It’s been a season from hell for the Phoenix Suns, but not everyone has lost hope of making a miraculous turnaround. In a chat with AZ Central, star shooting guard Bradley Beal opened up on the upcoming playoffs and spoke on the odds that the Suns can make a run in the West.
“We still can make a run,” Beal said. “Obviously we’ve got to be healthy, get healthy, be available. The playoffs, anything can happen, man, but we’re a talented team and believe in what we can do. We’ve just got to give ourselves that opportunity.”
Beal, 31, joined the Suns back in 2023 with the goal of competing for championships. On paper, the Suns have more than enough talent to challenge any opponent, but their chemistry has been rough so far. The biggest problem is availability, as Beal is set to play in fewer than 55 games for the second straight season.
“It’s tough, it’s definitely tough,” Beal said. “It’s definitely not the most ideal situation. I take a lot of it because my availability is a big piece of that. It’s tough. It’s tough, it’s frustrating, whatever word you want to put behind it, but all I can do is continue to move forward, and we can continue to make this push to try to make a run.”
Beal was with the Wizards for 11 years, and he served as their main attraction until they finally traded him a few years ago. With the Suns, he’s been tasked to play as the third option behind Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but he’s hardly been playing at all.
Due to various injuries, Beal has been in and out of the lineup since his arrival. Even when he’s been active for the Suns, his play hasn’t made much of a difference for them with averages of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 50.5% shooting.
To make matters worse for the Suns, they have the highest payroll in the NBA with their big three (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal) set to make a combined $150.5 million this season alone. At 11th in the West, the Suns are currently on track to miss the play-in, and there’s no easy fix.
Thanks to Beal’s no-trade clause, he has total control over his NBA future, and the Suns can only trade him with his direct approval. Since Devin Booker has been tagged as the future of the franchise, it leaves Kevin Durant as the odd man out. Only by trading Durant can the Suns hope to make a significant change that might get them to a more favorable position in the West.
Regarding this season, it may already be a lost cause for the Suns. Even if they somehow make the cut for the play-in tournament, they’ll have to win at least two games on the road just for a matchup against the Thunder or Rockets.
The Suns will need a miracle just to get out of the first round, and experts are not convinced they have what it takes to even make the play-in. Through it all, Beal hasn’t lost his faith, and it seems he’s committed to seeing this through until the end.
