What a strange season it has been so far for Grayson Allen. The 30-year-old being a starter for first time head coach Jordan Ott, and rediscovering his 3-point shooting form in the process.
He was an important part defensively in stopping Victor Wembanyama, yet has also been ejected from a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has sat and watched the roster win games without him while he has been injured.
On top of all of that, he looks like a prime trade candidate and is being talked about as such because he has a team-friendly contract and you could make the case his value had never been higher up until recently.
Suns are moving on and looking better without Allen
It is unfortunate that he hasn't been seen since the middle of this month against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a knee injury, and that the team has only won once in December when Allen has played.
The schedule was brutal during that period, but it is also fair to say that the balance that coach Ott has without Allen on the court has looked promising in recent weeks.
Tonight’s @BannerHealth Health Update: pic.twitter.com/aly2c1jo5F
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 27, 2025
Collin Gillespie has been an excellent addition to the starting lineup, while Royce O'Neale brings a lot of what Allen does when out on the court as well. His absence also gives reps to youngsters who need it such as Ryan Dunn and even Oso Ighodaro.
So although there was a clear path for the second longest tenured Sun to contribute this season, Allen was doing just that, the picture is quickly changing in The Valley.
The emergence of Jamaree Bouyea was one nobody saw coming, and he has been too good to ignore and deserves the extended run he is getting. Fellow point guard Jordan Goodwin is the better defender than Allen as well.
The only downside here for the Suns is the fact that aforementioned trade value is also taking a hit. But he's taking a career high 8.2 attempts from deep and is converting on just shy of 40 percent of those efforts.
This is an elite maker from beyond the arc, and there is massive value in that around the league. The Suns aren't hanging around in trying to get better however, and Allen is being left behind.
Considering Jalen Green also has to come back into the picture at some point, coach Ott needs to make the brutal, but necessary, decision and keep this roster moving forward without the former Duke product.