If there is one area the Phoenix Suns could do with extra depth this season, it is at the point guard position. Although Devin Booker has done the best job possible of both being a scorer and facilitator for this group, the offense tanks as soon as he sits on the bench. The hope is that Jalen Green can help once he returns from injury, but that is not guaranteed.
A small but growing number of fans in The Valley would like to see Collin Gillespie get a chance to start - and although he's been one of the performers of the early season - that isn't going to happen. You can't bench one of Booker or Green for him, while playing all three together would turn the third worse defense in the league into the worst one quickly.
Orlando Magic are now stuck with underperforming Tyus Jones.
Last season the Suns had Tyus Jones running the show - and although that started well - by year's end he was once again coming off the bench and had an underwhelming season. It was unlikely he was ever going to stick around, but you could have made a case that this version of the team actually suits him better than one featuring Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Jones has always done his best work off the bench for more underrated teams or those with lower expectations, and the hope was that the Suns could tick both of those boxes. Instead he chose to go to the Orlando Magic, a fringe defender who were also set up to be one of the best defensive groups in the league.
A lot of bad Magic stats but this is the worst one. On a team with Paolo, Bane, Suggs, and Franz there should be no reason for Tyus Jones to have the highest on-ball% https://t.co/EkrUJudRbn
— praneel (@praneel_c) October 30, 2025
This is important for Jones as he's undersized for the position and can be picked on by opponents. It was a fit that made sense for player and team, yet the Magic are now discovering what the Suns did last season. When you're not a good defensive team, having the 29-year-old out there does more bad than good.
Right now the Magic rank 21st in points allowed each night (117.3), a far cry from being elite on this end last season. Not only that, but offensively they have once again struggled. The hope for them was that Jones could do what was also promised in Phoenix. Namely take care of the basketball and tee his teammates up for some easy points.
Yet through five contests - of which only one was a start - Jones has somehow averaged 1.8 points and assists each game. This is a player who two seasons ago with the Washington Wizards dished out over seven dimes per game, and he did that as a starter. Reverting to bringing him off the bench again also isn't working, and this was a painful reality the Suns figured out as well.
The Magic are in a position now where they have to not only make the playoffs, but go on a deep run. Having Jones on the roster in their quest to achieve this has already backfired - and although it took the Suns longer to get to this point last season - that was the same conclusion that they came to. The Suns still need point guard help, but they will be thankful that they didn't stick with Jones.