Despite having one of the most underwhelming seasons in franchise history - relative to the expectations laid out prior to the regular season beginning - the Phoenix Suns have somehow clawed themselves back into the play-in conversation. Quite why they'd even want to is another story, as it is hard to see them doing anything other than getting swept if they did make it to the playoffs.
Given that the franchise has to hand over its first round pick this summer to the Houston Rockets though, that is all the motivation the front office needs to remain competitive, so as to not gift-wrap that pick and give it to Houston. From the perspective of the players, there's no way Devin Booker and Kevin Durant want to go out like that either.
Which has led to this team having a new problem with Bradley Beal.
The Suns have put together back-to-back wins against the Sacramento Kings - one position above them in the Western Conference - and the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the Cavaliers being perhaps the best team in the league this season - albeit one enduring its worst slump of the campaign right now - this ranks as perhaps their best two-game stretch.
Both of the wins have come while Bradley Beal has sat out with a hamstring issue, although he appears to be close to making a return. Which is exactly what the Suns should not want, as head coach Mike Budenholzer - after much deliberating and after receiving from criticism turned support from Durant this season - has finally found a rotation that is working.
It is generally nine guys, with three of those being rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, as well as rookie Collin Gillespie. Against the Cavaliers it was eight, with Booker and Durant being joined in the starting group by Dunn. This is partly by necessity as well, with Grayson Allen, Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards all missing some time recently with various issues.
Bradley Beal has to be the biggest scammer in the NBA 😂 pic.twitter.com/NHQ7ad6gVT
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) March 22, 2025
Beal's absence is the one that is the easiest to spot though, because it no longer feels like the team are trying to find a place for him to come in and do his thing either. Which is sad, because to Beal's credit he'll start, come off the bench and do pretty much anything that is asked of him. He's also still capable of blowing by a lot of guys and can have nice scoring bursts too.
But the reality staring him in the face now is that the Suns look much better on both ends when they have Booker and Durant running the show offensively, and role players in every other position who are willing to put a shift in defensively. The likes of Royce O'Neale (3-point shooting/defending) and Tyus Jones (playmaking) also have their spots, they're just smaller and more refined.
Contrast that with Beal who wants the ball - and deserves it - but who as the third option here just doesn't fit with what the Suns are trying to do. Try as he might, defending at an elite level just isn't his thing, and it should come as no surprise that the team has a dreadful net rating of minus 7.8 when he is out there.
The reason this is a new problem - and one that won't go away - is because prior to the deadline, trying to get rid of Beal was the goal. His no-trade clause was the reason why that didn't happen, and the organization has to accept that. They were having a poor season all round, and Beal's play alone was certainly not the main reason why.
Him being stuck in Phoenix was bad - but so was just about everything else - which made it easier to swallow. Contrast that with now and the Suns have suddenly looked more competitive and are actually winning games while he's on the sidelines. Bring him back into the fold is going to be a tough thing to do, and there is growing evidence that it will also derail the good vibes of the last week.
If you will humor us the tiny sample size, the Suns have had the fifth best offensive rating across the two games in which they have won (126.9), while defensively it has been around league average as well. Not dead last - which it was in February - and when Beal was a more important part of the defensive equation. Figuring this one out will be coach Bud's greatest task to close out the season.