3 goals for Bradley Beal for the 2024-25 season

The Phoenix Suns made two massive moves last offseason to try and win a championship, and it is hard to tell in hindsight which was had the bigger impact. Swapping Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen - which paid off then but perhaps not now - or moving on from Chris Paul in favor of Bradley Beal.

For those who lament the fact the Suns are now stuck with the $160 million owed to Beal across the next three seasons, consider that Paul's own large contract and increased age was a stumbling block, and Beal was one of the only ways to get out of that situation.

Beal's first season in The Valley failed to excite, which means he has lofty goals for year two.

Don't worry though, we're not about to bestow on Beal the same insane prediction that Kevin Garnett recently did. Rather it is about being honest about where the now 31-year-old is at in his career, while also acknowledging that he's not as bad as some fans would have you to believe either. If he can hit on these goals, then the Suns are going places.

3. Stay healthy

Beginning with the most obvious - but also the most important - and Beal simply has to show a more consistent bill of health in 2024-25. His tenure in Phoenix getting off to the worst possible start last time out as a result of a mysterious back issue that had some fans wondering that he was crocked before ever getting on the court for the Suns.

That thankfully cleared up, but 53 regular season games played as a result of that back problem - plus subsequent knee and nose problems - hampered Beal's ability to get comfortable. In fairness to him, by the end of the regular season he was carrying the Suns for small stretches and looked extremely comfortable in his role as the third option.

The failed experiment of having him and Devin Booker share point guard duties is now behind them both, and Beal should benefit from this. He's a willing and able passer to be sure - also an above average defender but people don't seem to want to hear that - but getting back to being a scoring threat should see the Suns get the best out of Beal.

Twice in his career he's put up over 30 in a season and while the 18.2 points of a year ago is were he is going to land again, stretching that productivity out over even 70 games would be huge for the Suns. Beal was healthy for their short playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it will be about arriving there in one piece again. This time with more games under his belt.

2. Top three in 3-point percentage

It might come as a surprise to learn that Beal was an elite 3-point shooter last season. Not because he'd never shown that range in the past, but because teammate Grayson Allen overshadowed him in this category by knocking down a league-leading 46.1 percent of his triples.

With another sharpshooter in Royce O'Neale coming over at the trade deadline - and Beal being in and out of the lineup - his shooting from distance flew under the radar. Yet when all was said and done, Beal had managed to shoot convert on a massively successful 43 percent of his own 3-pointers. Good for sixth in the entire league of players who qualified.

Not only was that a career high, a good omen comes in the fact that the 4.4 attempts he managed each night were way down on his career average of 5.8, showing a level of efficiency as the third option that is extremely encouraging. Sowhow in the postseason this number even improved, going to 43.5 percent while he returned to the 5.8 attempts we'd seen in the past.

All of which is to say, the idea that Beal can finish in the top three in this category is not ridiculous. It would be a lazy comparison to say Beal can become this team's version of what Ray Allen once was for the Boston Celtics. Elite offensive player turned incredible 3-point marksman. Judging by the numbers though, this could be the road he ultimately takes, and everybody would benefit.

1. Not lose his starting spot

It couldn't actually happen, could it? The case for Beal now coming off the bench is an interesting one, and it starts with the introduction of an actual point guard in Tyus Jones. He expects to start - and it makes sense for him after the woes of last season - but wouldn't that make Beal the odd man out?

If it is Allen who heads to the bench instead, a starting five of Jones, Booker, Beal, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic is going to struggle defensively, and that is putting it lightly. On the other hand, the prospect of Beal being perhaps the most over-qualified sixth man in the entire league would not only prop up the Suns' bench, it would save his body some and hopefully keep him healthier.

It seems insane that a player making over $50 million would come off the bench, and yet owner Mat Ishbia sounds like he will do whatever it takes to win a championship. Trade the farm for Kevin Durant. Waive a couple of players to save some money. Beal wouldn't be happy about it but what is he going to do, ask for a trade? Check-in with Zach LaVine on how that's going for him.

It will be a battle for Beal to hold onto this spot - although he's certainly going to start the season in control of this position - but he is talented enough to win out in the end. Jones is a nice player and it is true Beal will likely never be an All-Star again. But he's still incredibly talented and the third best player the organization has. To lose his spot would signal the end of his time as a top player.