Suns regret for Grayson Allen extension grows as his role diminishes

The Phoenix Suns' season of woe continues, and it looks sure to end without even making a brief appearance in the playoffs. Worse still, the prospect of making it to the play-in tournament also seems as unlikely as ever, although the team may get some luck in that department. Teams occupying those spots such as the Dallas Mavericks having nightmare seasons of their own.

Friday night versus the Denver Nuggets was more of the same, as the group found themselves in a large hole having been scored on at will for three-quarters. Then a switch flipped and they fought all the way back to overtime - but unlike in their massive comeback win over the L.A. Clippers that preceded this game - the Nuggets pulled out the win. Too little, too late with the Suns' fightback here.

The lack of impact from Grayson Allen is now a massive problem.

In the loss to the Nuggets, Grayson Allen finished with 11 points in 29 minutes. Which wouldn't be so bad, if the organization hadn't given him a new four-year, $70 million extention prior to the postseason beginning last year. It was well deserved then - Allen had led the entire league in 3-point shooting - but he hasn't come close to those heights since.

Which is an issue for the Suns, because they need more of what they got from Allen last season. Back then he was the team's third best player with Bradley Beal limited to only 53 regular season games played, and on some nights he almost made the Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic and Allen trade look acceptable. Fast forward 12 months and Nurkic is gone, while Allen's trade value has tanked.

Make no mistake, he is still an at times elite 3-point shooter, making 43.2 percent of his 5.6 attempts per night. The problem is though he's not doing much else, and he's no longer a starter either. He willingly gave that spot up to point guard Tyus Jones to begin the season - which showed excellent character - but with Jones also now on the bench, Allen can't win it back.

Bol Bol is starting games these days instead, which is an indicator of how far out of the rotation Allen has fallen. In his first season in Phoenix he played a career high 33.5 minutes per night, partly out of necessity but Allen ran with those minutes. This season it is down to 24.9, his lowest since his second season in the league. Through 51 games played for him, he's made a paltry three starts.

Which is where Royce O'Neale enters the conversation. It is almost ironic that he is having the kind of season this time out, that Allen did last year. He's not going to lead the league in 3-point shooting, but O'Neale knew his role in The Valley immediately when he came over from Brooklyn at the deadline, and he truly looks settled now.

Whether he is starting or coming off the bench, O'Neale knows how to make an impact. Defensively he has quickly surpassed Allen, while his 41.9 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts each night are both career highs. To be fair to Allen he too can step into the endless open looks he gets out there - just as O'Neale does - but he's taken a step back in how many he has made.

So to be paying what is effectively the ninth man in your rotation as much money as the Suns are - while also being stuck in the second apron - is another issue they need to fix. Trading Allen would be the obvious solution, but his value has only gone in one direction since inking that extension. It would be great to see more of the old Allen out on the court, but we now know that won't happen.

Beal has found his own groove both as a starter and off the bench, while both Jones and O'Neale need their minutes too. Contending with Bol is something Allen didn't even realize he would need to do, but he is taking his chance well. Just another area that has gone against Phoenix this season, and one that is not easily fixed either.