The Phoenix Suns missing the playoffs is a scenario that nobody could imagine, especially with a roster that includes Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. However, it is a reality that may occur should things not change – and quickly.
Already 35 games into the season, the Suns are on the outside looking in, occupying the 12th seed in the Western Conference. Following a 115-104 loss at the Charlotte Hornets, they now have a record of 16-19. This means they trail the Sacramento Kings, who recently fired head coach Mike Brown, by a game. In what is a stacked West, as it stands, it will be the Suns who are the ones watching the playoffs from home.
“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards. Until I’m addressed and somebody says something different, then I’ll be a Sun.”
Bradley Beal on if coming off bench is related to bigger picture as far as NBA trade talks.
Has no-trade clause in his contract. #Suns pic.twitter.com/f54au9MWFS
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 7, 2025
Another Loss Leaves Suns Playoff Hopes Hanging By a Thread
The Vibes Are Not Good in the Valley
Recent events have made it almost certain that at least one move is on the horizon, if not more. The Suns moved Beal and Jusuf Nurkic to the bench, two players they have been reported to be shopping. The team’s mutual interest in Jimmy Butler is clear. But the only way they can acquire the forward is by trading Beal, whether that be to the Miami Heat or a third team.
Beal’s hefty contract and no-trade clause make finding a suitor a tough task. He essentially ‘holds the cards,’ which he referred to when asked about the situation. As a result, there is tension both on and off the court with the future uncertain. Finding a home for Nurkic is proving just as difficult, with his roughly $18m-a-year contract a hard sell. He is a key part of Phoenix’s poor production at center which has been one of the Suns’ main issues. Finding a trade for Nurkic should be a priority for GM James Jones.
The Suns need to find a resolution quickly. The longer this continues, the sooner their playoff aspirations fade. This trio was supposed to deliver the franchise’s first NBA Championship, but instead, it appears to be going up in flames.
The Math Does Not Favor the Suns
After their defeat to the lowly Hornets on Tuesday night, the Suns have now lost eight of their last 10 games. They sit 2.5 games out of the play-in, with the final place currently occupied by the Golden State Warriors in 10th. There are 47 games remaining in the season, and a significant upturn in form is required for the Suns to finish in the top 10.
Last season, the Warriors finished as the 10th seed with 46 wins. To reach that total, the Suns would need to win 30 of 47 games, a .638 winning percentage. This level of winning is only bettered by the current top three teams in the conference, the OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies.
While this is doable, they cannot afford to be dropping games to teams they have no business losing to. Phoenix’s defeat to the Hornets gave their opponents their first win in 10 games. The Suns were the only win for a New Orleans Pelicans side who were in the midst of a miserable 1-20 stretch. The Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards are among the teams they will face in the coming days, but these matchups are no longer seen as guaranteed victories.
With the duo of Durant and Booker, it would be unwise to rule them out completely. However, time is running out, and change does not seem to be imminent. The margin for error reduces by the day, and plenty has to go the Suns’ way.
A Lot Rides on Health
Should the Suns shake up their roster, there will be a lot of pressure on them health-wise. Each of the starting five, minus Tyus Jones, has missed multiple games this season. Key bench players Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, have also missed time. O’Neale is currently sidelined with an ankle sprain,
The downfall of this Suns team has largely been down to injuries over the past 18 months. It would be a huge ask for them to remain healthy the rest of the way. Even in the event of a Butler addition, or any major trade, it would require time to develop chemistry and rapport, time they simply do not have. Whether this is the beginning of the road to a full rebuild in the summer, or the start of an unlikely turnaround, remains unclear. Regardless, the eyes of the NBA world will be watching the Suns’ moves in the coming weeks.
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