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[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Nick Richards was no savior, but he was far from the problem

Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images

Phoenix had 99 problems. Nick Richards was not one.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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Oh, Nick Richards. The latest in a long line of trade deadline acquisitions who arrive, flash some promise, and get quickly anointed by the fanbase as the next great steal. It’s a familiar pattern in Phoenix.

Nick Richards is the greatest center in the history of the Suns pic.twitter.com/jJ0UYObi3v

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 18, 2025​

But time, as it tends to do, brings everything back to reality. The averages settle. The flashes fade. And what’s left is the truth: Nick Richards is a serviceable center, not a cornerstone.

To his credit, Richards brought something the Suns sorely lacked: athleticism. That alone made him stand out. But he’s also a player with clear areas for growth. Part of me wonders what might have happened if Mike Budenholzer had leaned on him more. Richards played just 22.7 minutes per game and averaged only 2.6 fouls, so it’s not like he was regularly in foul trouble and unplayable.

His per-36 numbers in Phoenix? A solid 15.1 points and 13.6 rebounds. Sure, it’s unrealistic to expect that kind of output if you just tack on 14 more minutes, but it does leave you curious.

The Suns had plenty of issues this season, but I wouldn’t say Nick Richards was one of them. Considering how little they gave up to get him—and the relatively modest $5 million he’ll earn next year—he was one of the pleasant surprises. Not franchise-altering. Not game-to-game altering. But a nice, financially friendly addition to a team that needed exactly that.

Nick Richards​

• Position: Center
• Vitals: 7’0”, 245 pounds, 27 years old
• Experience: 5 years
• Stats (with Phoenix): 36 GP, 9.5 PPG (60.5 FG%, 82.2 FT%), 8.6 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.8 BLK

Contract Details​

Richards signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Hornets in 2023, and Phoenix acquired him midway through year two. That means he’ll return next season on an expiring $5 million contract, with the Suns holding his Bird rights heading into the summer.

Regular Season Recap​

Richards began the season with the team that drafted him, the Charlotte Hornets, selected 42nd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. In 21 games with the Hornets, he started nine. But as the Suns navigated a turbulent situation at the center position, sparked by a rift between head coach Mike Budenholzer and starter-turned-bench piece Jusuf Nurkic, they found themselves in need of depth.

On January 15, Phoenix struck a deal, acquiring Richards and a 2025 second-round pick from Charlotte in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-rounders.

Richards wasted no time making his presence felt. In his Suns debut against the Pistons, he poured in 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, helping lift Phoenix to a 125–121 victory.

Richards went on to grab double-digit rebounds in 13 of his 36 games with the Suns, starting in 34 of them.

While he wasn’t a consistent offensive weapon, averaging just 9.5 points in 22.7 minutes per game, his production often surpassed what Jusuf Nurkic delivered in nearly the same amount of playing time. And the kicker? Richards did it at a fraction of the cost—more than $10 million cheaper.

Biggest Strength​

Richards is a reliable rebounder, one of those guys who hunts the ball the moment it comes off the rim. Paired with his instincts as a rim protector, he’s carved out a clear role for himself in the NBA as an effective presence in the paint.

Is he starter material? That’s still up for debate, and maybe something he never fully grows into. But as a rotational center, his value is undeniable. He rebounds, he defends the rim, and that combination will keep him in the league for years to come.

Biggest Weakness​

Like most centers earning around $5 million a year, Richards comes with his fair share of limitations, especially on the offensive end. He’s an effective rim runner and can throw down with authority, but his impact drops off significantly the further he gets from the basket. Outside of 10 feet, he’s practically a non-factor.

Defensively, his raw tools are there, but his decision-making can be hit-or-miss. He struggles at times with switch-heavy defenses, often finding himself caught in no-man’s land during high pick-and-roll actions. Should he drop back? Step up on the ball handler? That hesitation leads to breakdowns and open looks, something that opponents have learned to exploit.

Likelihood of Return: 9.5​

The Phoenix Suns are strapped for cash, and the deal they have Nick Richards on next season is the definition of bang for your buck. At just $5 million, getting a starting-caliber center for 34 games felt like a luxury for a team buried deep in the second apron.

Sure, Richards plays like a $5 million-a-year center. And that’s exactly the point. When you’re operating under tight financial constraints, you’re forced to compromise on upside and star potential. Richards was part of that compromise. A reliable, athletic big who can hold the line without breaking the bank.

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Overall Grade: B-​

I’m a fan of Nick Richards, especially when you weigh production against price. At $5 million, he’s a damn solid backup center. I’d give him a B- overall. He plays the role he’s asked to play, and more often than not, he does it well.

Does he have limitations? Of course. That’s been the eternal struggle with centers in Phoenix. We expect them to be everything, to check all six boxes. But realistically, you’re lucky if they check three.

For me, Richards checks three: rebounding, rim protection, and rim running. The others—pick-and-roll defense, hands, outside shooting—those are still areas for growth. But at his price point, I’ll take that trade-off any day.

He’s not a franchise changer, but he’s reliable. Whether he starts next year is still up in the air. If the Suns return to their 3x5 roster philosophy—three deep at all five positions—Richards could be the perfect piece in that rotation. Judging by what he did this season, he showed up, stayed ready, and gave the team exactly what was needed.

And for me, that’s enough.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...trade-deadline-center-value-contract-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Fixing the Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker is a legend in Phoenix, but legends get traded too

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Point: Trade Devin Booker.

Welcome to the How to Fix the Suns series, where we break down the paths available to the Phoenix Suns as they navigate the 2025 offseason.

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Fixing the Phoenix Suns. It’s no easy task. Things are bleak in the Valley right now, and the only way out is straight through it. That means having tough, sometimes uncomfortable conversations about players we love, and what their futures might mean for this franchise.

As we continue this thought exercise on how to reshape the Suns, it leads us to one of the most beloved figures in franchise history: Devin Booker. What he’s meant to this city over the past decade is impossible to quantify. In a time when the team lacked an identity, Booker gave Phoenix one. He’s aligned with the community, invested in it, and given it reason to believe.

But as we explore every possible path for this team moving forward, we’d be doing a disservice if we didn’t at least consider the unthinkable: the reasons why you might trade Devin Booker.

Just like we did last week with Kevin Durant, I’ll lay out the case for trading Booker here, followed by a counterpoint article making the argument to keep him. Then, we’ll open it up to the community and ask the tough questions: Should the Suns trade Devin Booker? And will they?

So, let’s get into it.

The Return​

For those who believe trading Devin Booker is the right path for the Phoenix Suns, this is the core of their argument. And truthfully? They’re not wrong.

Right now, Booker carries the highest value of anyone on the roster. He’s heading into his 11th season at just 28 years old, squarely in the heart of his prime. A four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Booker’s résumé speaks for itself, and his proven upside would likely command a significant return of players and draft capital from any team willing to make the move.

If you believe a hard reset is what this franchise truly needs, if you see this moment as the inflection point where everything turns, then moving Booker makes sense. It’s the clearest, cleanest way to wipe the whiteboard, redefine the identity of the organization, and stockpile the resources necessary to build the next iteration of the Suns. The kind of reset that lets you choose your direction, your pace, and your future.

And while it’s painful to even consider, there’s a logic to it.

If you’re not going to trade Booker now, then when? Three years from now, when he’s on the other side of 30 and the league’s appetite for aging stars has cooled? The return at that point, while still potentially valuable, won’t match what you could command for him today. Right now, you’re dealing from a position of strength.

So if you believe this is the moment for a full reset, you pull the trigger now. You capitalize on his peak value, reshape the future, and avoid clinging too long to what was, at the expense of what could be.

Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

Can You Win a Championship with Booker as Your Guy?​

Only one team lifts the trophy every year. But if you’re serious about chasing a championship,if that’s the true, unapologetic end goal, then you have to ask yourself the hard question: Do you have the guy who can get you there?

Strip away the emotions, the jerseys sold, the highlights, the loyalty to the name on the back. It’s a fair, necessary question: Can you win a championship if Devin Booker is your best player?

And if your honest answer to that is no, then what’s the point? Why hang onto him just to stay relevant? To hover around playoff contention and tell yourself you’re close when you know deep down you aren’t?

If the ultimate vision is confetti raining down inside PHX Arena, a parade down Central in 118° June heat, celebrating a moment this city’s never known...then maybe you need to move off of Devin Booker.

Because every team that wins a title has the guy. The one who can take every hit, every double team, every playoff war, and come out imposing his will, not wilting under someone else’s. Look at recent history: Boston had Tatum. Denver had Jokic. Golden State had Steph. Milwaukee had Giannis. The Lakers had LeBron. There’s a pattern here.

And so it comes down to this: Is Devin Booker that guy? Booker may sign an extension that puts him at $75 million a year. Can you build around that? Even with the cap going up year after year, that is a hefty price tag to pay for someone who may not be ‘the guy’.

If you believe he isn’t the guy—that he’s a brilliant perpetual Robin in a league where only Batmans hang banners—then trading him isn’t betrayal. It’s just business. And it makes the future much easier to navigate.

You’d Be Doing Him a Favor​

Let’s let a little emotion back into the room, shall we?

Because you love Devin Booker. You’ve watched him grow up here. Watched him become not just a great player, but a great person. You’ve seen what he’s meant to this city, this fan base, this franchise. And truth be told? You feel sorry for him. Sorry that this organization has wasted too many of his prime years fumbling around in the dark. Yeah, the superteam came to him, but it was the wrong one. The Suns lacked vision, lacked leadership, and lacked direction when they threw this roster together.

So maybe you trade Devin Booker not because you want to, but because you want something better for him. You want him to have a shot somewhere else. Somewhere with structure, with purpose, with a chance to chase what he deserves. He’s a peacock, man. You gotta let him fly.

And if you’re a true Booker Stan? That’s what you should want too. Because being a Stan isn’t about the jersey he wears. It’s about the name on the back. When the team wins, it’s because your guy led them there. When they lose, it’s because everyone else let him down. It’s an easy, loyal, unapologetic place to live.

So for the Book Stans out there, this is your reason. You trade him because you love him. Not his situation.

you don’t deserve Booker. trade the poor guy and rebuild.

— iDespiseMLB (@iDespiseMLB) April 7, 2025​

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Alright, here’s your case. A few clear, maybe uncomfortable reasons why trading Devin Booker this offseason isn’t as outlandish as it might feel in your gut.

As for me? I’ll save my definitive take for the end of Devin Booker Week. But now it’s your turn. Why should the Suns trade Devin Booker? Is it about value? About timing? About compassion for a guy stuck in a flawed situation? About finally resetting the culture? Or maybe, for you, it’s about none of those things.

Drop your thoughts. Agree, disagree, call me crazy. I wanna hear it.

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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/...ffseason-reset-nba-news-rockets-knicks-lakers

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Royce O’Neale impactful in a necessary way

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Big Meal played a solid season when looking back

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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Where do I begin describing Royce O’Neale’s season?

