The Phoenix Suns are going to find themselves in a tough spot this offseason, and it will be in large part thanks to the disaster that was the failed Bradley Beal trade.
They don't have a lot of flexibility to find a legitimate co-star to pair with Devin Booker, who at 29-years-old surely wants to get back to contending as soon as he can.
Co-star will have to come from within which does not appear likely
Which is why a name like Ja Morant has been mentioned seemingly out of the blue in recent days. The Suns have no realistic ways of adding a true co-star next to Booker, which is why available big names in need of a change of scenery are going to get brought up.
This despite owner Mat Ishbia claiming that this time he's in it for the long haul in terms of building a roster that can compete, while also proclaiming that Booker is going nowhere. All of that may be true, but the less acknowledged aspect of Ishbia's bold new vision is the fact it can't go any other way.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is not walking through that door, both because the Suns would be outbid if it came down to it and as a result of not having much cap space left to do anything. When you want to bring back Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, as well as likely extend Mark Williams and eventually Dillon Brooks, wiggle room is at a premium.
Going into the second apron again would also be a disaster, as it was going there in the first place even before the Beal trade was made that got them into this mess in the first place.
Equally as depressing a thought is who internally could become the ideal co-star. Brooks auditioned in his maiden campaign in The Valley, and despite turning in a career year the 30-year-old Canadian has likely already reached the peak of his powers. It's fun, but not near the required levels to get back to contention.
Jalen Green? The Suns surely hope the best is yet to come, but there's a reason his name gets brought up frequently in trade rumors as well.
He has failed to live up to the billing as a former second overall pick, while the fit next to Booker has not always looked fluid. Particularly defensively.
This is the offseason when the Suns will realize just how stuck in their current situation they are, and there won't be an easy fix outside of trading Booker this decade.
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