Yuck. Gross. Pick any superlative you want, but the Phoenix Suns did exactly what I expected them to do last night: they shit the bed. And the kicker? I’m not even sure they’ll admit it. It’s like Frank and Charlie all over again, isn’t it? Nobody’s owning up to the mess they made. But make no mistake, that’s exactly what the Suns did as they got throttled by the Thunder on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t just another loss, it capped off a bizarre day in Suns-land. A day that was every bit as odd as the game itself.

The day started with rumors that Kevin Durant could be traded to the Golden State Warriors, but after that deal fell through, it left you wondering how to feel about it all. Durant has been somewhat of a “get-out-of-jail-free” card for Phoenix, especially considering the blunders they’ve made in the past, like the Bradley Beal situation. So, when I heard whispers about Durant possibly landing with Jimmy Butler, I wasn’t exactly sold.

But when it turned out he wasn’t coming? I was relieved, though I did catch myself wondering: What could the Suns have done with that deal? Could it have reset our future?

The trade deadline is today, and there’s still a chance for the Suns to make a move, but right now it looks like they’re holding steady. Chris Haynes tweeted that the “internal hope is improved play” for Phoenix. And right after that, the Suns got obliterated.

Multiple obstacles in the way to make a drastic change at the deadline, Phoenix Suns were always prepared to venture into second half of season with the core roster in place. With futures no longer in doubt for time being, the internal hope is improved play.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 6, 2025

Improved play? This team can’t go three minutes without turning the ball over five times. How exactly do you improve that? For all the talent they have, they’re everything the Thunder are not. Starting with discipline.

So now, we wait. We twiddle our thumbs, pondering the trade deadline while also mulling over who deserves the Bright Side Baller award. My bet? For the second time this season, after playing the Thunder, a 90s R&B star might walk away with some more hardware.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Devin Booker broke Walter Davis’ all-time scoring record on Monday, and in doing so, earned his 13th Bright Side Baller of the year. But it wasn’t a landslide. The Suns did him dirty by not winning the game, and his former teammate Deandre Ayton sniped 14% of the vote from him. 25 points and 20 rebounds in a game will do that for ya.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Bradley Beal

25 points (7-of-11, 1-of-2 3PT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover, -12 +/-

Devin Booker

19 points (3-of-9, 0-of-3 3PT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 turnovers, -38 +/-

Royce O’Neale

18 points (6-of-10, 6-of-9 3PT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, -15 +/-

Tyus Jones

10 points (4-of-9, 2-of-6 3PT), 3 assists, 2 turnovers, -22 +/-

Grayson Allen

9 points (3-of-9, 3-of-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, -14 +/-

Nick Richards

6 points (3-of-3, 100% FG), 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -10 +/-

Who do you have for this one?

36 votes total Vote Now

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