He was brought in last season, and in the short run, he was not as impactful as fans had thought. This season, he wanted to change that narrative for the team. O’Neale suited up in most of the team’s games this season, playing in 75 of them. This gave the fans and front office the identity of Royce and what he could contribute to this squad.

Regardless of whether it was his much-needed defense the team lacked as a whole, or his three-point shot to help win games, he came through for the Suns in clutch scenarios. There were also times when his shots would not fall after multiple attempts. Sometimes he would get blown by on the defensive end. Those instances left fans questioning how valuable he truly is to the team.

Even with his nights not playing up to standards, overall, he was solid for the team. He was depended on more nights than expected, as well, with the injuries the team endured. This leaves me to believe that in his role, Royce was what the team needed, even if he was not there every night.

Royce O’Neale​

• Position: Small Forward/ Power Forward
• Vitals: 6’4”, 226 pounds, 31 years old
• Experience: 7 years
• Stats: 75 GP, 9.1 PPG, (42.3 FG%, 40.6 3FG%, 73.1FT%), 4.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.5 BPG, 0.9 SPG

Contract Details​

In free agency last summer, Royce O’Neale resigned in Phoenix on a four-year, $42 million contract. This contract scales up, with Royce making just over $10 million this season. The Suns still have him under contract for three remaining seasons.

Free agent F Royce O’Neale intends to sign a new four-year, $44 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NaBcMJyiuV

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2024​

Regular Season Recap​

O’Neale started slow for the Suns offensively but made a key impact, notching his first 20+ point game in the Suns’ fifth game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. O’Neale would see quality minutes in this Suns rotation throughout the first half of the season, and in December, he got hot for the team. In six straight games, O’Neale notched double-digit points. Most notably, he shot over 50% from the field in five of six contests.

On February 20th vs the San Antonio Spurs, O’Neale got a season high 27 points on 62.5% and 50% shooting percentages from the field and three. Alongside a great shooting night, he had six boards and three steals.

Unfortunately, the Suns lost this game, but it showed that Royce could help when they needed him most. Royce would only have one more night this season where he eclipsed twenty points. With the Suns struggling late and trying to find answers, his numbers decreased a bit towards season’s end.

Overall, though, he had a consistent role in the rotation this season.

Biggest Strength​

When looking at Royce, I’d say his biggest strength, especially this season, was his defense. The versatility of O’Neale on that side of the ball was key for the Suns. This year, the team ranked 27th in the league. That is not great, and Royce helped to make it not the worst.

With the questionable rotations this year and Royce being a constant, the team had someone to apply defensive pressure.

Also, Royce can play both the small forward and power forward positions. This allows the Suns to run lineups with him alongside Durant to add some more wing pressure and shooting. It also gives them the option to play him at the power forward for Durant, and adds more shooting to the lineup by plugging in Grayson Allen and Ryan Dunn.

With the Suns’ struggling defense, he gave them a solid defender for most lineups.

Biggest Weakness​

Looking for a weakness for Royce is a bit difficult, but I’d say it is his ability to create a shot for himself. When analyzing his offensive game, he is mainly just on the perimeter looking for a shot. He does not move very much off the ball and is someone whose role is clear. To help offensively when needed, and to be a defensive workhorse. It is not his role to take over since the Suns have three guys who predominantly handle the ball, but that would be my knack on Royce.

Likelihood of Return: 8​

The Phoenix Suns being in the second apron and trying to get out of it may cost Royce his job here. With the team needing changes and addressing, they are coming; anyone is on the table at this point. Even with all that, though, the Suns made it clear at their end-of-the-season press conference that they want to focus on defense. O’Neale is known for that and was one of the best defenders on a team depleted of them. This makes me think he is more likely to stay over others as they need his role.

https://t.co/ubnMW1LAjw pic.twitter.com/v3SaKmds6a

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 14, 2025​

The only question is, if they can get his role via a Kevin Durant trade, what does that mean for Royce? His contract is once again affordable and easier to move. Could the Suns also see his age at 31 and say they would like to compete, but also get younger? Who knows with this front office, but if it were up to me, Royce O’Neale would be on this Suns roster next season.

Overall Grade: B+​

Like I said above, I am a huge believer in Royce O’Neale. He brings defensive versatility, something the team lacks. While also having him locked up long term on a contract, he should be staying in Phoenix. At the price the Suns are paying him, roughly $10 million a year, it is perfect for both parties.

Is he the best role player? No, but he can consistently show up for a team who will see changes. The rotation does not need a complete overhaul and keeping some consistent players is key, if they want to retool and still compete.

Even with his streaky shooting at times, O’Neale is still a quality player on a quality deal. His shooting numbers are up from last year, and I feel that in a more established role with the right coach, he could thrive alongside Devin Booker and this team.

He is not a mountain mover, so I can see why some fans could see moving off of him, but I truly think he is solid enough to compete on a high-caliber playoff team. That is truly what every fan wants, and I believe he could hold his own when that time comes.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...iew-royce-oneale-impactful-in-a-necessary-way

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Ryan Dunn was one of the few bright spots this season

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Ryan Dunn was one of the few bright spots during his rookie season.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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The 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft ended up as one of the most impactful players in Phoenix during his rookie season.

Let’s not focus on all the things that went wrong this season, but take a look at the bright side. Ryan Dunn is that bright spot. We are Bright Side of the Sun, after all.

Remember when he got some run in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game? He was a Rising Star indeed. Fun times.

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Ryan Dunn​

• Position: Forward
• Vitals: 6’8”, 216 pounds, 22 years old
• Experience: Rookie
• Stats: 74 GP, 6.9 PPG (43.0 FG%, 31.1 3PT%, 48.7 FT%), 3.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 SPG

Contract Details​

Dunn is still on his rookie contract, obviously. Here’s the breakdown for those curious. We have a few years before he hits restricted free agency.

Regular Season Recap​

Dunn connected on 13 of his first 33 three-point attempts (39.4%) to begin his career in his first 8 games while the Suns went 7-1. Ah, good times.

Ryan Dunn was immediately one of the Suns’ best players during his rookie campaign. It started with a bang. That didn’t stop Mike Budenholzer from refusing to play him for several stretches of the regular season.

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

For a team lacking perimeter defense, heart, and hustle, it was inexcusable to bench Dunn as much as the Suns did last season. Yes, the offense is a work in progress. That’s why reps are important!

Dunn played 0-9 minutes 12 times last season, and between 10-19 minutes 23 times. That’s a combined 35 games (nearly half of his 74 GP) of 19 minutes or less. How can you expect a rookie to gain confidence or any sort of rhythm with that inconsistency?

He averaged 19.1 minutes per game, appearing in 74 games. He started in 44 of those 74 and had some encouraging stretches.

He had the NBA’s 8th-ranked dunk of the entire regular season when he threw it down on Giannis. It was a dunk we (and he) will not forget.

Weird random stat: Ryan Dunn did not foul out once during his rookie season.

Biggest Strength​

The defense. On a team that lacked defensive effort and skill, Dunn brought both to the table. It’s one thing to try on defense, as some have physical limitations on that end and are capped out. Dunn does not fall into that category.

He not only tries, but he has the instincts, size, and strength to compete on that end.

Hustle is one constant that Dunn brought to the table from day one. Check out this play below. Now imagine if the entire team played with that type of effort.

Ryan Dunn is EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/pP2qGb4YZG

— Cage (@ridiculouscage) April 6, 2025​

The second effort and not giving up on plays was something evident in his game, regardless of the time or score.

His ability to get to the rim with ferocity and finish through contact is a part of his offensive game that excites me.

GOODNESS RYAN DUNN pic.twitter.com/9o4UGJ3hhm

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 15, 2025​

An improved handle should be a priority for him because he can do some damage in the open court or with a head of steam. He’s got the tools to become a decent half-court offensive weapon even with the shooting concerns.

Dunn’s career-high of 26 points came in game 81 of the season against the Spurs on 10-21 shooting, including 4 threes and 11 rebounds.

Biggest Weakness​

The shooting is the obvious glaring hole in his game. He shot just 31.1% from three and 48.7% from the charity stripe.

As we mentioned above, Dunn got off to a hot start, connecting on 13 of his first 33 three-point attempts (39.4%) to begin his career. He followed that up with just 29.9% shooting from deep for the rest of the season.

The sub-50 percent free-throw shooting clip is concerning for a wing. That is “Hack-A-Shaq” level bad and must improve, no questions asked. In the playoffs or high-leverage situations, you can’t have someone on the floor whose shooting is that much of a liability.

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

He needs to watch some Jaden McDaniels film and look for ways to impact the game offensively despite not being a known shooter. If not, he will be played off the court in big games.

I believe as his frame continues to fill out and he adjusts to the NBA game, he’ll find more comfort in slashing and finishing through contact. If the shot starts falling more efficiently, that’s icing on the cake.

There’s a good chance he will be starting or at least playing 24+ minutes per game next season, so he’ll get the reps to showcase what he works on this summer. I’m looking forward to tracking he and Oso’s growth.

Likelihood of Return: 9.5​

I’m going to put this at 9.5. It should be a 10, but getting off a certain someone’s contract is the only potential holdup.

The only scenario in which Dunn gets moved would be if they had to attach him to get off of Bradley Beal’s deal. I don’t view that as a likely scenario.

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Overall Grade: B+​

Overall, it was a strong rookie season for Dunn. He did everything we expected and more. There is room for growth, and along with that, room for optimism that he can become a high-impact wing and an All-Defensive talent.

Ryan Dunn finishes his rookie season averaging 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 74 games (44 starts).

Across the last 15 games, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.

He also earned Rising Stars honors! pic.twitter.com/W9ShitpNZZ

— Hoos In The NBA (@hoosinthenba) April 14, 2025​

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-was-one-of-the-few-bright-spots-this-season

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Fixing the Phoenix Suns: Why trading Devin Booker won’t bring the Suns what they actually need

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Point: Do not trade Devin Booker.

Welcome to the How to Fix the Suns series, where we break down the paths available to the Phoenix Suns as they navigate the 2025 offseason.

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The series continues. It feels like we’ll be spending the entire summer trying to fix this team, doesn’t it? The Phoenix Suns find themselves at a crossroads, and while every offseason invites debate about the organization’s direction, the players, and the assets at hand, this year feels different.

I believe most of the fan base would reject the thought of trading Devin Booker, but we’ll test that with a poll later this week. Still, never before has the possibility of it becoming a reality felt more tangible. The Suns are in dire straits, and that means every option—no matter how uncomfortable—must be on the table.

Yesterday, we dug into the reasons why trading Devin Booker could make sense. Today, we turn the page and explore the counterpoint: the case for why you shouldn’t, and can’t, trade your franchise player.

Let’s dive in.

The Return​

Yes, Devin Booker is undoubtedly the Suns’ most valuable asset right now when it comes to potential return. If the Suns were to trade him, they’d likely receive a mix of players and draft picks that could aid in the rebuilding of the franchise’s foundation.

