Is Bradley Beal best for Suns off bench?

Even though a Bradley Beal trade seems imminent at this point, lets pump the breaks and think about him keeping this intermittent role on the bench at least for the remainder of this season.

Since Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer took Beal out of the starting lineup earlier in the week, the Suns are 2-1, ending a four-game losing streak with some much needed success.

What seems to be a clear play to pressure the three-time All-Pro into overriding his contracts no-trade clause may actually be the right move for the team.

In the Suns two victories since being benched , Beal led the team in scoring.

He started his tour as Phoenixs sixth man with 25 points in the Suns 109-99 win over the 76ers Monday, and followed with another 25-point performance in the 126-117 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Thursday.

Beal only scored 10 points in the 115-104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.

Brad getting after it pic.twitter.com/hv7b1HURcB Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 10, 2025 Numbers from Philly Beal: 25 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK Durant: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK Dunn: 15 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST Booker: 10 PTS, 10 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL Ighodaro: 8 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST Morris: 7 PTS, 2 AST Nurkic: 5 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST Allen: 6 PTS, 1 REB, 1 STL...

pic.twitter.com/ejDZpVxFHM Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 7, 2025 Beals performances are a clear case that the 13-year vet can still run with the best of them and deserves to be a starter in the league.

His three games off the bench most certainly upped his trade value but what if he stayed? Bypass the warranted ego of a player who averaged as many as 31.3 points per game in a single-season and the fact that Phoenix would be paying $50 million annually for a bench player, and the Suns may have a new recipe for success.

On Tuesday, the WNBAs Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon praised Beal for his resilience under the circumstances and accepting his role under tumultuous times.

Hammon also compared the move to its potential resemblence to San Antonion Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich placing 2022 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Manu Ginobili into a sixth man role.

"I'm gonna go to my favorite bench player in Manu Ginobili." @chiney and Becky Hammon on how the Suns benching Bradley Beal could help save their season pic.twitter.com/7uMLbb7GLx NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 7, 2025 Ginobili was named Sixth Man of the Year, as well as named to the All-NBA third-team in 2008.

Though he probably couldve been a star anywhere else, he played his role effectively for the Spurs, winning four titles and cementing an iconic legacy in San Antonio.

He wasnt the first and he wont be the last to do it.

NBA sixth man legends like Jamal Crawford , Andre Iguadola, Kevin McHale and Lou Williams all held roles as starter at a point and time.

Even Los Angeles Clipper James Harden played sixth man to Denver Nugget Russell Westbrook and Beals current teammate Kevin Durant on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the early 2010s.

Its a long shot to dream of the possibility of Beal sticking around in Phoenix to play a backup role, as he shows that hes still one of the best players in The Association and the Jimmy Butler trade talks rapidly heat up.

But a trial run seeing how the All-Star guard does off the bench for the remainder of the season wouldnt be the worst idea if egos can be put aside.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission..

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