2 Reasons Suns should want Jimmy Butler, 1 reason to avoid

The Phoenix Suns continue to be linked with a trade for Jimmy Butler, with the latest developments putting them as one of the two locations - alongside the Golden State Warriors - that the player himself would ideally like to land. Actually doing this will be a lot more difficult, what with the Suns being in the second apron.

Then again, they somehow added Bradley Beal last summer, and it is not like the Warriors have a clear path to obtaining the star. They just traded for Dennis Schroder, while their own financial situation is far from perfect. If these are indeed the final two standing for the 35-year-old's services, then the Suns are somehow still in the race.

There would be pros and cons to adding Butler to this team.

Although the positives do outweigh the negatives, don't trick yourself into thinking this would be the perfect fit. The idea of flipping an ageing Paul for a then 30-year-old star in Beal sounded great in theory. The reality however - as we are all too aware at this point - has been far from great. Not a single playoff victory to show for that swing. Be careful what you wish for Suns fans.

2. Positive - Jimmy Butler is a winner

If there is one thing that has been missing in Phoenix recently, it has been a player with a manic desire to win games. Not that Durant and even Beal don't possess this - Devin Booker hasn't looked like his dominant self for much of the campaign to date - but Butler has a reputation in this area for a reason.

He's yet to win a championship having been to the finals twice, and his departure from the Minnesota Timberwolves is the stuff of legend. Contrast that with the 2024-25 Suns, who let Josh Hart rip out their soul and also allowed inferior teams like the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons to beat them without putting up much of a fight.

Butler would change all of that, and despite his advanced age would be the best wing defender this roster has. It has also gotten lost among the trade talk - and really it does the Suns no favors as all they have to offer in return is Beal - but Butler is also having one of the better stretches of his entire career currently. If they want that dog though, Butler is their guy.

1. Positive - Butler is a better fit than Beal

It goes without saying, but we now have enough evidence to suggest that the overlap between Beal and Booker's skills is too great to be able to get the best out of both. They can both operate with the ball in hand - although having a true point guard next to them in Tyus Jones helps - but they do their best scoring work off the ball.

The problem with that however is the Suns are adamant Jones has to start to bring order to the offensive end and set up plays, but they also don't want to bring Beal off the bench. Starting that trio together creates problems - not only on the defensive end as you would expect - but also offensively as Jones takes turns teeing up Booker and Beal in quite similar ways.

Contrast that with Butler, who is averaging around the same points each night as Beal (18.5 compared to 18.9), although he's not nearly as consistent from 3-point range. Nevertheless, the trade-off in shooting compared to the more all around two-way play Butler would bring to this starting group is massive.

He would defer more to Booker when it comes to scoring, and provides more of that length and willingness to defend that is missing right now. Beal has actually done well on this end of the court so far this season, it's just that he's not Butler. A trio of Booker, Butler and Durant just makes a lot more sense, and the wins would be sure to follow.

1. Negative - Raising the age profile even more

The Suns have already made a massive gamble that going after veteran All-Star level players is the way to win big, and it has not paid off. You do the deal for Durant every time, but at 35-years-old the reality is from here on out he is going to miss time every so often with niggling injuries.

The same is also true of Beal - and although he'd be making way for Butler assuming he waived his no-trade clause - Butler himself has hit a point where he can't be relied upon to play every night. Even Booker - the youngest and most durable star of this group - hasn't played more than 70 games since 2019-20, the first season he was named an All-Star.

Instead the organization should be trying to trend in the other direction, and their draft picks from the offseason have proven why this should be. Both Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are too young to be expected to make a massive difference in the playoffs, but they've been excellent throughout points of the regular season.

Young, hungry and with a ton of athleticism, it is that kind of play which the Suns have relied upon to win some games. Granted getting guys like this is tough as the franchise is in the second apron, but is flipping a 31-year-old for a player four years older who has injury problems of their own really the look here? If the Suns can get Butler to The Valley, it does not mean he'll be on the court more than Beal.