But here’s the question: would the return really be that great? Particularly when it comes to draft picks?

The team most likely to trade for Booker is one in win-now mode, a team that sees Booker as a key piece of their championship aspirations moving forward. However, that team would likely hold the same philosophy as the Suns had when they traded for Kevin Durant in 2023: draft picks, while valuable in theory, often don’t have as much impact as people think. These picks would likely end up at the tail end of the first round, not in the lottery where franchise-changing players are typically found.

In other words, would trading Booker really provide the kind of foundational shift the Suns need, or would it just result in more uncertainty with no guarantee of long-term benefit?

Devin Booker is undeniably in his prime, and that’s exactly why trading him for draft picks over the next 5 to 7 years raises so many questions. There’s a significant chance those picks won’t be lottery picks, but instead, fall further down the first round, leaving the Suns with limited upside in terms of future talent. Essentially, the trade becomes a gamble on the players the Suns would receive in return. A gamble that the players could become building blocks for the future, much like Booker once was.

The reality is that if the Suns are really looking to build through the draft, acquiring a top-five pick should be seen as nearly essential. Without that kind of pick, it’s tough to acquire the kind of franchise-altering talent that can really change the trajectory of the team. The truth is, trading Booker would most likely only secure picks that fall short of that goal.

Out of the 126 players drafted as lottery picks since 2016, only 11 have made an All-NBA team. Of those 11, 6 are top three picks.

Ben Simmons
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Luka Doncic
Ja Morant
Anthony Edwards

No player drafted since 2021 has made an All-NBA team.

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 3, 2025​

And as much as fans might dream of trading with Houston to get those coveted picks back, it’s highly unlikely. Why would Houston, or any team, trade those picks back to the Suns when the entire league is fully aware that Phoenix is currently in a period of turmoil? Houston, along with other teams, stands to benefit the most from the Suns’ current disarray.

You Have Booker in His Prime​

This is the very case Mat Ishbia has made, and it’s one of the key reasons why trading Devin Booker is probably not in the cards for the Suns. The main goal when constructing a competitive roster is to secure an All-Star-level player who can anchor your team and serve as the foundational piece for years to come. And the Suns already have that in Devin Booker. He’s in his prime and is everything you want in a player who can lead a franchise forward.

Trading Booker would essentially reset the clock on the Suns’ ability to have that caliber of talent at the helm, and it would remove the one player they can rely on as a constant in a league full of uncertainty. Yes, Booker has his flaws—every player in the NBA does. Just check Reddit during a game and you’ll see fans bickering about their star players’ shortcomings. No one is flawless, but that doesn’t diminish the value of what Booker brings to the team.

I believe that what @ParadoxicalJoel said on Twitter the other day:

I'd rather have one star and no role players to try to build around then have a roster of only role players with no star. Booker and KD are the most important pieces and excellent building blocks. They have just been surrounded by an incompetent front office.

— JustAnAverageJoel (@ParadoxicalJoel) April 23, 2025​

I couldn’t agree more. Having an All-Star surrounded by role players is far more valuable than a collection of role players with no star. A true star like Booker gives the team a sense of direction and purpose, something you can build around. I’m done relying on hope and hype to get me through the season. An All-Star isn’t just a piece—it’s the cornerstone of your future. With Booker in his prime, moving off him would be a mistake, no matter the potential return.

I admit, my perspective is a bit biased. After all, I write about this team constantly and host post-game podcasts after each game. But I don’t want to endure a long period of uncertainty, trying to figure out who the next All-Star will be, drafting, developing, only to watch them fall short. We have Booker now, in his prime. You don’t give that up, hoping to somehow replicate what you already have. The chance to build around a player like him doesn’t come often.

Loyalty Matters​

I understand that the goal of these thought exercises is to set emotion aside and use logic as a guiding force in decision-making. However, there’s an undeniable truth that loyalty holds weight.

Part of me believes that sometimes, the heart of an organization isn’t just found in the trades or the quick moves, but in appreciating what a player represents to the team, to the city, and to the community. Devin Booker has been a pillar for Phoenix, not only on the court but as a symbol of what the franchise has become. His impact reaches far beyond basketball, and that deserves recognition.

Devin Booker is an Arizona treasure.

Dbook saw some kids doing a lemonade stand. He stopped his car, bought a drink from the kid and left.

The kid was was so excited when he realized he just met Devin Booker. pic.twitter.com/1bz25uBGDr

— Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) April 23, 2025​

In a world of constant wheeling and dealing, it’s worth remembering that loyalty has its place, and Booker’s significance to Phoenix should be honored.

I see it through this lens, and I’ll be the first to admit, it’s an imperfect way to view things, because we’ll never know what the other side of the decision might have brought. But let’s frame it like this: if you knew, with absolute certainty, that the next seven years wouldn’t result in a championship no matter what moves you made—and that’s a reasonable scenario given that only one team lifts the trophy each year—would you rather experience those years with Devin Booker or without him?

It’s an impossible question, isn’t it? But when I look through that fractured, sobering lens, knowing that the road ahead will be steep and unforgiving, I’d choose loyalty. I’d choose the chance to say I watched the greatest Phoenix Sun of all time wear the same jersey from start to finish. I’d rather be part of a story that values heart, community, and identity in a league often consumed by transactions.

Yes, it’s emotional. Yes, it tugs at the heartstrings. Yes, I know many will dismiss that. The logical endpoint is always a title. But I can vividly see a future where, seven years from now, the Suns haven’t won a championship, and Booker’s gone. And if I’m sitting down to write an “I Told You So” piece in that moment…it won’t be one I’ll take any joy in crafting.

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And there it is. The counterpoint. The case for why you don’t trade Devin Booker. Yes, this one’s hard to navigate. Logic should always be our guide, but emotion has a way of slipping through the cracks when a player means this much to a city, to a fan base, to a franchise’s identity.

So now, I turn it to you. What’s your move? Do you hold onto Booker, and if so, why? Is it loyalty, legacy, belief in his ability to anchor this team through whatever storm comes next? Or do you see a different path forward? Drop your thoughts below.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...draft-picks-rebuild-loyality-franchise-player

 

[Phoenix Suns]

No clear plan yet as the Suns' offseason clock keeps ticking

Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images

Patience is fine, but the Phoenix Suns need leadership before it is too late.

The Phoenix Suns stand on the edge of a potential front office shakeup this offseason, but so far, it’s been little more than whispers and speculation. The only definitive move has been the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer, dismissed the day after the regular season came to a merciful end.

In his postseason press conference, Mat Ishbia emphasized patience, promising that the organization would take its time, evaluate thoroughly, and do things right when it came to hiring the next head coach. “You’re not going to see a next coach hired in a week or two,” Ishbia stated.

Yet when it comes to the front office, the silence has been deafening.

This is the same front office that—if we take Josh Bartelstein at his word—suggests Ishbia wasn’t behind the trades or overall franchise direction, has mishandled the prime years of Devin Booker, and stumbled badly in building around Kevin Durant after his acquisition.

Josh Bartelstein said one of the biggest misconceptions is that Mat Ishbia is making personnel decisions. Said he has not made one trade or signing while complimenting him for how involved he is in the process

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 17, 2025​

Rumors continue to swirl, but they paint a picture of reorganization, not revolution. Instead of cleaning house, it appears the Suns will opt for a reshuffling of roles. Marc Stein’s latest report in The Stein Line only reinforced that perception, suggesting that James Jones’ influence within the organization will remain largely unchanged.

Word is that James Jones, whose contract as the Suns’ lead decision-maker expires in June, has to this point been operating as the point guard for the Phoenix coaching search.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia is on record as saying that the search will be slow-moving, but the fact that Jones is at its forefront to this point would seem it support suggestions that he could be asked to stay with the franchise in a recongured role in the event that a new lead decision-maker is hired.

NBA Insider @TheSteinLine gives an update on the Suns front office situation and James Jones' status within it currently on the latest Southwest Bias. pic.twitter.com/1RtDFUrBS5

— Espo  (@Espo) April 28, 2025​

It feels like a classic case of “no news is good news,” except this time, no news isn’t good at all. Yes, it’s smart that the Suns are taking their time, exercising due diligence with the future of the franchise. But at some point, a decision has to be made. A trigger has to be pulled.

The NBA Draft is only two months away. 58 days, to be exact. Time needs to be spent not just navigating the draft, but also defining the “identity” Mat Ishbia keeps talking about. Identity isn’t something you slap onto a PowerPoint and pass around a room full of executives. It’s built by decision-makers through their resolve, their consistency, and their willingness to dedicate themselves to a real vision.

If no one is steering the ship, the window for defining that identity shrinks. Pressure mounts. And when that happens, you don’t get clarity. You get a snap decision. Or worse, you get sold on some Canva presentation full of empty buzzwords instead of a real, living identity.

Maybe I’m rushing it. But time moves fast, and the Suns can’t afford to keep pussyfooting around. They need to define who they are, starting at the very top. Not waiting for James Jones to pick a coach while they maybe figure out what the hell they stand for.

Because the moment you hire a new GM or head coach, the franchise’s DNA shifts. Interviews are just performative theater, people telling you what you want to hear, agreeing with whatever buzzwords you already wrote on the whiteboard. It’s not real until it’s lived.

Time is running out. And this offseason is too important to get it wrong.

Giddy up.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...t-identity-search-ishbia-offseason-marc-stein

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: Time to weigh in on the Devin Booker debate

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Should the Suns trade Devin Booker? Will they?

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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We’ve been staring long and hard into the murky waters of the Phoenix Suns’ offseason, searching for any glimpse of clarity. This isn’t just another offseason. It’s one that feels like it could define the next half-decade of this franchise, for better or worse.

I spent the past few days doing what every hopeless sports romantic does: watching the NFL Draft. Every pick, every trade, every desperate attempt by teams to change their fates. I was there, soaking it in. Yeah, I’m that guy. Hell, my wife even watched it with me this year and became very invested in the Shedeur Sanders’ saga.

Naturally, it got me thinking about the Suns.

The Suns, bless their battered soul, are in a pickle. We all know it. That’s why every move this summer needs to be made with surgical precision and maybe a bit of divine luck. In the NFL, it feels like you can flip the script with one or two bold moves. (Well, unless you’re the Arizona Cardinals) But in the NBA? It’s different. In this league, it takes vision. It takes discipline. It takes time. And time...is not exactly on Phoenix’s side.

We’ve been kicking around all the options here. Laying it all bare. We even made the case—sacrilegious as it sounds—for why the Suns could trade Devin Booker, their decade-long loyal star. And of course, we made the case for why they absolutely, positively should not.

Now, once again, it’s your turn. It’s time to ask the community: Should the Phoenix Suns trade Devin Booker? And, perhaps even more interesting, will they?

Yes, there are unknowns. We don’t yet know who the next head coach will be. We don’t know if the rumored front office reshuffle will materialize. But clarity is a luxury we don’t have right now. So we push forward anyway.

