The Phoenix Suns began this stretch of the season without superstar Kevin Durant on Sunday, with a spirited overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. A result that dropped the team to 8-2 - and although this start to the season has been fantastic - more losses are surely going to follow without Durant.
Replicating what he does on the offensive end is impossible - he's been incredibly clutch in the early goings of the campaign - while on the defensive side of the ball he is perhaps as underrated as ever. He'll never get All-Defense consideration, but to see how much he can alter the shots and decision-making of opponents each night, he probably should.
It will now be on these three players to eat up some of Durant's minutes.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer obviously can't swap like-for-like here, because nobody in the league has a player like Durant on their roster. A 36-year-old who not only gives you 27 points per game, but who can easily slot into the style of play that the Suns have been implementing so far this season, which is taking a ton of 3-pointers.
3. Ryan Dunn
We already got this one wrong in suggesting rookie Ryan Dunn might miss his opportunity here, as he started in Durant's place in that aforementioned loss to the Kings. Dunn was listed as having an ankle sprain though - although assuming he is healthy enough to keep playing - he's the most likely candidate to both start and receive more run.
The logic behind Dunn getting this spot is obvious. He's got the most similar body type to Durant - even if the offensive game is leagues behind his teammate - and playing the four is something that comes naturally to him. Particularly on the defensive end, where the Suns may actually show areas of improvement with Dunn in place.
RYAN DUNN 😱 pic.twitter.com/xlW87ZBC0h
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 11, 2024
He's already playing just over 16 minutes per game, although the otherworldly shooting from deep has regressed back to a still respectable 36.1 percent. As long as Dunn is making just enough shots from 3-point range to go with that defensive upside, he is going to do an admirable job filling in for Durant.
The bigger picture here is that Durant won't be in The Valley forever, whereas the Suns struck gold in getting Dunn from this year's draft. He'll never replace Durant's talent, but what he can be is a long-term partner next to Devin Booker. Like Mikal Bridges for this version of the team. You have to back that with more minutes when injury strikes elsewhere on the roster.
2. Josh Okogie
The case for Josh Okogie is the complete opposite to that of Dunn, and yet that is the reason he will see more minutes while Durant is on the treatment table. It is no coincidence that Okogie - who missed the start of the campaign with a hamstring strain - had received some DNPs when he was back to full fitness.
The reality is there is no consistent spot in the rotation in Phoenix for him anymore, but keeping Okogie around never really seemed to be the plan anyway. He was signed to a two-year, $16 million deal this summer with many thinking it was so the organization could gain access to players across the league on similar money, making a trade as they're in the second apron a lot easier.
So playing Okogie with Durant gone allows the Suns to put him in the shop window, with the hopes of perhaps getting something in return down the road. It was interesting to note that - in Durant's first game out - Okogie played 16 minutes and was effectively the ninth man in the rotation. He had nine points and five boards while out there.
This meant he leapfrogged rookie Oso Ighodaro (10 minutes) in the rotation, while his above average defensive play is there for all to see. Okogie can never start in place of Durant and he's not a direct swap in the way Dunn is. But he's a veteran who can defend bigger players and who the team may also look to trade, making him an ideal solution for the next number of weeks.
1. Grayson Allen
The fortunes of Grayson Allen have changed wildly since the end of last season. Back then he led the league in 3-point shooting percentage (46.1 percent), although the bottom fell out in the postseason (20 percent). That was as much to do with an ankle injury than anything else, as Allen appeared in only two games of the series sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He's back in Phoenix and totally cool with point guard Tyus Jones taking his spot with the starting group. The problem with that is, Royce O'Neale has looked better as the team's sixth man as well. That has put Allen in no man's land - and although he's still very much a part of the rotation - he's not nearly as easy to define as he was last season.
Taking some of Durant's minutes should help him get some of his confidence back. He's played for coach Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks before - and although they did trade him - he's now playing in a system that rewards 3-point shooters a lot more as well. There's zero reason Allen can't thrive off the bench with an extra five minutes or so per game.
He also packed on a ton of muscle over the summer - and although playing the four consistently may not be the route the coaching staff goes with Allen - it is encouraging to know this is something that could at least be tried. Allen is seventh on the roster in minutes currently at 20.4. Look for him to close the gap on O'Neale in fifth (25.9) while Durant is gone.