Have you ever worked with someone who has a PhD in complaining? You know, the person who can rattle off every problem with the job, the boss, the coffee machine, the parking lot, and even the vending machine snacks? But when it’s time to propose a solution? Nothing. Zilch. They just replay their grievances like a broken record, offering no constructive input. But they never leave, oh no, they stick around, stewing in negativity and draining the energy from the room.
As a leader, I’ve always pushed back against that kind of energy. If you can pinpoint a problem, fine. But don’t come into my office without offering a solution. Complaining is easy—it’s like fast food in the workplace: quick, convenient, but ultimately unsatisfying. Real value comes from critical thinking, from stepping up and saying, “Here’s how we can fix this.”
Which brings me to the Phoenix Suns. I’ve voiced my frustrations plenty in the past. I’ve vented, ranted, and even thrown in some dark humor about their shaky start to this season. But instead of just dwelling on the mess, let’s focus on solutions.
So how do you fix Phoenix? Right now, this team isn’t it. The current setup is flawed. But where do we go from here?
First, let’s acknowledge the constraints. The Suns are operating in an environment where financial rules are stricter than ever. Tax aprons, trade limitations, and aggregation rules have effectively put an end to the free-spending ways of the past. And to make matters worse, Phoenix now holds the title of the highest-paid team in NBA history. Talk about timing.
Then there’s the issue of draft capital—or the lack of it. The Suns have traded away future picks to build this superteam. Any picks they do have are either unappealing or far into the future, like that 2031 first-rounder. So now, the focus has to be on evaluating the assets the team still has and whether those assets can be used to bring back value.
One of those assets is Grayson Allen.
In today’s NBA, three-point shooting is essential for every team. It’s non-negotiable. While Jusuf Nurkic earns a higher salary than Grayson Allen, he’s not exactly in high demand. Sure, size is valuable (or so I’ve been told), but in the modern NBA, it doesn’t carry as much weight. Grayson Allen, however, with his shooting ability, is a valuable asset for the Suns to trade, both financially and skill-wise. And with Royce O’Neale still available to provide depth as a shooter off the bench, Phoenix could afford to part with Allen.
The first question the Suns need to address is: What direction do they want to take, and what gap are they trying to fill? Allen is making $15.6 million this season as part of a four-year, $70 million deal with a player option in the final year. That means the Suns aren’t likely to trade him for cap relief. Even if they swapped him for a minimum deal, it wouldn’t get them below the second apron. They’re already $32.9 million over it.
Any trade at this point would need to focus on improving the roster. But what exactly do they need? A rim-protecting big man? A wing defender?