Poll time. Let’s hear it.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...fseason-rumors-future-head-coach-front-office

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Bol Bol couldn’t escape the bench for the Phoenix Suns

Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Why Bol Bol couldn’t find his role with the Phoenix Suns this season. Again.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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To some, Bol Bol is a myth, a player whose tantalizing potential never quite translated into a consistent NBA starter or even a reliable bench contributor playing meaningful minutes. Throughout his career, and especially judging by the 2024–25 season, visible improvements were scarce.

As with the rest of the 2024–25 player reviews, the question arises: How much of Bol Bol’s limited playing time was a reflection of his own performance versus the coaching decisions of head coach Mike Budenholzer?

This past season saw Bol Bol largely relegated to the bench, a victim of both rotational depth and a lack of trust from the coaching staff. Despite flashes of talent in garbage time or during injury stretches, he failed to carve out a defined role. Whether it was inconsistency, defensive lapses, or simply the wrong system fit, Bol once again became more of a conversation piece than a contributor, a player stuck between potential and productivity.

Bol Bol​

• Position: Power Forward
• Vitals: 7’3”, 220 pounds, 25 years old
• Experience: 6 Years
• Stats: 36 GP, 6.8 PPG (52.0 FG%, 34.4 3PT%, 76.9 FT%), 2.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.6 SPG

Contract Details​

Bol Bol is signed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns valued at $2,425,403, officially agreed upon on July 7, 2024. It was a one-year deal and he will be an unrestrcited free agent this upcoming summer.

Regular Season Recap​

The highlight of Bol Bol’s season came during an altercation between the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets. While tensions flared, Bol was seen off to the side casually practicing layups. Whether entirely accurate or not, Chris Haynes reported that head coach Mike Budenholzer was unhappy with Bol’s lack of engagement during the incident, a factor that reportedly contributed to Bol’s limited minutes for the remainder of the season.

Bol Bol getting dropped from the Suns rotation for the season by Coach Bud for not having Plumlee’s back in the Adams scuffle is hilarious https://t.co/OQ7F1Lu584 pic.twitter.com/DKvQqexEpA

— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) April 19, 2025​

Bol wasn’t particularly impressive from the start of the season. It was clear that his game had not developed, as evidenced by a decline in his three-point shooting percentage compared to the previous year and ongoing issues with court awareness, especially regarding spacing and help defense.

Ultimately, I believe a slow basketball IQ is what kept Bol on the bench.

I was extremely high on him during the 2023–24 season and entered this past year believing he could take another step forward. Instead, it was obvious early on that no meaningful improvements had been made. Despite his size and skill flashes, Bol struggled to adapt to the pace and demands of an NBA rotation, leaving little justification for consistent minutes.

However, a career-high 25-point performance, which included five made three-pointers, stood out as a bright spot in Bol’s otherwise disappointing season.

There’s still something there, a glimpse of untapped potential that continues to make you wonder if, under the right circumstances, Bol could eventually put it all together.

Biggest Strength​

One of Bol’s natural advantages is his length, allowing him to shoot over defenders with ease, a skill that NBA legend Kevin Durant has mastered and something Bol has clearly tried to incorporate into his own game.

However, what Bol still lacks is the quick reaction needed to attack off the dribble, make decisive cuts, or recognize opportunities on pick-and-rolls and backdoor plays. While he can rise up and shoot over defenders—even on a closeout where the contest reaches only as high as his elbows—his inability to react quickly often limits the impact of that advantage.

Still, this aspect of his game gives him something to build on. If Bol can continue to refine his timing, decision-making, and off-ball movement, there’s a path for him to become more than just a curiosity. He could carve out a meaningful role as a floor-spacing big with a unique scoring touch.

In honor of our 7’3 demon Bol Bol resigning here’s 7 min of him hoopin in a Suns uniform pic.twitter.com/6Jp2FbZd7j

— ☆ (@Stunna999_) June 29, 2024​

Biggest Weakness​

The drive to get better and improve is what Bol still seems to be searching for. Physically, he struggles to hold his ground defensively due to a lack of strength, often getting pushed around when battling in the paint. Yet, it’s the continued chances he’s received in the NBA—and the fact that he still leaves so much untapped potential on the table—that remains the biggest frustration.

Likelihood of Return: 4​

Bol’s future with the Suns likely depends on the vision of the next head coach and whether they see a path for him to contribute consistently. It’s easy to imagine him either staying in Phoenix on another one-year deal or moving on to another team in search of a similar opportunity. At this point, short-term contracts appear to be the ceiling for Bol as he tries to maintain his place in the league.

For Bol to stick around in the NBA, he’ll need to show more than just flashes. Consistency, effort, and adaptability will be key. Whether it’s reshaping his defensive instincts, finding a true offensive role, or simply proving he can be a reliable rotation piece, the window isn’t closed, but it’s narrowing fast.

Overall Grade: D​

I would give Bol a P for poop but that is not part of the grading system.

This is truly how I felt seeing Bol return this season: a letdown.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...truggles-lack-of-minutes-performance-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Gambo: Suns front office changes expected to be announced within next 48 hours

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns could make a move soon.

According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, the Phoenix Suns expect to make a decision regarding front office change(s) within the next 48 hours or by early next week at the latest.

James Jones’ contract is set to expire in June and the clock is ticking with that approaching along with the Suns’ head coach search. Gambo adds that once the front office is set, that’s when the coaching search will begin.

I would expect the Suns front office changes to be announced in the next 48 hours or at the latest - early next week. At THAT time the coaching search will begin.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) April 30, 2025​

Marc Stein added this report with a potential candidate to step into a larger role.

Stein tweeted: “I’m told an emerging option in Phoenix, rather than a splashy hire outside hire, is promoting VP of player programming Brian Gregory to a more prominent front office role.

Gregory already has a significant voice in Suns draft strategy and is highly regarded by owner Mat Ishbia.”

I’m told an emerging option in Phoenix, rather than a splashy hire outside hire, is promoting VP of player programming Brian Gregory to a more prominent front office role.

Gregory already has a significant voice in Suns draft strategy and is highly regarded by owner Mat Ishbia. https://t.co/Sp2btWQTBH

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 30, 2025​

There have been some reports that James Jones has already spearheaded that coaching search.

According to Jake Fischer, this rumbling was highlighted earlier this week:

“Word is that James Jones, whose contract as the Suns’ lead decision-maker expires in June, has to this point been operating as the point guard for the Phoenix coaching search.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia is on record as saying that the search will be slow-moving, but the fact that Jones is at its forefront to this point would seem to support suggestions that he could be asked to stay with the franchise in a reconfigured role in the event that a new lead decision-maker is hired.

League sources say Phoenix would ideally settle upon its new front office structure before hiring a head coach to replace the one-and-done Mike Budenholzer.”

Mat Ishbia said in his end-of-season presser that change was inevitable and that “everything” will be evaluated.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

We’ll keep you updated on the latest.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...expected-to-be-announced-within-next-48-hours

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns could find value in a trade with the Orlando Magic

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

Orlando has an itch. Can the Suns help them scratch it?

The first round of the NBA playoffs is thinning the field, and with each exit comes an inevitable reckoning. Teams begin the introspective process, dissecting what went wrong, where cracks formed, and how they might rebuild stronger. Roster construction, once seen as vision, now feels like hindsight. And the flaws, previously ignored in the thrill of competition, stand exposed, demanding attention.

The Phoenix Suns know this cycle well.

One year ago, after being unceremoniously swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves, their postseason autopsy pointed toward a lack of ball security. Their fourth-quarter meltdowns had become the stuff of local legend, a tragic comedy for a team with championship aspirations. And as always, the summer brought its own familiar crisis: time for yet another head coach.

As teams across the league begin charting their course for next season, opportunities inevitably emerge. Some are scenarios where the Suns could not only assist those recalibrating franchises but also find mutually beneficial ways to strengthen their own roster.

The pieces aren’t fully in place just yet in Phoenix. We’re still less than 60 days from the NBA Draft and 61 from the start of free agency. The Suns don’t have a head coach, and the front office situation remains unsettled. There are loose ends to tie up before any major roster moves can take shape, especially moves that would align with whatever “identity” this team chooses to embrace.

That said, the offseason carousel has already begun, and with it comes fresh opportunity. The Orlando Magic are the latest team to fall, bowing out in five games to the defending champion Boston Celtics. Their season ends with a promising foundation. Paolo Banchero has proven himself a franchise cornerstone, while Franz Wagner is a dynamic complement alongside him.

Paolo Banchero against the Celtics:

29.4 PPG
8.4 RPG
4.2 APG

Franz Wagner against the Celtics:

25.8 PPG
4.8 RPG
5.6 APG

The trio of Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs is a championship core. Now it's all about finding the right role players for the Magic. pic.twitter.com/zKwXQXhX2C

— Jon Metler (@JonMetler) April 30, 2025​

Their core is intact. Now comes the harder part: refinement.

Where did the Magic falter? Beyond the obvious challenge of facing a seasoned Boston squad, the glaring issue was three-point shooting. Orlando finished last in the NBA this season at just 31.8% from deep, and it somehow got worse in the playoffs, as they shot just 26.3% from beyond the arc against the Celtics. That’s 41-for-422. A number that large and that cold practically echoes.

This is where Phoenix could step in.

The Suns, for all their own flaws, possess a pair of reliable three-point shooters in Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale; veterans who can either start or bring stability off the bench. If Orlando is serious about building around Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs with proper spacing, Allen and O’Neale could be highly desirable pieces.

And for the Suns? It’s a chance to rebalance the roster and extract value in return.

There are still several dominoes that need to fall within the organization before the Suns can determine whether moving off either Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale actually makes sense. If the team somehow finds a way to buy out Bradley Beal, they’d escape the financial purgatory of the second apron. And with that relief comes flexibility. Allen’s contract—three years, $48.4 million—and O’Neale’s—three years, $32.6 million—suddenly become much more manageable in that scenario.

Every contending team needs mid-tier contracts on the books. They’re the glue that holds rosters together and creates options in future deals. Shedding Beal’s deal, even with some inevitable dead cap money, could give Phoenix the breathing room to retain those types of players rather than sacrificing them to stay cap compliant.

Operating under the assumption that Bradley Beal is off the books, let’s explore what a potential deal with Orlando might look like, and more importantly, who the Magic would actually be willing to part with in a way that benefits both sides. After all, it takes two aligned agendas to make a trade worthwhile.

Start with this: Orlando is roughly $20 million under the luxury tax and has a clear incentive to tweak the roster.

Ask any Magic fan who they’d move, and they’ll probably start by offering up their leftovers. You know, the pieces they no longer want. Chief among those is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He’s set to earn $21.6 million next season with a player option for the same amount in 2026–27. He was supposed to be the solution to their shooting woes, but he shot just 34.2% from deep during the regular season and plummeted to 26.1% in the playoffs. That’s not exactly what you call return on investment.

