The Phoenix Suns parted ways with Royce O'Neale this offseason, and looking at their roster, it is clear there was no room for him moving forward, meaning it was the correct decision.
Suns had outgrown O'Neale in pursuit of winning more games
Now 33 years old, O'Neale was packaged alongside Grayson Allen and an unprotected first-round pick in 2033 to land Miles Bridges. We're not quite sure how his addition is going to work, but there is no doubt the Suns got more talented, even if it cost them a precious first-round selection.
The Suns will miss Allen and his elite 3-point shooting, but O'Neale was just a less consistent (over 40 percent from deep during his time in Phoenix is still impressive) forward who was tasked with defending bigger opponents. He generally had a tough time, while Allen used his athleticism more effectively on both ends of the court.
With Bridges, Dillon Brooks, Luke Kennard, and even Oso Ighodaro vying for minutes across the forward line, there was never going to be a spot for an aging swingman. Certainly not when the Suns are trying to go beyond last season's surprising 45 wins.
The Suns may have made personnel mistakes over the last number of years - Kevin Durant let them know all about that - but O'Neale was a player they added, got the most out of, and then sent on his way. He is an excellent veteran presence and will be great for the Charlotte Hornets' locker room, but the Suns no longer need him for that role.
They have a roster full of older players who want to win and can also steer the youngsters in the right direction.
Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat final nail in O'Neale's career in Phoenix
The franchise drafted forward Rasheer Fleming last offseason and followed that up with an Aaron Gordon-type in Koa Peat this summer. Both represent younger, cheaper alternatives to O'Neale with much more upside, and getting them more minutes is important.
Fleming, in particular, had a nice showing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs and is already generating some buzz with the national media.
The Suns haven't even taken a small step back in letting O'Neale go, as although he worked well both as a starter and off the bench, he did his best work when Durant was in town alongside Devin Booker. Allen is the bigger miss here.
Phoenix Suns fans will always have fond memories of Royce O'Neale, but they flipped him at the perfect time.
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