If the Suns want balance in their offense, they need to add a facilitator.
The Phoenix Suns have navigated free agency and, as it stands, pending the July 6 moratorium lift, their roster is full. There is no room at the inn, sorry Mary and Joseph.
If they wanted to carve out a vacancy, they could offer a two-way contract to rookie Koby Brea, the sharpshooter out of Kentucky taken with the 41st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But why would they do that? Because this roster is overloaded with scoring guards, an overflowing cupboard of shot-makers and microwave scorers.
If you’re someone who appreciates the art of the traditional facilitator, a floor general who sees two passes ahead, the Suns might not be your team. One look at the depth chart and, well, yikes. It’s like building a symphony using only electric guitars. It’s missing the rhythm section that brings balance and control. And cowbell.
Imagine the Suns take the leap and sign Brea to a two-way contract. Suppose they also want to add a facilitator, someone to ignite the offense. But who is truly available? And, more critically, is anyone of point-guard caliber still unsigned?
Let’s consider the list of point guards who remain unrestricted free agents, still awaiting the right opportunity.
Chris Paul
Yeah, we get it. Everyone at Bright Side has weighed in on the idea of CP3 coming back to Phoenix. We all know the upside. We all know how much we’d love it, and how much he could help this team.
But here’s a question I haven’t seen asked enough: Could his return actually be a setback for Devin Booker’s growth as a leader?
This is Booker’s team now. And while bringing back Chris Paul could check a lot of boxes relative to stability, poise, veteran savvy, what if it also stalls the very thing we’ve been waiting to see from Book for years? Leadership. Not just in terms of production, but in presence. In voice. In ownership.
Maybe this isn’t about what Chris Paul can still give. Maybe it’s about what Booker still needs to take.
Just a thought.
Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon was once one of the NBA’s most coveted point guards. Though injuries have slowed him down, the 32-year-old veteran still has something to offer. Last season with the Washington Wizards, he averaged 12.7 points and 4.1 assists, starting in more than half of the games he played. But there’s a catch. He only appeared in 24 games. And even in the season before, with the Portland Trail Blazers, he managed just 39 games.
Yes, injuries are a concern. But if you’re looking for someone with Brogdon’s experience, composure, and skill set, he’s still out there.
Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
Russell Westbrook
For all the admiration Chris Paul rightfully receives, Russell Westbrook would bring a very different brand of veteran presence to the Suns. He plays with relentless aggression and an edge that aligns with the tougher, more intense identity this team seems to be embracing. Even at 36, he still makes his presence felt.
Of course, with Westbrook, you take the full ride, both the brilliance and the chaos.
His passion is undeniable, but so are the flaws: questionable shot selection, erratic decision-making, poor spacing, and defensive gambles that sometimes hurt more than help. Still, if the goal is to jolt the locker room into a more fiery, competitive mindset, Westbrook might be the kind of spark this group needs.
The real question is whether someone else swoops in and offers more than the Suns can. Because if they don’t, and if Phoenix wants to go all-in on edge and energy, Westbrook’s name belongs in the conversation.
Cam Payne
If we’re going to talk about retreads, it’s worth pointing out that Cameron Payne is still out there.
He’ll be 31 when the season tips off, but you could likely sign him to a veteran minimum deal. And with him, you’re getting more than just a familiar face; you’re getting energy, stability, and someone who knows how to inject life into a locker room.
Last season with the Knicks, Payne averaged 6.9 points and 2.8 assists off the bench across 72 games. He’s not flashy, but he’s available, and that counts for something. Where Brogdon brings the risk of recurring injuries, Payne offers consistency and health.
The pregame dance moves, the sideline hype, the chemistry? Those are part of the package. If I woke up tomorrow and saw a notification that Payne was coming back to the Valley, I wouldn’t be mad. Not one bit.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Delon Wright
It’s starting to feel like an annual tradition for me, pointing out that Delon Wright is available. Whether it’s free agency, the trade deadline, or the buyout market, his name always seems to hover just outside the Suns’ radar. He’s 33 now and spent time with the Knicks last season after being traded from the Milwaukee Bucks.
I’ve always liked Wright. He’s like the guard version of Montrezl Harrell for me, one of those guys I keep circling back to as a potential fit, year after year.
At 6’5”, he brings size to the backcourt and hangs his hat on defense. No, he’s not a splashy option. But if you’re looking for a steady, defensive-minded guard with a bit of length and a lot of experience, he’s still worth a look.
Monte Morris
Seriously. Bring this guy back.
I never bought into the idea that the Suns needed Tyus Jones. I thought Monte Morris was more than capable of handling the role we needed last season. My assumption was simple: the team would roll out Bradley Beal and Devin Booker as the starting guards, and when the fourth quarter opened, Morris could steady the ship for a few minutes until the stars returned. That never materialized, and honestly, I don’t think Morris got a fair shake in Phoenix.
What little we did see from him, I absolutely loved. No, he’s never going to be a lockdown defender, but he can shoot, he can facilitate, and most importantly, he protects the ball. That kind of floor general doesn’t grow on trees.
So yes. Bring him back. I wouldn’t complain one bit.
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Ben Simmons
Eff you.
Other players I don’t feel like writing a full bio about? Here you go, rapid-fire style. No fluff, just names worth keeping on the radar:
- Cory Joseph
- Patty Mills
- Kyle Lowry
- Jordan McLaughlin
- Dalano Banton
- Jared Butler
- Jeff Dowtin
- Markelle Fultz
- Elfrid Payton
- Jalen Hood-Schifino
- Nah’Shon Hyland
- Isaiah Stevens
- Reece Beekman
- Mac McClung
- TyTy Washington Jr.
What do you think? Who should the Suns turn to? Is Koby Brea worth investing in, or should they bring in another seasoned facilitator to guide the offense? Should they roll the dice on youth, or lean into veteran presence?
Drop your thoughts and comps in the comments below. Let’s hear who you believe fits best in the Valley.