Magic really gave KCP all that money after Ant Man was bussin that ass all May 2024

— DREDADON (@tsavv14) April 30, 2025​

But if the Magic are willing to move someone like Goga Bitadze—a 25-year-old big man set to make a manageable $15.9 million over the next two seasons—that could present a more compelling opportunity. Bitadze would bring interior defense and rebounding to a Suns team that has consistently lacked size and physicality up front.

Of course, Bitadze profiles more as a backup center than a long-term solution in the starting five. He’s more Nick Richards than Nic Claxton. That’s not a knock, it’s just the role he’s best suited for. Could he start in the NBA? Maybe. Should he? That’s another conversation. His value lies in his ability to anchor second units and provide competent minutes without breaking the cap sheet. But if the Suns are aiming higher—and they should be—the real swing would be Wendell Carter, Jr.

Carter, who just signed a three-year extension (with a team option on the back end) worth $58.7 million, is a far more intriguing possibility. Whether Orlando would even entertain that kind of deal is debatable. But if the Magic are desperate enough for perimeter shooting—and Phoenix offers a real solution in that department—they might be willing to at least have the conversation.

Carter appeared in 68 games this season, averaging a modest 9.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. Those numbers don’t exactly leap off the page. But his game has always been more about defensive positioning, switchability, and making the right plays, not box score dominance. He’s 26, entering his prime, and under a very reasonable contract. For a Suns team that has been undersized and underpowered up front, a player like Carter could shift the dynamic overnight.

Looking at the remainder of the Magic roster, not much really jumps off the page. Gary Harris? Meh. Cole Anthony? Pass. Tristan da Silva? Maybe. He’s intriguing, but far from a sure thing.

Yeah, these aren’t home runs. Trading for Goga Bitadze or even Wendell Carter Jr. isn’t going to shake the foundation of the franchise. These are singles. Maybe a double if Carter’s involved. But after the Suns have spent the last few years swinging for the fences—and striking out more often than not—a few smart, contact plays might be exactly what they need. It’s not flashy, but it’s controlled. And after what we’ve seen, controlled sounds like progress.

You want something that is a certified double?

Kevin Durant.

No, a one-for-one trade probably isn’t in the cards. But this is where things get interesting—where Orlando could serve as a third or fourth team in a multi-franchise blockbuster. The Magic have something every cap-strapped contender needs: space. Real, functional, weaponized cap space. And in a league now dominated by apron penalties and complicated tax rules, you need a team like Orlando to even think about pulling off something seismic.

Maybe the Magic do end up with Durant. Maybe they don’t. But if they are involved, there’s a very real chance Phoenix could walk away with something of value, whether it be Wendell Carter Jr. or Goga Bitadze, and perhaps someone else who fits what they’re trying to build from a third team. Plus draft capital.

That’s where teams like the Magic come into play. Rosters with foundational stars, cap flexibility, and a clearly defined need. Maybe they’re looking to tweak around the edges. Maybe they’re the missing piece in a larger puzzle.

So what do you think? Is a low-risk swap the smarter path, or would you rather see the Suns roll the dice again? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...gic-grayson-allen-royce-oneale-wendell-carter

 

[Phoenix Suns]

James Jones moved aside as Suns ownership takes full control

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The James Jones era has officially come to a close.

The Phoenix Suns have reshaped their front office, reassigning James Jones, who has served as the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager since 2019. Brian Gregory will now step into the general manager role, reporting directly to Mat Ishbia, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Josh Bartelstein will remain CEO of the Suns. Brian Gregory will report directly to owner Matt Ishbia.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) May 1, 2025​

A ‘senior advisor’ is the new role for James Jones, eh? Perhaps this is the consolation for being a “yes man”, someone who did the bidding of his new owner. While we have been led to believe that Mat Ishbia is not responsible for the player personnel transactions of the team, history has shown us that the decisions made pre-Ishbia and post-Ishbia were very different.

Jones, who played for the Suns from 2005 to 2007, began his executive career with the franchise in 2017 as director of player personnel. A year later, he was promoted to interim general manager alongside assistant GM Trevor Bukstein following the firing of Ryan McDonough.

That transition came just ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft, the first time in franchise history Phoenix held the No. 1 overall pick. The Suns selected Deandre Ayton and later acquired Mikal Bridges. Jones also orchestrated the trade that sent the fading Trevor Ariza out of town, bringing in Kelly Oubre Jr. in return.

After the 2018-19 season, Jones was officially given full control as general manager of the Suns. He wasted little time reshaping the organization, firing head coach Igor Kokoskov and hiring Monty Williams as his replacement. Jones also traded T.J. Warren to the Pacers for cash considerations and flipped the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft for Dario Saric and the No. 11 pick, which became Cameron Johnson. He added veteran point guard Ricky Rubio in free agency, helping stabilize the backcourt.

While the season didn’t result in a winning record, it was the first time in years the team showed signs of a cohesive vision, capped by a perfect 8-0 run in the Orlando Bubble.

Prior to the 2020-21 season, Jones pulled off his most impactful move yet by trading for future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, while also signing Jae Crowder in free agency to bolster the roster. In the 2020 NBA Draft, he surprised many by passing on promising guards like Tyrese Haliburton, selecting Jalen Smith with the 10th overall pick instead. Despite that miss, the team Jones assembled flourished.

The Suns won 51 games and made their third trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, ultimately falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. For his efforts, Jones was named the 2020-21 NBA Executive of the Year.

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The following season, with the core still intact, the Suns set a franchise record with 64 wins and looked poised for another deep playoff run. However, their promising campaign ended in disappointment with a seven-game second-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The summer of 2022 brought further turbulence, as allegations of workplace misconduct against team owner Robert Sarver led to his suspension and eventual sale of the team. Amid the chaos, Jae Crowder opted out of training camp and never played for the Suns again. In November 2022, Jones was promoted to president of basketball operations while retaining his role as general manager.

In February 2023, the franchise was officially sold to Mat Ishbia, who wasted no time making a splash. Just days into his tenure, the Suns made a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, sending out a haul of players and future draft capital.

While James Jones had reportedly been in discussions with the Brooklyn Nets for Durant the previous summer, it remains unclear who truly pulled the trigger on the deal. Was it Jones executing a long-laid plan, or Ishbia asserting his authority with a bold move? The answer may never be fully known.

“I took this job a few years ago,” Jones stated in the introductory press conference for KD, “Determined to try to build a team built for championships. And I think we’ve reached the point where we’ve been able to add arguably one of the greatest players to ever play this sport. It’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of determination, a lot of commitment from the fans and everyone inside and outside this building. But I stand here today proud and happy to introduce No. 35 for the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant.”

The Suns went 8-0 with Kevin Durant during the regular season, offering a glimmer of hope heading into the playoffs. But that momentum didn’t last. They were bounced by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in six games in the second round. Despite a 309-114 record over four seasons, head coach Monty Williams was fired that summer.

In his place, Frank Vogel was brought in to lead a core of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Deandre Ayton. But that vision unraveled before he had a chance to coach them. Chris Paul and Landry Shamet were shipped to Washington in a blockbuster trade for Bradley Beal, costing the team what little draft capital it had left. Shortly after, Ayton was sent to Portland in a deal that brought back minimal return. Assets that, in hindsight, amounted to little more than spare parts.

The Suns stumbled through a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, finishing as the sixth seed in the Western Conference before being unceremoniously swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. Frank Vogel was shown the door after just one season at the helm.

The summer of 2024 ushered in Mike Budenholzer as head coach, a flurry of roster moves, and some clever draft-day maneuvering that netted the team Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.

The Suns started the 2024-25 season 8-1, sparking cautious optimism. But that hope quickly unraveled. What initially appeared to be a deep and talented roster proved instead to be a disjointed collection of individuals lacking chemistry and cohesion. The slow-motion collapse continued until the team failed to even qualify for the Play-In Tournament.

As a result, James Jones has been reassigned to a senior advisor role, while Brian Gregory, who once served as an assistant coach at Michigan State when Mat Ishbia was a player, has officially taken over general manager duties. It’s not a clean break from Jones, perhaps because he hasn’t been solely responsible for the organization’s recent missteps. He’s been a cog in a much larger machine.

It’s not uncommon to see new ownership gradually install their own people. In fact, the surprising part is how long Jones remained in power. That speaks to how much Ishbia valued him, at least for a time. Typically, new owners clean house, bringing in those with personal connections, old college coaches, trusted confidants, and familiar faces.

Time will tell what this senior advisor role actually means, but the fact that Gregory will report directly to Ishbia signals a clear pivot. A definitive change in direction, just as Ishbia promised. Now comes the real work: establishing an identity. One that will inevitably differ from the path Jones was charting, whether that path was his design or dictated from above.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-gregory-general-manager-front-office-shakeup

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Vasilije Micic just couldn’t find his way

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Micic played five games in a Suns jersey, didn’t score a point.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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Vasilije Micic had just a short stint with the Suns this season. Being traded to Phoenix from the Hornets at the trade deadline (in which the Suns sent Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte), the expectations weren’t much for Micic whatsoever. He joined Phoenix with the role of a veteran playmaker with just a year and a half of NBA experience and a great EuroLeague resume, but never became a rotation piece for the Suns. After playing 36 games with the Hornets and averaging just over 20 minutes a game for them, in Phoenix he saw almost no minutes.

Appearing in just five games in a Suns jersey, Micic’s minutes all came in garbage time, where he scored a grand total of zero points. Again, the trade was never to add Micic, but more so dump Nurkic’s contract off and add Nick Richards, so it wasn’t much surprising to see Vasilije get only minimal run.

Vasilije Micic​

• Position: Point Guard
• Vitals: 6’3”, 188 pounds, 31 years old
• Experience: 2 years (9 years prior in Euroleague)
• Stats (Suns only): 5 GP, 0.0 PPG, 0.2 APG, 0.4 RPG

Contract Details​

Micic signed a three-year contract with Oklahoma City in the 2023-24 offseason worth around $23.5 million total. The Phoenix Suns took on his contract via trade this past season, where his cap hit was about $7.7 million. This offseason, Micic’s contract is up for a team option worth $8.1 million in the potential final year of his contract. Phoenix is likely to decline his option and let the former EuroLeague star walk as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Regular Season Recap​

Micic began the 2024–25 NBA season with the Charlotte Hornets, where he averaged 7.5 PPG and 3.5 APG on 35/36/83 splits over 36 games. While those numbers weren’t anything impressive, it had been speculated that Charlotte would eventually move him elsewhere due to salary purposes. That ended up being the case,e too, as Phoenix acquired him at the deadline along with Nick Richards in the Jusuf Nurkic deal. Being really a salary filler in the trade, Micic was never truly expected to get any playtime in the Valley, which proved to be the case.

In Phoenix’s rotation, Vasilije was essentially invisible, only entering in five games, all in late-game blowout situations to clear the bench. In his most extended Suns outing, a brief eight-minute stint against Houston, he recorded a turnover and that’s all.

