The point guard position. It has been an enigma this season for the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns. Do they need somebody who is dedicated to that role? Someone who has spent their entire development as a basketball player honing the skill set of a playmaker and distributor? Someone who understands how to involve teammates and put them in a position to maximize their skill sets?
Before the 2023-24 NBA season began, James Jones made his strategic moves. When rumors began to matriculate out of Washington about the happiness level of three-time All-Star Bradley Beal and his desire to leave the franchise that he had played for over the past 11 seasons, Jones seized the opportunity.
It is rare to have someone as talented as Beal wanting out of their situation, knowing that they hold all the cards and leverage in the situation. Beal possessed a rare no-trade clause, which essentially allowed him to dictate where his destination would be. His desire? Phoenix, Arizona playing alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
With Chris Paul aging and breaking down in the playoffs numerous times during his three-season stint in the Valley. Jones chased the talent. Using Paul and Landry Shamet’s contract, combined with numerous first-round picks, Jones brought Bradley Beal to Phoenix despite his position in the roster already being occupied by one of the franchise’s greatest players in Devin Booker.
Our conversations began.
Did the Suns truly need a primary point guard? The team had one of the greatest ever to play the position roster for the previous three seasons and the result was an NBA Finals appearance and two second-round exits. Devin Booker had served in the point guard role earlier in his career when his team was void of talent and playmaking, and he was forced into developing aspects of that skill set. Beal, at 6’4”, also had experience playing some point, and Kevin Durant has facilitated offenses throughout his career with his passing abilities.
Jones doubled down on the move by trading former first-overall pick Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers and gaining Jusuf Nurkic in return. Nurkic, although not nearly as athletic as Ayton, possessed the skill of passing. His basketball IQ created a comfortable fit for the team and theoretically solved the we don’t have a point guard problem.
