Phoenix has a place in the conversation for all the wrong reasons and the right ones, too.
FanSided’s Oliver Fox included one Suns trade on his ranking of the 25 worst deals in NBA history, and the one that made the cut is the Bradley Beal swap - the kind of move that looked rough immediately and aged even worse. Fox says it fits the Luka Doncic standard of a deal being bad for one team the second it happens.
The Suns gave up a heavy package to get Beal, including Chris Paul, the veteran point guard who helped lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals in 2021, and Landry Shamet. Shamet later ended up with the New York Knicks, where he picked up a championship ring after joining Mikal Bridges in the Big Apple and becoming a reliable role player for head coach Mike Brown.
Phoenix also sent out four first-round pick swaps, which only deepened the cost of bringing in another ball-dominant scorer next to Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. And the deal became even more restrictive because Beal had a full no-trade clause at the time, one of the rare contract protections in the league. That meant the Suns couldn’t later flip him, even if the contract made him useful as matching salary in another trade.
Fox writes that the Suns now have one of the bleakest futures of any NBA franchise, and this deal is a big reason why. On top of all that, Phoenix at least got Jordan Goodwin in the deal - though the team had to reacquire him later anyway.
The irony for Suns fans is that the franchise also has one of its best trades in history on the books. In 1992, Phoenix sent Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry to the Philadelphia 76ers for a disgruntled Charles Barkley.
That move changed everything. Barkley won MVP honors, helped the Suns to a 62-win season, and pushed them to the NBA Finals in 1993, where they lost to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
In Other News...
Suns Face More Frontcourt Pressure Ahead Of Warriors Clash
Phoenixs frontcourt is taking another hit heading into its matchup with the Warriors, with Oso Ighodaro officially ruled out because of an oblique strain. He had already been trending in the wrong direction after being listed as doubtful, and the latest injury update only adds to the uncertainty around a rotation that has been forced to adjust repeatedly in the early going.
Khaman Maluach is expected to draw the start at center in Ighodaros place, giving the Suns another look at a position group that is already stretched thin. Luke Kennard remains questionable, and Mark Williams is still out while recovering from shoulder surgery, leaving Phoenix with more frontcourt pressure than it would prefer as it tries to navigate a tough night against Golden State. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Are Rethinking Two-Way Spots For A Reason Fans Will Notice
The Suns have spent the early part of this stretch making a noticeable change in how they use their two-way slots, opting to move on from younger prospects in favor of players with a little more seasoning. Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer, Duop Reath and Drew Timme all fit that new mold, giving Phoenix a group that looks less like a long-term stash and more like a ready-made depth chart for the moments when injuries or schedule density start to matter.
It is a subtle shift, but an important one for a team trying to stay flexible without sacrificing the present. Two-way spots have often been treated as developmental bets, yet Phoenix appears more willing to chase immediate usefulness and keep options open for the roster around the edges. The move says plenty about how the Suns are reading their own needs, even if the bigger picture of how far this approach can carry them is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Home Opener Suddenly Has One Big Concern Around Devin Booker
The Suns home opener is already carrying a little extra weight, and now the backcourt depth chart is getting another look. Luke Kennard is listed as questionable against the Warriors because of left knee tendinopathy, leaving Phoenix with a possible shortage of the kind of perimeter shooting that can take some pressure off Devin Booker and help stretch a defense.
Kennard also missed the season opener, and his status comes on top of other frontcourt absences that have already thinned the roster. Mark Williams remains out while recovering from shoulder surgery, and Oso Ighodaro is doubtful with a right oblique strain, so Phoenix is still trying to sort out its rotation as it gets ready for one of the Western Conferences more demanding early tests. [Read more 🡒]