Why Trading Royce O’Neale Right Now Might Be the Wrong Move for the Suns
As the NBA trade deadline inches closer - February 5 is just over a month away - the rumor mill is heating up. And one name that keeps surfacing in Phoenix Suns trade chatter? Royce O’Neale.
From a front-office perspective, it’s easy to see why. O’Neale’s $10.1 million contract is tidy, flexible, and fits neatly into a package deal.
It lines up well with other mid-tier salaries like Nick Richards, which helps the math when teams start exploring potential upgrades. Once the numbers start working, it becomes tempting to talk yourself into the idea of moving on.
That’s just how the trade machine works.
But here’s the thing: the Suns shouldn’t be in a rush to deal Royce O’Neale. Not now.
Let’s rewind a bit. O’Neale arrived in Phoenix at the 2024 trade deadline - part of a calculated move by then-GM James Jones, who was trying to stabilize a roster built around Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
The revolving door of veteran minimum contracts wasn’t cutting it. So Jones bundled some deals and brought in O’Neale, a player with playoff experience and a high basketball IQ.
Since then, O’Neale has been exactly what the Suns needed: steady, smart, and reliable. Over 134 games with Phoenix, he’s averaged 9.1 points per game on 42/40/71 shooting splits, along with 4.9 rebounds in just under 26 minutes a night. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’re efficient and consistent - two qualities that matter more than ever on a team with championship aspirations.
He’s not a star, and he’s not meant to be. But every contender needs a guy like Royce O’Neale.
He understands spacing. He knows when to move the ball, when to shoot it, and when to get out of the way.
And when he gets hot? He can lift a second unit and help carry the load when the starters need a breather.
Yes, he has flaws. His transition playmaking can be shaky.
He doesn’t pressure the rim much. His jumper can go cold.
And when he’s forced into defending bigger forwards, there are nights where the matchup isn’t in his favor - Houston comes to mind. He doesn’t have ideal size for a modern four, and that’s often where he’s slotted when the Suns go small.
But let’s be real: name a player making $10 million a year who doesn’t have holes in their game. Lonzo Ball, Caleb Martin, Kyle Anderson - all solid players, all inconsistent in their own ways.
If O’Neale were a perfect two-way forward, he wouldn’t be on this contract. He’d be making $18-20 million annually, and the Suns wouldn’t have been able to afford him in the first place.
So while it’s understandable that fans and analysts are plugging O’Neale into trade packages, it’s worth asking: what exactly are you hoping to get back?
There’s no mystery deal out there that’s going to drop a flawless, floor-spacing, rim-protecting, switch-everything power forward into Phoenix’s lap. Players who check every box don’t get moved midseason for matching salaries.
Any incoming player will come with their own set of issues. And if the Suns do find a bigger body to plug into that four spot, they might just find themselves missing the spacing and shooting O’Neale provides.
That’s how this works - solve one problem, create another.
And here’s where O’Neale’s value really shines: he’s a veteran voice in a locker room that needs one. He’s the oldest player on the Suns’ roster, and that matters.
There’s a reason the younger players call him “Unc.” He brings leadership, perspective, and professionalism - the kind of off-court impact that doesn’t show up in a box score but absolutely shows up in a playoff series.
On the court, the numbers back him up. His advanced shooting metrics are strong across the board.
From shot quality to efficiency, O’Neale is one of the better three-point shooters in the league - especially when you factor in volume and difficulty. And Phoenix has him on a team-friendly deal.
That’s why patience might be the smartest play here.
O’Neale still has two and a half years left on his contract. That’s not ideal for a team looking for a short-term rental, but it’s perfect for a contender this summer that flames out in the playoffs and realizes they were one shooter short.
That’s the kind of team that doesn’t care about draft picks - they care about fixing a problem. And O’Neale, with two years left, isn’t a rental.
He’s a plug-and-play solution who can help right away and stick around beyond one postseason run.
Fast-forward another year, and the picture changes again. In the summer of 2027, O’Neale’s deal becomes an expiring contract - a valuable asset for teams looking to shed long-term salary. That’s when Phoenix could flip him for real value, especially if they’re dealing with a team that needs financial flexibility more than on-court production.
So why rush?
The Suns are 16-13, despite injuries and a brutal early-season schedule. They’ve weathered the storm, and O’Neale has been part of that.
His role hasn’t even fully materialized yet - not with the roster still trying to find its rhythm and Beal barely seeing the floor. And if Rasheer Fleming develops into the long-term answer at the four, why bring in someone now who might stunt that growth - both on the court and on the cap sheet?
This isn’t about sentimentality. It’s about value.
It’s about understanding that sometimes the best move is no move at all. O’Neale’s stock is more likely to rise than fall over the next few months.
He’s a known commodity on a good contract, and that’s exactly the kind of player smart teams hold onto - until the right deal comes along.
So when February 5 rolls around, and if Royce O’Neale is still wearing a Suns jersey, there’s no need for disappointment. In fact, it might just be the smartest decision Phoenix makes all season.