The Phoenix Suns are desperate for answers, as they are in the midst of disaster. After a 7-1 start to the season, the Suns have gone 15-20 and have slid to the tenth seed in the Western Conference. Despite a productive offseason that saw them draft Ryan Dunn and Oso Igahdaro, re-sign Royce O’Neale, and hire Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix is inching closer to another disaster of a season. .
The big reason for that is that their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal have not been a great fit together. It has gotten to the point where the Suns have brought Beal off the bench the last few games.
Phoenix traded for three first-round picks with the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, signaling that they are gearing up to make a big move, and there is one that they could make. Despite the questionable fit, the Suns should acquire Jimmy Butler in hopes that he can spark a turnaround.
Butler and the Heat are currently at odds with each other, as he returned for two games but then was just suspended again yesterday for two games. Butler has also not shifted his stance and is reportedly eyeing a trade to the Suns.
Butler and Beal pose similar issues to the Suns. Both players are on the wrong side of 30; both are ball dominant, and in the case of Butler, he is not a threat from three-point range. What Butler does bring to the table, though, is defensive intensity and the willingness to be a defensive stopper, something Beal lacks.
Phoenix does not need another mid-range assassin next to Booker and Durant, two of the best mid-range scorers in the league. The fit is questionable. However, Phoenix may not have a choice. Their season is fading fast; they have the highest payroll in the league and have no clear path to contention.
Butler comes with his baggage, but he knows what it takes to make a deep playoff run. He can be the guy that energizes the team and the locker room. Yes, he is averaging the lowest usage, points per game, and shot attempts per game in almost a decade and has shown signs of decline. But don’t the Suns have to bank on the fact that he can be a positive and turn their season around? Because there is no clear answer on the roster currently.
A big three of Durant, Booker, and Butler is better than what Phoenix currently has, but the three do not fit on paper still. The Suns have to try something, though. What Butler brings to the table is what they are lacking: defensive intensity, leadership, and toughness.
However, he also brings a lot of negatives: he can’t shoot the three, has attitude issues, and needs the ball to be effective.
Nothing has worked in Phoenix so far this season, so they have to attempt to salvage what is left of the year. Taking a gamble on Butler is the only choice they have, and they have to decide whether or not the upside outweighs the downside.