Is a major reshuffle for the Phoenix Suns incoming? The Suns’ chances of making it to the playoffs look bleak as they stand 11th in the Western Conference with a 27-30 record. The Suns’ roster is built around veteran stars Kevin Durant (36), Bradley Beal (31), and Devin Booker (28). While they add to the team’s experience, they also contribute to the Suns’ aging core.
The heavy reliance on veteran players has sparked debates about the team’s ability to maintain a high level of performance over an 82-game season and deep into the playoffs. The four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins believes it’s time for the franchise to rebuild, and that could mean saying goodbye to some of their biggest stars.
Cousins Thinks It’s Time For Suns To Offload Some Big Names
Speaking on “Run It Back,” Cousins shared his bold take on the Suns’ situation, sharing that trading superstar Devin Booker could be the move to jumpstart the rebuild.
“I actually feel Devin [Booker] would be one of those guys that’s on the move as well,” Cousins said. “The reasons I say that are, well, one, he has already become the franchise leader in scoring, so obviously, I feel like it’s an important accolade for any player that’s been with the franchise, so I think his time there is proven, but I’m thinking about it from a business standpoint and an owner standpoint; I don’t know why they’d keep anybody.”
"No flow, no chemistry, no camaraderie. It's just a group of great names that just don't fit together and it shows."
DeMarcus Cousins kept it real on the Suns' Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal 🗣
(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/crKqh80PEv
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 25, 2025
The Suns have gone from a struggling franchise to a championship contender in just a few years, largely due to Booker’s leadership and the addition of Durant. The two-time NBA champion has averaged 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 128 games for the Suns in his career.
Likewise, Booker, who has been with the Suns for around 10 seasons, has averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and five assists in his career with the Suns. He is the Suns’ all-time leading scorer and led them to the NBA Finals in 2021.
Cousins also expects Kevin Durant to be traded, stating that the 35-year-old superstar could still bring in valuable assets. However, moving Bradley Beal might not be as easy since he has a no-trade clause in his NBA contract.
This clause allows him to veto any trade. Beal negotiated the no-trade clause when he signed a five-year, $251 million contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022. The clause went with him when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2023.
“Obviously KD would be on the move,” Cousins added. “You can get assets from him as well; I think the hardest guy to trade out of that scenario is Brad Beal. He makes so much money that he’s at a point in his career where he’s frowned upon or he’s not at the level that he was once at. With the trade clause as well, I just think he’s the toughest guy to move out of that group, so I actually see KD and Book on the move.”
The Suns have been in “win-now” mode for the last few years, but their current roster construction isn’t working. Moving on from their stars would give them the flexibility to start over with younger talent and future draft picks.
However, they have to let go of their championship aspirations, but it will give them enough time to rebuild and bounce back strongly.
