The Phoenix Suns continue to push for an automatic playoff spot, although the makeup of their roster has changed as they attempt to do so.
Head coach Jordan Ott finally unleashing the rookies on the league, although this has had a disaster impact on Jamaree Bouyea and his hopes of staying in Phoenix.
Bouyea has slipped out of rotation and possibly out of NBA
The 26-year-old point guard has been a revelation for the Suns this season, but that has all come crashing down in the last couple of weeks.
In the team's last three outings he has a pair of DNP-CDs and one four minute showing in the win over the lowly Indiana Pacers.
In fact that was his only action so far this month, and although he did have a concussion that saw him sidelined most of January, he was back in the rotation last month.
Hard to see how the #Suns will be able to keep Jamaree Bouyea beyond this season (✍🏻 @ValleyoftheSuns)https://t.co/m8rLXLaaWN
— Luke Duffy (@LucaLockheart) December 27, 2025
His 15.4 minutes a night as an important part of the second unit exactly what the Suns needed out of a player they picked up for nothing to round out the end of their bench.
Bouyea had also formed a brilliant partnership off the bench with fellow floor general Jordan Goodwin, although that had felt like coach Ott trying to cobble together rotations with what he had.
The emergence of Rasheer Fleming, and to a lesser extent Khaman Maluach, has seen the need for Bouyea to drop significantly.
Fleming is a bigger and longer defender who already looks comfortable stepping into a 3-pointer, while the fit next to Collin Gillespie, Jalen Green and Devin Booker is obvious.
Dillon Brooks might still be out with that fracture in his left hand, but the Suns also have Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale to take up his minutes.
So while Bouyea was well on track to get another minimum deal to stay in The Valley next season, the picture has quickly changed.
Phoenix will surely bring back Gillespie and Goodwin, while Fleming, Maluach and Koby Brea will all be given more time to show what they can do.
Factor in the need to sign a couple of free agents in positions of weakness, and Bouyea becomes more of a luxury. An incredibly valuable one this season, but the kind of player they can live without.
Given the Suns are his sixth team in four seasons, it is unclear where exactly he could go next either. This was his best shot to remain in the league, and it has disappeared just as quickly as it arrived.