Former Suns player possesses the one ingredient this team desperately needs

The Phoenix Suns have managed to steady the ship in the last few games, thanks in large part to the return of Kevin Durant. The 35-year-old back in the starting lineup after an ankle sprain, and right back to doing what he does best as well. Namely, hanging 30 points on anybody who crosses him.

With trade speculation heating up and the Suns somehow a part of the conversation, there is cautious optimism around The Valley right now that they may be able to add a player or two who could help them down the stretch of the regular season. In other words, do everything Thaddeus Young did not when they picked him up from the buyout market last season.

Yet there are still parts of Mikal Bridge's game this team badly misses.

Like that ex that you remember fondly, Bridges has been doing his thing over there with the New York Knicks this season. His jump shot might have been rebuilt to middling success, but there's no doubt he's playing his part in The Big Apple. Unlike when he played for the Suns however - when he was a key piece of their team - Bridges feels like somewhat of a luxury in New York.

No matter your thoughts on him - and if you're a Suns fan as you most likely are - he is the kind of wing defender his former team would love to have right now. Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen might be doing an admirable job in that department - while Bradley Beal's own defensive abilities are more in line with that of a guard - but there's only one Bridges.

Yet that's not even his most envious skill from the perspective of the Suns right now. Instead it is his durability, as Bridges recently enjoyed playing in his 500th straight game in a win over the Orlando Magic. An incredible achievement given the advancements in sports science that have long called for basketball players to appear in less games.

The culture in the league of sitting out games is also strong, but this has never been the style of Bridges. There's an element of luck involved sure - but if he's able to lace them up - then he's going to do just that. The fact he brings it defensively and has never been a truly elite scorer (except for that moment with the Brooklyn Nets), makes this all the more impressive.

Which is why the Suns should be jealous of the feats of their former standout. Bradley Beal was limited to only 53 regular season games in his first season in Phoenix, and already this time out has been hampered by calf tightness and knee swelling. Durant has had similar setbacks, with calf and that aforementioned ankle issue causing him to miss time.

Devin Booker has been durable to this point, but he did play 68 regular season games last time out. The Suns have been dreadful without Durant and are 1-8 when they have to rely on just Booker and Beal. Not good enough if you want to win a championship. Given it is highly likely all three will miss more games as this season continues, it makes what Bridges brought even more special.

Unfortunately for the organization, there is no way to fix this either. They've bet on this trio of stars to carry them all the way, and two of them are going to have issues the rest of their careers. At only 31 it is worrying that Beal is as crocked as he is, having been somewhat of an ironman himself while with the Washington Wizards.

Durant you can understand more, that's just the danger of hitching your wagon to an ageing star. Another reason to caution against any serious movement for Butler. There may be an element of rose-tinted glasses at play here - but when it comes to Mikal Bridges - fans will always look back fondly at his availability no matter the opponent or time of the season.