The Phoenix Suns have lost four straight games to move way out of relevancy in the Western Conference, although that hasn't stopped Devin Booker and Kevin Durant from having a good time. The most recent loss to the Indiana Pacers about as dispiriting a defeat as you are going to see.
There was zero fight from the group - although rookie Ryan Dunn did his best - with it feeling more and more like the organization sees somehow acquiring Jimmy Butler as the solution to a lot of their problems. They may be willing but actually finding a trade partner for Bradley Beal - alongside being in the second apron - is the main stumbling block to a trade getting done.
Now the Suns look set to bring Beal off the bench.
It is the move that fans have been crying out to happen for months now, and the only downside is that it may be too late. It is a long climb back up the standings, although the franchise must now be convinced that no amount of playing Beal is going to increase his trade value.
But after a 7-17 run of games following that bright 8-1 start, something had to give. Beal coming off the bench always looked like one of the most obvious ways for this team to improve, but getting a former All-Star making over $50 million to come off the bench is another issue entirely. Especially at 31-years-old and in theory not beyond his prime just yet.
It doesn’t matter if Bradley Beal waives his no trade clause.
— Tucker (@SportingLogical) January 6, 2025
I’d still be shocked if there is a team out there that wants to take his contract.
The most likely candidate to replace him is the aforementioned Dunn, and it makes a lot of sense. He is a much better defender than Beal, and he gives the starting group a lot more balance as well. He's only shooting just over 30 percent from deep, but the problems this group has go way deeper than being able to make a shot from beyond the arc.
Another positive that should come from this is how Beal's scoring props up the second unit. He has a similar skill set to Booker - part of the reason this hasn't worked - but allowing him to be the go-to scorer with the bench group while going against opponent's benches looks like a win-win for the Suns.
There is a certain irony to this move as well - because when he has been healthy this season - Beal has actually been very good for this team. Statistically he has given the Suns about what they would have expected, it is just now clear that he cannot play for long periods next to Booker and Tyus Jones. Defensively they just give up too much size, and Dunn is the obvious solution.
Even more radical, the Suns look set to also bring center Jusuf Nurkic off the bench alongside Beal. Nurkic has been dreadful so far this season after a surprisingly effective debut campaign in The Valley. Mason Plumlee isn't much of an improvement, but it is the best the Suns can do for now. It is the decision to remove Beal from the starting lineup however, that will have fans optimistic.