As the NBA's regular season enters its stretch run, it is painfully clear that the Phoenix Suns are not going to be real players in the postseason. In fact with a 27-30 record and having recently been roundly hammered by the lowly Toronto Raptors, they might not make it to the playoffs at all.
There are many reasons why this has been the case - from the coaching staff to Bradley Beal's contract - but top end talent is not one of them. Any roster that boasts both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant - even if he is now 36-years-old - has to be playing above .500 ball at the very minimum.
The Suns slipped up by not adding this point guard to their team.
If there is one area that has let the franchise down this season however - and despite being a source of strength earlier in the campaign - it is the point guard rotation. Tyus Jones was a wonderful offseason addition - and although he started off by fixing so many of the problems of last season - he has become a problem the organization can no longer ignore.
Defensively he gets picked on badly - and although he can knock down an open 3-pointer - the Suns have too many problems on a nightly basis to be able to carry Jones. If their roster makeup was different perhaps this wouldn't be an issue, but they simply can't survive his minutes defensively, while on the other end the ball is better placed in the hands of Booker, or even Beal.
I am a believer in the work ethic, defense & playmaking Markelle Fultz brings to the Sacramento Kings. If his 10 minutes of play against the Warriors were any sign of what’s to come, I feel hopeful for the direction the Kings are headed. Give him playing time and we’ll be back! pic.twitter.com/1ETEmJzAqh
— E Train Talks Sports (@ETrainNBA) February 23, 2025
Which is why the Suns should have made more of a play for Markelle Fultz, who was recently snapped up by the Sacramento Kings. To be clear before cotinuing, Fultz would not have solved all of the problems in The Valley. In fact he's so limited offensively - he doesn't have a reliable outside shot of any kind - that he would have created new problems to solve.
There's a reason the Orlando Magic somewhat surprisingly ditched him ahead of this season, and the reality is they just didn't have the minutes for a niche floor general on their much improved roster anymore. But when you consider the Suns have Jones, Monte Morris and Collin Gillespie - plus Booker and Beal handling the ball when it suits them - Fultz was surely worth a look.
He could have been signed to a minimum deal, and right away would have been a huge defensive upgrade over Jones. He doesn't take care of the ball nearly as well, but it's not like Jones has fixed that problem entirely in Phoenix either. Perhaps best of all, Fultz also possesses the size and ability to drive to the basket, and he would have had a lot of space to do so.
Former #1 overall pick Markelle Fultz looked really good in the mins he played last night! I expect more mins for Fultz moving forward #LightTheBeam pic.twitter.com/zjMJoBONGL
— SactownPete (@PMasih007) February 22, 2025
He would have needed the ball in his hands to be effective, although he still could have played some minutes next to the likes of Booker and Durant. He's only appeared once so far for the Kings, but there was a lot to like with his eight point cameo in only 10 minutes of play. Yes there were three turnovers, and not one attempt from deep or the free-throw line.
But you can't say that a bulkier guard - who is still somehow only 26-years-old - wasn't worth bringing in until the end of the season. This group is going nowhere anyway, and Fultz did a wonderful job of rehabbing his value in Orlando. If the likes of Bol Bol are being given more of a chance - another former Magic player - then surely another point guard who can defend was worth a shot?