The Phoenix Suns finally got their NBA Summer League slate of games underway in Las Vegas on Saturday, as they took on the Washington Wizards. A game that was going to go down as one in which Wizards' rookie Tre Johnson made Suns' big man Khaman Maluach look very foolish indeed, but another storyline ended up stealing the show.
The Suns got three rookies from the Kevin Durant trade, and one of those was Koby Brea in the second round. Signed to a two-way contract, the hope was that he could come in and use his deft shooting to help spread the floor for his new team. With all of the pressure on Maluach to be their big man of the future, Brea was able to fly under the radar.
His 3-point shooting immediately makes Grayson Allen expendable.
Brea had the whole Valley jumping versus the Wizards, and he ended up hitting four of his five shots from deep to lead his side with 19 points. Not only that, but the stroke itself was butter. It is early days, but the combination of Brea's size and his ease at being able to step into shots from beyond the arc is exactly what the Suns have been missing. It now means Grayson Allen is free to leave.
It was already known that Allen was on the trade block, but that was more out of necessity than anything else. Back when Durant was in town and Beal wasn't on the brink of being bought out, the only way to improve the roster was to give up something of value in Allen. It wasn't that long ago that he led the entire league in 3-point shooting.
But the arrival of Brea - plus the combination of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and even Royce O'Neale while he is still also in Phoenix - means there is no room for Allen anymore. The Suns aren't going to win a championship next season, so why not lean into the rookies to see if they can come along quicker than expected.
Suns fans, meet Koby "Fuego" Brea 🔥
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 12, 2025
3-3 from behind the arc, so far pic.twitter.com/KOlUZHBT1t
By the time the team is ready to contend again around Devin Booker, Allen is going to be gone even if he sees out his current deal. Brea on the other hand could be a long-term solution, and he has gotten off to a hot start for the Suns. There is another interesting element to all of this, but that is assuming Beal does eventually leave Phoenix.
The Suns would come under the second apron and could then aggregate salaries in trades. Packaging Allen up with Nick Richards for example would surely get the Suns back some stuff that could help. A first round pick might be a step too far, but it is not out of the question. If the front office have again hit on a second rounder however, then it will be a massive win after the Durant exit.