The Phoenix Suns have lost nine of their last 12 games after a 9-2 start. Kevin Durant has missed time, and the team is 1-9 without him in the lineup. It makes the ominous trade rumors even more terrifying and has the Suns searching for answers. Phoenix is supposed to have three stars, but Bradley Beal is certainly not playing like one.
There has been talk about bringing him off the bench, which is not ideal for a player making over $50 million per year for the next three seasons. The Suns have Durant, Devin Booker, and Tyus Jones locked in as starters when healthy. Adding Beal makes the group a bit small and presents defensive challenges. He is an elite scorer and three-time All-Star, but it is a championship-or-bust season in Phoenix.
Bringing Beal off the bench won’t solve their issues. The 31-year-old has been a problem on both ends of the floor, and the Suns won’t fix it until his play improves. They are not trading for an upgrade, so it is on head coach Mike Budenholzer and his staff to find a solution.
Suns are significantly worse with Bradley Beal on the floor
Beal’s counting stats are down from last season, but far from disastrous. He averages 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33.5 minutes per game. The 6’4 wing is shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 36.0 percent on his 3-point attempts. Beal has the ball in his hands less with Jones running the offense and the advanced metrics are significantly down.
Beal has produced 0.065 win shares per 48 minutes, which is well below the league average and the second-worst mark of his career. His 0.1 value over replacement player (VORP) is his worst and the on/off numbers paint a worse picture. The Suns score 0.9 points per 100 possessions more and give up 5.7 less with Beal on the bench. There 114.3 offensive rating with him would still be top ten, but the Suns' defense would be 28th.
Coach Bud must figure this out. The franchise has struggled without KD, which is more problematic. That is when Beal has to step up and take on more usage. His scoring increases with his turnovers, and the Suns have been outscored by 35 points with Beal on the floor in the five games he has played without Durant in the lineup.
Beal is no longer the prime version fans saw in Washington averaging 30 points per game. He has a lengthy injury history and has already missed eight contests this season. The Suns need to figure out how to play even in his minutes. Beal is often sharing the court with at least one other star, so it should not be impossible. They need the three-time All-Star to make more shots and to pick it up on the defensive end if the Suns plan on taking the next step.
Bradley Beal is an exceptional talent but is proving his doubters right. Many questioned why the Suns went all-in to acquire him. They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs in 2024 and look headed for a second straight early exit. Beal must improve. If not, he joins a growing list of fringe stars on massive contracts that cannot be moved.
The Suns believe they can win but may be stuck. That is the price for going all-in. Fans hope to avoid the doomsday scenario, but Beal may be the one who ignites it.