acquiring any of these players via sign-and-trade would trigger a hard cap at the first apron. That means no more additions, not even a veteran minimum deal, for the rest of the season.

So what now?

That’s the pivotal question. Should the Suns cash in that flexibility right away for a player like Kuminga? Should they lock themselves into a hard cap for a team that, by all accounts, isn’t a title contender this season...maybe not even a playoff team? You’ve just done all this maneuvering to open the door, and now you’re considering slamming it shut again. Is it worth it?

Some would say no. Let the season breathe, see what this roster can do, and hold on to your newfound freedom (psst...I’m one of those people). Develop your rookies, see what you have. Don’t acquire someone who eats into that developmental opportunity.

The retooling process should be more than one season. There is no world where any acquisition moving forward will move the needle enough to make this a top tier next season. Patience should be exercised, as it has not in the past. Next offseason is the time to strike

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 17, 2025​

Others would argue that these are the moments you use that flexibility for; to make a calculated bet on upside, growth, and long-term value. To gamble. Personally? Gambling got us into this mess. Let’s take a moment to step away from the craps table and regroup.

Either way, the next step will speak volumes about how this front office views its timeline. Because flexibility isn’t just about what you can do. It’s about knowing when to do it.

Don’t get me wrong. Trading Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale is absolutely worth considering. Both are solid players, but they also carry contracts that, at the moment, aren’t exactly team-friendly as they have three years left on them. Grayson Allen’s deal, in particular, includes a player option for the 2027–28 season at $19.4 million. That’s a number that could be tough to move this offseason. Both contracts have just enough length left to give other front offices pause.

Which is why timing matters.

Right now, those deals are a bit too bulky to be widely appealing. But by next offseason? That changes. At that point, both Allen and O’Neale will have two years left. Suddenly, those same contracts become more absorbable, even desirable.

Maybe that’s when the Suns should truly start wielding their newfound flexibility, when the market is more favorable, and their assets are more liquid. Because making a move just to make one now could burn through that hard-earned flexibility too early. The real play might be patience. And the payoff might be worth the wait.

The whole point of flexibility is simple: you want options. And if Suns fans learned anything from the Big Three era, it’s how damaging a lack of options can be. Being boxed in financially with no room to maneuver left the front office reactive instead of proactive, and that ultimately hurt the team.

You can’t predict how opportunities will unfold across the NBA. Just like no one could’ve predicted both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal would circle Phoenix as their preferred destination. The only reason those deals materialized is because the Suns, at that time, had the flexibility to act. That’s the power of optionality.

And now? The Suns have regained some of that power. But with it must come patience and strategy. Just because you can make a sign-and-trade for someone like Jonathan Kuminga or Josh Giddey doesn’t mean you should. As intriguing as those players are, neither move tilts the scales enough to justify immediately surrendering the flexibility you just fought so hard to reclaim.

There’s no urgency here. The Suns aren’t a contender right now, and they don’t need to be. Next offseason brings a deeper free agent class, and by then, contracts like Grayson Allen’s and Royce O’Neale’s will be more digestible; more valuable as trade pieces. That’s when you strike. That’s when you push your chips in.

For now, the focus should be on smart, low-cost depth. Perhaps a couple of veteran minimum deals, ideally at the point guard position, to round out the roster and protect against injuries. There’s no one left on the market who’s worth overpaying or sacrificing flexibility for.

But here’s the beauty of the moment: we can talk about this. We can play out the hypotheticals, explore different angles, and actually have a reason to debate the future again. The Suns are no longer stuck. They’re positioned.

And that, more than any single move, feels like real progress.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...future-plans-free-agency-trade-rumors-kuminga

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Josh Giddey is a fun idea but not the one the Suns need

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The Bulls’ restricted free agent is an interesting option. Let’s talk it out.

I feel like I’m wandering Fry’s with a half-checked shopping list, muttering “vanilla oat milk creamer” under my breath as I try to find it. I’m shopping. I’m searching. I’m trying to get it right.

So are the Phoenix Suns.

With two open roster spots and a sliver of spending power, Phoenix is pushing its cart through the free agent aisle, scanning shelves for the right fit. Someone tough, useful, cheap, maybe even inspiring. They’re not just buying groceries. They’re trying to stock a pantry that fits a recipe they haven’t quite perfected yet.

We’re all doing the same. Clicking through cap sheets, tossing out restricted free agent names, playing roster Tetris in our heads. It’s what makes July bearable, this collective delusion that the next name added might be the one that clicks.

Will it make them winners? Not yet. But maybe they’ll find a corner piece to the puzzle. Something to give this team shape.

As the roster stands today, one glaring void remains: point guard.

Outside of Colin Gillespie, a former two-way player who scrapped his way into a guaranteed deal, the Suns don’t have a true facilitator on the depth chart. No floor general. No table-setter. Which means, barring a late-summer curveball, it’ll be Point Booker running the show again.

That’s not a death sentence. Booker is more than capable. And there’s hope that Oso Ighodaro, with his high-post passing and feel for the game, can help unlock some offensive flow from unconventional spots when called upon. A sort of facilitation-by-committee approach. But let’s be real: it’s a gamble.

If the Suns do use one of their final roster spots on a point guard, it’s likely going to be for depth. A break-glass-in-case-of-injury guy, not a starter. And frankly, that’s the right move, at least in my humble opinion. Want proof? Just rewind.