Micic didn’t score in any appearances, nor did he get any real action with the team, being listed as inactive for the majority of his time. In short, Micic never found a consistent role or meaningful minutes with Phoenix. There were no sudden changes or any significant reason as to why Vasilije didn’t play, he was just simply a bench spectator from February through April as figured when he was traded for.

Biggest Strength​

Micic’s best asset to his game is his veteran playmaking and scoring variety.

In Europe he was a star; for example, in 2022–23 he averaged 16.0 points and 5.4 assists on pretty solid shooting splits (43.5% FG, 35.7% 3PT) in EuroLeague play. He also won two EuroLeague titles and was the 2021 EuroLeague MVP, showing his ability to control an offense in a physical game. However, those traits only passed over to the NBA slightly, as the scoring and efficiency hasn’t been as high volume as it once was. But, his basketball IQ and ability to run the point could have been valuable for Phoenix’s bench in certain situations.

Even though he didn’t get to show it on the floor with the Suns, Micic’s underlying strength is that he’s a seasoned point guard who, if needed, can hit the three (shot 36.0% from three with Charlotte this season). Just sucks we didn’t see much of Micic at all in a Suns jersey to truly find out how he fit in the offense.

Biggest Weakness​

Micic’s main limitation this season, as well as last, has been his inability to adapt his game to the NBA level and earn playing time. His shooting efficiency was poor earlier in the season as he shot only 34.8% from the field in Charlotte.

In Phoenix’s system,m he seemingly never got into a rhythm, or at least was never given a chance, as he only suited up in five games. Defensively, Micic is also a liability due to his lack of quickness and how untranslated his size is to the NBA. All in all, Micic’s struggles with shooting inside the three point line and his minimal defensive impact has impacted his chances of staying in a rotation on an NBA team.

Likelihood of Return: 0​

It seems highly unlikely Micic will be part of the Suns’ future, especially with him having a team option this offseason worth $8.1 million. The Suns traded for him just to solve the salary gap in the Nurkic trade, and he provided virtually nothing on the statsheet in five games.

The Suns are almost guaranteed to let Vasilije move on in free agency, a decision that I don’t think will be questioned in any way. I’d give a higher chance of Micic going back to the EuroLeague rather than back to the Valley in the offseason.

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Overall Grade: D​

Micic’s season with Phoenix was about as minimal as it gets. He was essentially inactive for almost all the games and didn’t score in the five games he did play in. While none of this was by choice (he was never given a real chance to prove himself), the end result is that he made no true positive impact on the team. However, he did help get Nurkic traded which you could say is a win, so there’s that.

Overall though, just not much to truly say about Micic’s time in Phoenix.

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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/...view-trade-impact-stats-contract-nba-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

What this year’s SunsRank taught us about expectations and reality

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

No debates and no hope as Suns fans endured another season of letdowns.

We did it. We made it through another SunsRank, our annual tradition of ranking all 18 Phoenix Suns from best to worst. Every year, we start this exercise to capture where our expectations lie, and we close it out at season’s end to see how the story really unfolded.

There wasn’t much debate this year. No heated arguments about where players belonged. And I can take that one of two ways. Either the team underperformed so badly that there wasn’t enough talent to even spark a real conversation…or we were just exhausted. Tired of watching a group that got our hopes up, only to fall painfully short in a season we believed could end with a legitimate title run. Instead, it became a sobering reminder that expectations mean nothing without the right roster to back them up.

Preseason Ranks​

So, where did we begin this season? Looking at how the Bright Side writing staff ranked each player, here was the starting point:

Wow. We had Tyus Jones ranked that high?

It’s a reminder of how expectations shape perception. Coming into the season, we believed a different brand of basketball was on the horizon, one built on pace, ball movement, and control. But as the year unfolded, the vision shifted, the execution faltered, and what we thought we’d see never fully materialized.

Final SunsRankings​

And now, your final SunsRank for the 2024-25 season, with our writers' picks and the results of the Bright Side Community’s voting over the past couple of weeks...

When you start to dissect this list, what’s the first thing you notice? Well, for starters, the writing team shrank as the season dragged on. And honestly, can you blame them? Covering the Suns during a season like that isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve lived it, and I don’t know how Dave King managed it for a decade.

But beyond that, you start to spot some anomalies. A few eyebrow-raising picks, some surprising rankings. So it’s only fair we turn to the writers behind those choices and ask: what happened there? What led to those outliers? Time to get some answers

Matthew Lissy had Royce O’Neale ranked 10th while everyone else had him ranked 5th or 6th.​

Lissy: Royce O’Neale was a player I hoped to man up the bigs on defense, and evolve his game a little more than how the season ended. By the time the last 20 games came and went, Royce let me down. He was more of a garbage-time catch-and-release player.

When big shots were needed, he failed to hit them. I projected a big year as Grayson Allen’s replacement, but Royce fell short of the Sixth Man I wanted him to be. Even with a career high in three-point % at 40%, his play was underwhelming.

Jake, host of the Suns Planet Podcast, ranked Ryan Dunn 6th, one of the lowest rankings from the Bright Side writing team.​

Jake: I still think the Big Three are the best. Grayson Allen, while not as good as last year, was still a 43% sniper from three, and Big Meal O'Neale set a career high at nearly 41% from three.

Both Deebo and BMO are solid defenders. While I loved Dunn’s hustle and defense, he wasn’t blocking a lot of shots or getting a lot of steals. His three-point percentage was awful, and his free-throw percentage is the worst on the team.

But I have hope he can improve, but he is a higher ceiling Josh Okogie in my opinion.

Bruce Veliz was much higher on Cody Martin than anyone, ranking him 9th.​

Bruce: I had him higher up as I felt in the small role he played, it was needed for the Suns team. If he was able to play longer for the team this year, I think he would have played himself to a solid role in the rotation due to his hustle and heart on the defensive end, something the Suns lack.

Holden Sherman had Collinn Gillespie ranked 13th. Why so low?​

Holden: Gillespie's impact was hindered by his lack of availability early on. While he was able to contribute down the stretch, the season was mostly unsalvageable at that point, and his impact was drastically different whether he was starting or coming off the bench.

Risers and Fallers​

Then there were the risers this season. When we stacked the final rankings against the preseason list, there was no shortage of movement.

Ryan Dunn, for example, started the year ranked 11th and finished 4th, a jump of seven spots. And then there’s Collin Gillespie, who made the biggest leap, going from 17th all the way to 8th. Those moves alone say plenty about how this Suns season unfolded…and how thin this roster truly was.

These are rotational players, not starters. Yet between them, they combined to start 53 games for Phoenix and somehow ended up as two of the highest-rated players on the team.

It’s a testament to just how badly this roster was constructed. And you can feel it in the conversations around these guys. Suggest trading Ryan Dunn as a sweetener to move off a Bradley Beal deal, and people act like you’re asking them to part with Shawn Marion. The view of reality has been warped by the context of this season.

On the flip side, the biggest faller was Monte Morris, dropping six spots. We expected more from him, not necessarily because of his ability, but because we thought the coaching staff would actually use him. They didn’t. Tyus Jones, who logged far more minutes than Morris, fell too, sliding from 5th to 9th. Meanwhile, Mason Plumlee and Bol Bol each dropped three spots in the final SunsRank.

It all adds up to a pretty telling snapshot of a season that left the Suns — and those of us covering them — grasping for positives in a lineup where expectations rarely matched reality.

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A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s SunsRank.

We’ll circle back to it once the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns roster is set and run it back all over again. Because, as Forrest Gump once said, “You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.”

Please comment below with your thoughts on the final rankings. We’d love to hear where you agree, where you disagree, and what surprised you most.

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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/...ers-player-rankings-analysis-ryan-dunn-durant

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Making the case for and against a Grayson Allen trade this offseason

Photo by Kent J. Edwards/Getty Images

Point or counterpoint, Grayson Allen’s future is up for debate in Phoenix.

Oh, you thought I was done with point/counterpoint debates after Devin Booker and Kevin Durant? Not quite. There are still other highly compensated names on this roster we need to unpack, and it’s only fair we do so. The Suns have five players set to make over $10 million this coming season, and we’ve only scratched the surface with two of them.

Now, before you ask, no. I’m not about to entertain a point/counterpoint on whether the Suns should keep Bradley Beal. Because frankly, I can’t come up with a credible case for it outside of “he’s here, so you might as well hope for a spark in the final years of his deal.” And that’s not analysis. That’s resignation.

But Grayson Allen? That’s a conversation worth having. His skill set, combined with a salary number that makes him movable, is intriguing. He’s owed $54.4 million over the next three years, with a player option in 2027-28 and a $16.9 million hit next season.

There are teams around the league that would value what he brings to the table. So let’s get into it, the reasons you consider trading him this summer…and the reasons you might not.

Point: Trade Grayson Allen​

Roster Construction​

Every successful NBA team shares a common blueprint. You build around one or two max-level stars, surround them with three to six solid mid-tier contracts, and fill out the rest of the roster with veterans on minimums or young players on cost-effective deals. That structure isn’t a secret. It’s a formula. And it’s one the Phoenix Suns failed to follow last season.

They overloaded the top of the cap sheet with three max contracts, leaving little flexibility elsewhere. Yes, they had Grayson Allen’s mid-level deal, which, in theory, should have helped. But in practice, it exposed the real issue: it’s not just about the size of a contract. It’s about the fit.

Grayson Allen is exactly the kind of player you’d typically use a mid-level slot on. But the question isn’t whether his deal is reasonable, it’s whether he gives you what that kind of money should buy on a contending roster. And the answer? Not really.

Allen is a shooter. That’s it. He’s not a defender. Not a tone-setter. Not someone who brings grit, edge, or identity. He bulked up last season, sure. But strength doesn’t equal toughness, and his presence never shifted the Suns’ energy or raised their floor.

That’s the problem. Roster building isn’t just math, it’s purpose. And while Allen checks the financial box, he doesn’t check the basketball ones. When your mid-level guys don’t reinforce your identity, you’re paying the right price for the wrong product.

He has a Desired Skill Set​

Every team in the NBA needs shooting. It’s one of the most coveted and scarce commodities in the league, and teams like the Orlando Magic were desperate for it last season. Grayson Allen has it in spades.

During his time in Phoenix, Allen shot an impressive 44.5% from beyond the arc. In 2023-24, he led the entire league in three-point percentage at 46.1%. That’s not just good, that’s elite. That’s the kind of skill that makes front offices around the league take notice. That’s why Allen is one of the most valuable trade chips the Suns have.

You don’t trade him because he’s bad. You trade him because he’s good, and because teams will pay for it, whether in rotation-ready players or future draft capital. He’s your swing piece, your leverage point, the guy who helps initiate the reset without compromising your top-end talent.

So when you’re reimagining your roster, Allen becomes less of a fixture and more of a means. You move him because he’s a specialist. Because what he does best is universally desirable. And because that gives you the power to go get what you need most.

Now, you might be concerned that moving on from Grayson Allen could weaken the Suns’ three-point shooting. On the surface, that’s fair. But this isn’t a one-for-one swap. It’s a piece of a larger puzzle.

