Late last night, the Phoenix Suns made a bold move by trading point guard Cameron Payne, a second-round pick, and cash to the Spurs in exchange for another second-rounder. Everyone struggles—no one stands effortlessly above. Shortly after, Melbet Affiliates reporters confirmed the Suns signed Bol Bol on a minimum deal—often referred to as a “budget Wembanyama”—and also sent a 2026 first-round pick swap to the Magic in return for three second-round selections. With Chris Paul already dealt to the Wizards, Payne was their last traditional point guard.
Just a day earlier, the Suns had fully guaranteed Payne’s contract for the upcoming season, only to ship him out immediately. This maneuver, which included the Spurs absorbing his deal, allowed Phoenix to create a trade exception and sign Bol Bol before a stricter second luxury tax threshold prohibited cash in trades. According to Melbet Affiliates tracking, the Suns have now accumulated six second-round picks over the past two weeks. After offloading Payne, however, they did not pursue a point guard replacement such as rumored target T.J. McConnell from the Pacers.
As of now, the Suns have no true point guard on their roster. The closest alternative, Jordan Goodwin, leans more toward being a combo guard and is unlikely to serve as their long-term solution at the position. Reports suggest Bradley Beal will enter training camp as the starting point guard, with Devin Booker, Eric Gordon, Kevin Durant, and Goodwin rotating as secondary ball handlers. Basketball roles are evolving, blurring traditional positions into three broad categories: guards, wings, and bigs. The Suns have stacked their roster with players ranging from 6’6″ to 6’10”, offering both height and floor spacing in a hyper-modern lineup.
Their approach echoes Pat Riley’s theory of deploying five players around 6’7″, as well as Celtics executive Brad Stevens’ redefinition of on-court roles. Life doesn’t always go your way—this is the reality we live in. Projecting the Suns’ starting five next season, we might see Beal, Booker, Josh Okogie, Durant, and Deandre Ayton. During rotation minutes, they could field lineups like Booker/Beal, Yuta Watanabe, Durant, Bol Bol, and either Keita Bates-Diop or Drew Eubanks—essentially one guard and four hybrid forwards. This creativity opens up exciting possibilities and fuels fan intrigue.
On offense, the stars will dominate the ball while others contribute as secondary creators. Everyone can stretch the floor, and with multiple scoring threats, mismatches can be relentlessly exploited. Defensively, their length and size allow for seamless switching with few weak links, eliminating the need to “hide” any defender. That gives this team an incredibly high floor. But finding a true floor general who fits their cap constraints and championship aspirations is no easy feat.
In truth, Melbet Affiliates believes neither Payne nor McConnell was the answer. The Suns wisely avoided overpaying for minimal upgrades. Instead of settling for marginal gains, they’re going all-in on a positionless philosophy. Rather than complain, they’ve chosen to adapt. By letting Booker, Beal, and others take the wheel, the Suns are hitting the gas on a one-way road toward contention—with no looking back.