Two seasons ago, when Booker and Beal were sharing backcourt duties without a traditional point guard in sight, the team actually defended better. The offense? Sure, it stalled in crunch time. That’s when playmaking — or lack thereof — reared its ugly head. But the team, under Frank Vogel’s defensive-minded eye, held up. They competed. They weren’t great, but they had grit. And that came, in part, from not sacrificing size and defensive versatility just to shoehorn a “true point guard” into the mix.

Reminder: If games ended after the third quarter for the 2023-24 Suns, the team would have had a 53-29 record. pic.twitter.com/OVrgr4EFwi

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) August 4, 2024​

Last season? The Suns went out and got their “true point guard” in Tyus Jones. A traditional facilitator. A floor general. The kind of player fans had been clamoring for. And what happened? Point Book turned into Small Forward Book, and the defense, well…it shrank. A team that had a 113.7 defensive rating in 2023-24 (13th in the NBA) became a 117.7-rated defense (27th).

Jones, for all his steadiness and ball security, was a liability at the point of attack. Too small, too easily hunted. And once he was compromised, so was everyone else. The dominoes fell quickly. Rotations stretched thin, help came late, and suddenly the Suns were bleeding points in bunches.

The size disadvantage was glaring. What was supposed to bring structure instead brought imbalance. The team sacrificed defensive versatility in the name of traditionalism, and it cost them.

Yes, I’m oversimplifying the reasoning why. There were countless factors that led to that decline, but I believe it started with a team's poor roster construction and a small, non-versatile defense.

The lesson? Fit matters more than labels.

I bring it back to the shopping list. The players who are still out there trying to find a home. One name that I actually like the promise of? The 6’8” point guard from the land Down Under, Josh Giddey.

In four years in the NBA — three with the Thunder, last season with the Bulls — he’s averaged 14.1 points, 7.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds. On the surface, given the fact that the Suns are in need of a point guard, it makes sense. You can pull a Pazik and talk yourself into it.

For me? It comes down to that word again. “Fit”.

There are plenty of reasons why I wouldn’t touch a Josh Giddey trade with a ten-foot kangaroo, but let’s start with the most basic one: the Bulls wouldn’t do it.

They just traded Lonzo Ball to Cleveland and brought in Isaac Okoro. Their point guard room now reads: Josh Giddey, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones...maybe some Coby White in a pinch. That’s already a shaky group. So why on earth would they flip Giddey? Sure, they badly need wing shooting. If the Suns threw in Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale, two guys who could actually help, and sweetened the pot with Nick Richards as a backup big (their backup bigs are Zach Collins and Jalen ‘Stix’ Smith), maybe they’d bite. But I still don’t buy it. It doesn’t make basketball sense.

But forget what the Bulls want for a second. The Suns shouldn’t want Giddey either.

Not just because of the fit, but because of the philosophy. This team is trying to build an identity around defense, toughness, and positional versatility. Giddey undercuts that instantly. He’s not quick laterally. He’s not strong at the point of attack. If he’s your starting point guard, then you’re not building around Booker’s strengths. You’re leaning on them. Again.

B-Ball Index

If you’ve got Booker at the one and Green at the two as your point-of-attack defenders, you can at least talk yourself into the idea that if they gamble or get beat, you’ve still got quality help behind them in Dillon Brooks and Ryan Dunn. But once Giddey enters the picture, it shifts things. Now it’s Booker and Brooks or Booker and Dunn playing behind a backcourt of Giddey and Green. And that puts you right back where you were last year: with Booker sliding to the three, where he’s undersized and outmatched defensively.

I like Josh Giddey. I really do. He’s got great size for a guard, can rebound, push the pace, and sees the floor like a seasoned vet. His playmaking instincts are real, and on a team that lacks natural facilitators, that holds value.

But I don’t like him for this team. Not for where the Suns are trying to go. Not with how they’re trying to build.

Giddey might thrive in a different situation, but Phoenix isn’t that place, not unless you’re willing to change the blueprint entirely. And let’s be honest, that blueprint is already half-soaked and taped together with hopes and hypotheticals.

The only scenario that might make some sense? A sign-and-trade that sends Jalen Green to Chicago and brings Giddey to Phoenix. Even then...are we sure he’s a better offensive weapon than Green? Does he align with the Suns’ emerging identity of attacking downhill, getting into the paint, and playing with force?

The Suns are deploying the Ben Simmons defense on Josh Giddey
pic.twitter.com/PSaAWjRKrf

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 4, 2024​

And then there’s the financial side of it.

$33 million invested in a player who still has glaring holes on the defensive end. Is that the business you want to be in? Oh wait...are the Suns already in that business with Jalen Green? That becomes the question.

If you asked me to choose between Giddey and Green, I’d lean toward Giddey. Not because he’s the better player. At this point in their careers, neither has justified a $33 million price tag. But because the fit makes more sense. Giddey would allow Devin Booker to shift back to his natural position at shooting guard, rebalancing the Suns’ backcourt and bringing a clearer identity to the lineup. One may not be worth the contract, but at least the other works.

Until those last two roster spots are filled, the speculation machine will keep humming. I’ll keep spinning the wheel, scribbling names onto the shopping list, and trying to see which puzzle pieces click and which ones send the whole thing tumbling off the table. That’s the fun part, until it’s not.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...nt-guard-josh-giddey-devin-booker-depth-chart