The Suns won’t be operating in a vacuum this offseason. Trading Allen isn’t the only move. They’ll be reshuffling multiple pieces. And in that process, you can reintroduce shooting through players who offer more than just a jumper. The goal isn’t to punt on spacing, it’s to find shooters who also defend, who also rebound, who also bring the edge and identity this team is sorely lacking.

Allen is expendable because you can replace his shooting and address your other needs in the same deal, or the ones that follow. You can chase players who check more than one box. Players like Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., or Goga Bitadze. Guys who bring size. Guys who bring defense. Guys who can patch the holes that exposed this team time and time again.

If Allen helps you get there, you make that move. Because in the pursuit of identity, you don’t hang on to redundancy. You turn it into something that matters.

Counterpoint: Do Not Trade Grayson Allen​

Now is Not the Time​

One of the biggest reasons not to trade Grayson Allen right now? Timing.

Yes, his contract is valuable. And yes, it was crafted with intention. When the Suns signed Allen to his extension, they did it with roster flexibility in mind. They used his Bird rights to inflate the number, the same way they did with Josh Okogie, giving themselves a mid-tier salary slot to use in a future deal.

It was a chess move, not a commitment.

But here’s the issue: the contract might be just a little too long at this moment. Allen has three years left, and that can be a tough pill to swallow for a front office looking for short-term help. Not every team is eager to take on a long-term deal, even for a sharpshooter. Some just want a rental. A plug-and-play shooter to open the floor for a playoff run. Not a three-year commitment.

That changes a year from now. When Allen is down to two years left on his deal, it becomes significantly more digestible. More palatable. Easier to fit into cap sheets and timelines. It’s a nuance, but a critical one.

You can see the contrast with Nassir Little, another contract that was deemed “just a little too long.” The Suns had to stretch and waive him because there was no market. Allen is a different case entirely. He does have a market. But to maximize that market—to get back real value—it may be smarter to wait. Let the timeline mature. Let the demand grow. Let the contract shorten. And then strike.

You Always Can Use Three-Point Shooting​

Yes, GA is tradeable. But that doesn’t mean you have to trade him.

You’ve got one of the most valuable skill sets in the modern NBA: elite three-point shooting. And Allen doesn’t just check that box, he defines it. Since arriving in Phoenix, he’s shot 44.5% from deep. That’s not just good. That’s historic. He leads the franchise all-time in both three-point percentage and threes made per game—2.5, to be exact—surpassing names like Raja Bell, Kevin Durant, and even Steve Nash. That’s rarefied air, and it doesn’t just grow on trees.

The Suns ranked fifth in the league in three-point percentage during Allen’s first season. They improved to third the following year. That’s not a coincidence. That’s impact. And impact, especially at a reasonable salary, is hard to come by.

Is he a lockdown defender? No. Does he bring toughness, grit, and a menacing physical presence? Not really. But does he fill a critical need for this team and any team in the league trying to win basketball games? Absolutely. You still have to score. You still have to space the floor. You still need guys who know how to put the ball in the basket. That’s what Allen gives you, night in and night out.

So unless you’re getting exactly what you need in return—be it size, defense, or a foundational piece that helps you build a new identity—there’s no need to rush this. You hold the cards. And in Grayson Allen, you’re holding a damn good one.

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Point. Counterpoint. Trade Grayson Allen. Keep Grayson Allen. The case has been made on both fronts.

Now the question turns to you: what do you think?

Should the Suns hang on to the most efficient three-point shooter in franchise history, or should they cash in on one of their most tradeable assets to reshape the roster? Does he represent a crucial floor-spacer for a star-heavy team, or is he the first domino in a broader effort to redefine the team’s identity?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and check back tomorrow when we ask the same question about Royce O’Neale.

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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/...ors-keep-or-move-three-point-shooter-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Exploring the case for trading Royce O’Neale—and the reasons to keep him around

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

He’s another member of the Phoenix Suns who could be moved this offseason. Should he?

The Phoenix Suns find themselves at a crossroads this offseason, with a pair of mid-tier contracts — Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale — that could offer a path back to financial flexibility. In a summer sure to be filled with tough choices, these two names deserve some discussion. If the Suns are serious about reshaping their identity, parting ways with either or both could be a necessary step toward retooling the roster.

Yesterday, we explored the case for Grayson Allen. Today, it’s Royce O’Neale’s turn.

While both players fit a similar mold — a floor-spacing wing who brings shooting off the bench — O’Neale separates himself with his defensive acumen. He might not be a lockdown perimeter defender, but his strength at the point of attack makes him a valuable chess piece, especially in playoff matchups.

O’Neale’s deal is no small commitment. He signed a four-year, $44 million contract last offseason, leaving three years and $32.6 million remaining, fully guaranteed through 2027–28. No team or player options.

So the question stands: is Royce O’Neale a piece worth keeping, or should the Suns explore a trade to further their transformation?

Let’s break it down.

Point: Trade Royce O’Neale​

The Measurables​

What’s the old adage? You can never have too many wings in the NBA? Sure, but it helps if those wings come with a bit more size and length than Royce O’Neale brings to the table. At 6’4” with a 6’9” wingspan, O’Neale is limited in his defensive ceiling, not just because of skill, but because of simple measurables.

Yes, he’s a decent defender. But let’s not fool ourselves. Part of why O’Neale looked like a standout on that end of the floor is because the Suns’ defense as a whole was so underwhelming. When the tide is low, even a modest wave can look like a swell. And while he carries a defensive reputation, the numbers suggest otherwise.’

At his core, he’s a three-point specialist. Same as Grayson Allen. The difference is, O’Neale isn’t especially athletic, he’s not quick laterally, and he’s not exactly a young building block either. He’ll be 32 when next season tips off.

So if you’re evaluating this through the lens of value, age, and upside, the conclusion is fairly straightforward: you can do better for what you’re paying him.

So do better.

He’s One Dimensional​

There were stretches this season where I genuinely forgot Royce O’Neale was even on the floor. And yet, did you know he finished fourth in total minutes played for the Phoenix Suns? Say what? If you’re someone who values impact over presence, Royce might not be your guy.

He can’t create his own shot. He’s purely a catch-and-shoot option. In fact, 468 of his 570 shot attempts came within two seconds of touching the ball. That’s 82%.

82% of Royce O’Neale’s shots (468 of 570) came within 2 seconds of catching the ball. Pure catch-and-shoot guy. pic.twitter.com/Sdej2cl5NC

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) May 3, 2025​

Offensively, if you’re looking for someone with a wide-ranging skill set, it’s not Royce. At least Grayson Allen can put the ball on the deck and make a run at the rim.

O’Neale dunked the ball just three times all season. And while he logged the fourth-most minutes on the team, he ranked 13th in free throw attempts, with only 26 all year. He simply doesn’t offer anything off the bounce or at the line. If the three isn’t falling, the offense falls flat with him.

Counterpoint: Do Not Trade Royce O’Neale​

Instant Offense​

In a year and a half with the Suns, Royce O’Neale shot 40% from deep. That matters. As much as we all fantasize about what the Phoenix Suns should be, you can’t sacrifice reliable bench scoring in the name of a defensive identity that is more about wishful thinking than roster reality.

Why is everyone so obsessed with improving the defense? Because it was so bad last season, of course. But it’s no different than two summers ago when the team lacked point guard play. What did we all clamor for? More point guards. And what did we get? A bunch of point guards. Didn’t help much.

Now, we’re seeing the same pendulum swing with defense. Fans and media alike are shipping Suns players off in mock trades to chase defense-first role guys. The problem? Those guys usually can’t score. And when the playoffs roll around, scoring still wins games.

Booker
Dunn
Hart
Anunoby
Richards

— PHX Fans (@PHXFansAZ) May 2, 2025​

Note: the combined three-point shooting percentage of the starting five proposed above this past season was 34%. That would rank 28th amongst starting fives.

Royce O’Neale isn’t a lockdown defender, but he competes. He hustles. He was one of the few Suns I never questioned in terms of effort. And again, 40% from three. That’s real value, especially on a team that desperately needs spacing and consistent shot-making off the bench.

Bottom line? He gives a damn. Keep the guy who can shoot the ball.

Price for Value Paid​

It all comes back to value.

What Royce O’Neale provides on the contract he’s signed to? That’s a steal. Four years, $44 million? That’s front-office gold in today’s NBA, especially with the cap set to rise. He’s not just affordable, he’s smart roster construction.

Grayson Allen’s deal, while manageable, is a bit pricier and somewhat redundant when compared to Royce. Both he and GA were duplicative. How duplicative? They scored the same number of points.

Fun Fact: Both Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale scored 680 points this season. https://t.co/ssxbvijWSO

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) May 3, 2025​

They offer similar strengths as floor spacers, but if you’re looking to cut costs and keep production, you keep the guy on the better contract. You keep Royce.

The Suns were savvy, locking him in. He’s a plug-and-play rotation piece for any contending roster, and at 32, he’s got a few more solid years left. Luckily, those years might be spent right here in Phoenix.

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It’s not as hotly debated as the Kevin Durant question, but it’s absolutely something the Suns need to consider this offseason. If you’re serious about improving on the margins, you’ve got to take a hard look at your current margins.

So what do you think about Phoenix’s fringe pieces? What should the Suns do with Royce O’Neale?

Let us know in the comments below.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ale-grayson-allen-nba-offseason-2025-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Sports Hernia stopped Cody Martin from playing much with the Suns

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Nevada product struggled with his shot in his 14 games for the Valley after being traded to them at the deadline from the Charlotte Hornets.

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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It took Nevada Wolfpack alum Cody Martin more than a month to suit up for the Valley after being traded to Phoenix at the trade deadline this season, not giving him much time or healthy opportunities to show what he could bring to the team as he was dealing with a sports hernia injury.

In his 14 games with the Suns, he didn’t eclipse double-digit scoring once or have a game with multiple threes. His impact was minimal, registering just one game with more than 20 minutes played for the team.

Cody Martin​

• Position: Small Forward
• Vitals: 6’6”, 205 pounds, 29 years old
• Experience: 6 years
• Stats (With Phoenix): 14 GP, 3.7 PPG (35.1 FG%, 11.1 3PT%, 75.0 FT%), 3.4 RPG, 1.1 APG,

Contract Details​

Martin will be entering the final year of his four-year, $31 million contract he signed with the Charlotte Hornets before the 2022-2023 season. The final year of his deal becomes fully guaranteed on June 30th.

Regular Season Recap​

Martin was hurt with a sports hernia when he was acquired by the Suns for Jusuf Nurkić back in March. Playing just 14 games for the Suns, he made his debut more than a month after being traded. After being traded, he averaged 14:42 minutes a game and took just 4.1 shots. If that were his season totals excluding his time with Charlotte, it would be his lowest minutes per game and second-fewest shots per game of his career.

He wasn’t on the team long enough or played enough significant minutes to be considered a part of the problem for the Suns, but he shot 50% from the field or better in just five games for the team and under 35% in his nine other contests.

