Grayson Allen could be the key to the Suns escaping cap nightmare

The Phoenix Suns as you know them are going to go through some much needed changes this summer. Already they have a new head coach in Jordan Ott - and despite also being a Michigan State alumni like owner Mat Ishbia - there is still plenty of optimism thanks to Ott's reputation around the league that better times are coming with him in charge.

What to do with Kevin Durant is next on the agenda, and in the coming weeks he is likely to move on. The 36-year-old continuing to be an incredible offensive weapon while in The Valley, it just didn't lead to sustained, team-wide success. The franchise have even brought these bad boys back, dipping into the past in an attempt to secure a happier future.

Ditching Grayson Allen this summer would solve massive Suns problem.

Despite having a down year in 2024-25, Grayson Allen remains one of the better 3-point threats in the entire league. You could make a case that his struggles weren't even completely his fault, as he selflessly stepped aside in order to let Tyus Jones have his starting spot with the Suns. The team needed a true point guard, although that didn't work out for anybody involved.

Allen regressed coming off the bench, Jones is now being linked with NBA purgatory and head coach Mike Budenholzer lost his job. But if you go back to his maiden campaign with Phoenix, Allen actually led the entire league in 3-point shooting at 46.1 percent. Yes the Suns were bounced by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs, but Allen only played in two games.

He had an ankle issue that kept him out of the other two losses - and although his inclusion wouldn't have changed anything - it is a reminder that he still has value in this league. It has most certainly dipped in the last 12 months, but the Suns now have an extra incentive to get him off the books ahead of next season.

Allen will be making just over $18 million, before having a play option on the final year of his current contract after that. That's a long time in the NBA, and there are no shortage of teams who could use Allen's combination of shooting and at least putting in an effort defensive. If the Suns were able to get him off the books - and take next to nothing back in return - they would dip below the second apron.

The organization could also explore a buyout - an avenue they'd surely love to explore with Bradley Beal - but that seems drastic. If the asking price for Allen is essentially a salary dump, you are going to have interested parties throughout the league. It's not like the Suns would even miss Allen that much either, they have Royce O'Neale for the same role and he was basically a net negative last year too.

Getting under the second apron would then allow the Suns more flexibility when making trades, which they are going to need as they re-tool around Devin Booker. For all of the negativity around the Suns at the moment - that is both correct and justified - this is one actual way you could see happening for the team to move forward into a brighter future. It could be Allen's greatest contribution to the team.