The Phoenix Suns' Roster: A Potent Mix of Talent and Uncertainty
The Phoenix Suns are taking their "all-in" approach to a whole new level.
On a relatively eventful Wednesday, the Suns sent Josh Okogie and their leftover second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets, in return receiving Nick Richards and a 2025 second-round pick from the Denver Nuggets. This Nuggets pick is now the sole second-round pick the Suns possess between now and 2031.
And if that wasn't enough, the Suns don't even hold the rights to a single first-round pick before 2031. They've got their hands tied with obligations to surrender fully unprotected first-rounders in 2025, 2027, and 2029, either to the Houston Rockets or Brooklyn Nets, and they've handed over first-round swap rights in their deals for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal for 2026, 2028, and 2030.
The main motivation behind signing Okogie to a 2-year, $16 million deal last offseason was, in fact, to avoid exceeding the $188.9 million second-level salary cap apron. And since they're already above the limit, they cannot take back any additional salary via a standard trade exception nor combine two or more salaries to facilitate a trade for someone on a more significant contract. With Okogie, they effectively held an $8.25 million trade exception.
Now that Okogie has been transferred, the Suns find themselves even more restricted. If Nick Richards fails to turn things around this season, the Suns are bound to grapple with critical questions regarding the core components of their roster.
The Beal and Nurkic Dilemmas
The Suns' main conundrums at present involve Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. Head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed the need to make a change following a discouraging 1-7 stretch, hence moving both players to the bench. Nurkic has since been cut from the rotation completely.
Nurkic is currently underperforming, averaging just 8.6 points per game while shooting at 45.4%. His $18.1 million salary this season is nothing new, but the unfathomable $19.4 million he's scheduled to earn next year presents a challenging prospect for potential trade partners. It's tough to fork over any valuable assets for a player whose numbers and contract don't exactly inspire confidence.
Beal, on the other hand, is a more daunting puzzle. His $50.2 million salary this year is followed by a $53.7 million payday in 2023. Adding to the complexity is his player option for $57.1 million in 2026-27. To top it off, his contract includes a no-trade clause, making any proposed trades a delicate dance.
Enough teams have expressed lack of interest in acquiring Beal, making it uncertain if the Suns can secure a deal, even with the aid of a third party. Nurkic, however, might have slightly more value as an expiring contract by the 2023 season, assuming the Suns are open to assuming longer-term salaries in return. Then again, Beal's age, injury history, and massive contract make him a less enticing proposition for the Suns compared to Nurkic.
So... What Now?
At 19-20, the Suns find themselves tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the 11th-best record in the Western Conference. They're on the brink of missing out on the play-in tournament thanks to their 0.5-game deficit against the Golden State Warriors. This performance falls far short of the aspirations set by team governor Mat Ishbia after investing in the league's most expensive roster.
Richards might be able to get them back on track but realistically, they're not likely to embark on a deep playoff run this season. If the Suns fail to secure a playoff series win for the second consecutive year or, worse yet, miss the postseason altogether, it could raise some challenging questions about the Suns' long-term objectives.
The Suns' position is further compounded by the unprecedented wealth of draft picks and future prospects at their fingertips but finding the right moves to make is proving to be a monumental task.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass, or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Despite sending Nick Richards to the Suns, the Charlotte Hornets still hold the rights to Devin Booker in a potential trade due to previous transactions.
The Suns' trade limitations, resulting from deals involving Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, could potentially impede their ability to sign or trade for Nick Richards if they want to improve their roster before the 2023 NBA season.
The Suns' available assets for potential trades are primarily centered around Nick Richards, their 2025 second-round pick, and their future first-round picks, which might be challenging to utilize in a deal for a high-profile player like Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal, given their hefty salaries and contract structures.