His best game for the team came in the Valley’s best win of the season, beating the eventual 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers, where he posted 4 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Biggest Strength​

Martin averaged 1.3 stocks per game (steals and blocks) with the Suns in his limited minutes; his four stocks in the team’s win against the Chicago Bulls were significant during the squad’s short, but strong stint of play in the middle of March.

For his size, he’s an aggressive attacker at the glass and provided strong hustle for the team, as displayed by his strong stock numbers.

Biggest Weakness​

Martin struggled to shoot efficiently in his time with the Valley. Shooting 35.1% from the field and 11.1% from deep, he couldn’t find his shot, but it’s fair to attribute that partly due to the two-month absence he had that started while he was still in Charlotte. For his career, Martin is about a 31% three-point shooter, but he barely shot a third of that on less than two attempts with the Suns

Likelihood of Return: 5​

Martin is unlikely to crack the Suns' rotation if he’s on the team next season, but if he’s on the roster, his salary and expiring contract can be used as a vehicle for the Suns to make trades with other teams. The Suns appear to be trying to get under the second apro,n and Phoenix may not guarantee his contract as a result.

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Overall Grade: C-​

Martin didn’t have a great Suns tenure. Was it the reason the Suns had a bad season? Absolutely not. But his play with the team was not strong enough to justify the Suns getting rid of a first-round pick just to get rid of Jusuf Nurkić. Potentially if he returns next year and has a full training camp and is healthy, he will have better production.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...d-cody-martin-from-playing-much-with-the-suns

 

[Phoenix Suns]

There’s a new member of the Phoenix Suns family

Haven and Hector could be the NBA’s most lovable duo.

If you didn’t know Devin Booker loves dogs, then you don’t really know Devin Booker.

It’s not just a fun fact, it’s part of who he is. Every now and then at PHX Arena, when he drills a clean three from the wing, you might hear a bark echo over the Phoenix Suns’ sound system. That bark? It’s not random. It’s the voice of Haven, his loyal Cane Corso.

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Book (@dbook)​

Haven isn’t just Booker’s pet. He’s his muse.

He inspired a special colorway of his debut signature sneaker, the “Book 1: Haven,” complete with a gleaming metallic bronze Swoosh that stands out like a proud badge of honor. Booker’s been photographed countless times with him, a quiet nod to a bond that seems to ground him amid the chaos of NBA life.

But now, that bond has grown.

According to recent Instagram posts, there’s a new presence in Booker’s life: another Cane Corso named Hector.

A dawg & his new pup pic.twitter.com/RZfD3Xy3wM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 5, 2025​

Haven and Hector. The duo sounds like a children’s book waiting to be written, or maybe just the next great sneaker story waiting to unfold.

One can only wonder...how long until we get the Book 1: Hector?

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ook-1-sneaker-inspiration-cane-corso-nba-suns

 

[Phoenix Suns]

2025 Suns Player Review: Collin Gillespie, the next hidden gem for the Suns

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In a limited role, he impressed, but will it be enough to bring him back to the Valley?

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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Collin Gillespie came into the Valley this year and showed who he can truly be in the NBA this season.

After getting released from the Denver Nuggets, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns. Gillespie was ready to change the narrative on his game and truly show that his college dominance can translate to the NBA. He was a two-way player, though, so he had to earn his role to show out for the main roster.

Gillespie got that opportunity due to the influx of injuries sustained by the Phoenix roster. In his limited time of 33 games, he showed the Suns something they had been missing: heart and hustle.

Collin Gillespie​

• Position: Point Guard
• Vitals: 6’1”, 195 pounds, 25 years old
• Experience: 2 Years
• Stats: 33 GP, 5.9 PTS, (43 FG%, 43.3 3FG%, 86.4 FT%) 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.2 BPG, 0.5 SPG

Contract Details​

In free agency last summer, Collin Gillespie signed a one-year two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, allowing him to play for both franchises, the Phoenix and Valley Suns. Since Gillespie was not signed before the season ended, he is now a restricted free agent. Any team can offer him a contract around the league and take him from Phoenix. They do not want to be in this scenario because they already have a high tax bill.

Regular Season Recap​

Since Gillespie was on a two-way deal, he started his season with the Valley Suns. This year, he played ten games for the G-League squad, starting in all. He averaged 21.2 PPG alongside 7.6 RPG, 11.1 APG, and 1.9 SPG. By putting up stats like this, it was evident he was better than his competition, and the Villanova veteran was ready for the NBA.

His debut for Phoenix was in October, where he suited up in an early victory. Gillespie was not seen until January, when he saw garbage time minutes in blowout wins. It was not until the guard room started sustaining injuries that Gillespie could see some real minutes. The night that helped Gillespie the most, though, was March 4th. The Suns and Clippers were playing, and Collin Gillespie hit some clutch shots alongside Kevin Durant to give the Suns a win. That was a key game for Collin, as after it, only three more times did he receive less than ten minutes a night when he suited up.

The best night he had for Phoenix came vs the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 26th. After the Suns had been embarrassed by the Celtics the previous game, they looked to get back into the win column. Unfortunately, that did not come true, but they saw Collin Gillespie’s career high. He notched twenty-two points, ten rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting above 80% from FG and the 3FG (9/11 from the field, 4/5 from three). The best part? He did this without shooting ONE free throw! Now this is a guy the Valley should invest in.

Biggest Strength​

His most significant strength is his offensive ability and creation of offense for others. Gillespie is a more undersized guard at 6’1”, so it hinders his ability to score on bigger defenders. Yet that is not a problem for Gillespie, and it was shown this year. He showed multiple times that he had this “Nash-esque” driving ability, and we all gasped when seeing it for the first time. He can shoot the ball at a solid clip, especially from three if he’s hot. Whether it is a shot he creates for himself or a catch-and-shoot three, you can trust him.

Collin Gillespie joins Steve Nash as the only Suns players to record 20 PTS & 10 AST on 100% TS. pic.twitter.com/b96gcs5g5M

— Real Sports (@realapp_) March 29, 2025​

Also, Gillespie can be a perfect playmaker for a secondary unit. His stats for the Valley Suns showed he is selfless and willing to set up his teammates. He did the same when getting called up, especially when placed in the starting lineup. Gillespie’s ability to play off-ball alongside Devin Booker was also a key factor. He was the only one to fit next to him, which is not good, especially when the Suns tried to achieve this success with other guards, such as Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, and Bradley Beal.

Biggest Weakness​

His biggest weakness is his defensive ability. As I mentioned earlier, being just above 6 feet makes it more challenging for him to match up against some of these players in the NBA. Opposing teams will try to utilize mismatches by setting screens to get Gillespie on their best player or a favorable matchup for them. A team like the Boston Celtics uses a “killer whale” mentality, attacking the “seal,” and that is what they did in their matchups this season.

This will motivate Collin to improve on that side of the floor. He is aggressive on the offensive side to get whatever bucket he needs, and I don’t see that fight stopping on the defensive side either, even if, due to his size, he cannot stop everyone.

Likelihood of Return: 7​

https://t.co/ubnMW1LAjw pic.twitter.com/v3SaKmds6a

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 14, 2025​

With the Suns being in the second apron, it makes any transaction difficult. Since Gillespie is also a restricted free agent, any team can offer him a deal. This means the Suns will compete with teams that value a young point guard who has shown growth in a limited time. Gillespie values the Suns giving him an opportunity and stated that at the end of the season. A young player who wants a chance in the league may value that loyalty to the team that let him sprout. That said, I would not be shocked if he got more money from another team and did leave, as this is a business.

Overall Grade: B+​

In his limited time on the roster, Collin gave it his all regardless, and you tip your cap to that. The heart and hustle in every contest on both sides of the ball were unmatched. Whether it was 3 minutes or getting 20 a night, he was always ready to go for this team when he was called upon. He also did not try to outdo his role for the team. When he knew he was struggling, he let the stars go to work and was a solid complementary piece alongside Booker, even with their defensive flaws.

I wanted Collin signed before the end of the season, and I will be severely disappointed if he leaves this offseason. Let’s do something right and bring him back!

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...in-gillespie-the-next-hidden-gem-for-the-suns

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns JAM Session Podcast: Phoenix Suns Coaching Candidates

Shooting the shit about the Phoenix Suns since 2019.

The Suns have a big decision ahead on who should be their next head coach. John and Matthew break down the options, drafting potential candidates and debating who deserves the job — and who absolutely doesn’t.

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Watch it right here!

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...sion-podcast-phoenix-suns-coaching-candidates

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks prove how quickly a Finals run can fade

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Both teams are likely to have rough seasons moving forward, but the Suns have more to look back on in regret than the Bucks do because Milwaukee has a trophy.

It was just four years ago. The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks were tussling it out for the Larry O’Brien Trophy to conclude the 2020-21 NBA Season. While the Suns came up short, the future felt hopeful in the Valley because of what the team displayed: optimism that the run wasn’t a fluke, and that the chance to win a championship and do what the Bucks had just done was still possible.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Since then, both have done whatever they could to return to the NBA Finals, making trades for superstars and giving up nearly every draft asset both teams have. However, both are nowhere near contention anymore. While they both still have their foundational player from their Finals runs — Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo — the surrounding casts around both players are much worse than it was.

Even before Damian Lillard went down, the Bucks lacked the defensive ability and three point prowess they once had, and Phoenix is absent the size, depth, and defense that anchored them in 2021.

The similarities are staggering.

While both team’s futures are bleak, the Bucks have nothing to say sorry for, they got their hardware. Even though the Lillard trade hasn’t worked out the way that they thought it would, they will always be able to look back at this era knowing that Giannis Antetokounmpo led them to the end goal.

It’s a make-or-miss league; the Suns missed.

The trades for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal that mortgaged the franchise’s future draft capital and young players have to be viewed differently because of the results (more than the lack thereof) that they reaped. If that wasn’t the case, then people wouldn’t ridicule the Brooklyn Nets for going all in on Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving and them being a failed trio, or the Los Angeles Clippers continuing to struggle to since they traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a bounty of draft picks to convince Kawhi Leonard to come to California by acquiring Paul George.

Outside of the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Anthony Davis and the Toronto Raptors trading for Kawhi Leonard, no superstar trades have resulted in a championship in recent years, and the Suns getting Durant has not.

Phoenix still has a chance to get something in return for Durant, who is likely to be traded this offseason, unlike the Clippers did for George, who left last summer. However, the door appears completely closed for the Suns to win it all for the foreseeable future.

If the expectations weren’t heightened because of the Finals run and the 64-win season they had the next year, then perhaps Monty Williams would still be coaching, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson would still be on the Suns, and James Jones would still be the GM. But as we’ve seen of late, with the Denver Nuggets firing Mike Malone less than two years after they won a title and Frank Vogel leaving the Lakers less than two years after he won one coaching them, success changes perspectives, and the Suns got close to the mountain top, but never achieved it.

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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.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...nals-regret-bradley-beal-bucks-giannis-future