What Looked Like a Steal Turned Into a Disaster: Suns’ Offseason Gamble Backfires, $15 Million Down the Drain

A Summer of Hope Turns Into Another Disappointment

The Phoenix Suns entered the 2023 offseason with one clear objective: find a point guard who could orchestrate the offense and take the playmaking burden off Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Despite boasting three of the league’s most elite scorers—Booker, Beal, and Kevin Durant—the Suns' offensive efficiency ranked just 10th in the NBA last season at 116.8 points per 100 possessions. That wasn’t good enough for a team with championship aspirations.

The problem? A lack of a true floor general.

So, when they managed to sign Tyus Jones to a minimum contract, it seemed like an absolute steal.

Jones had been the league leader in assist-to-turnover ratio for five straight seasons and was coming off a strong statistical campaign with the Wizards. On paper, he was exactly what the Suns needed:

• A steady-handed point guard

• A low-mistake playmaker

• A guy who could let Booker and Beal focus purely on scoring

With Jones onboard, Phoenix fans had reason to believe this was finally the year their team would take off.

But instead? Another season of heartbreak and disappointment.

A Brutal Reality Check: Suns Are Worse Off Than Before

Fast forward to March 2025, and the Suns are sitting at 33-37, clinging to the 10th seed in the West—a far cry from their preseason expectations.

Even more frustrating? Their offense has actually gotten worse.

They now average just 114.7 points per 100 possessions, ranking outside the top 10. The same offensive stagnation, the same struggles against elite defenses, and the same lack of creativity in half-court sets.

So, what went wrong?

Simply put, Tyus Jones is not the point guard they thought he was.

The Illusion of Tyus Jones’ Efficiency

At first glance, Jones’ stats look decent:

• 10.2 PPG | 5.8 APG | 2.4 RPG

• 44.7 FG% | 40.7 3P%

Solid numbers, right? But here’s the catch—he doesn’t actually solve Phoenix’s biggest issues.

Jones is a safe passer but not a dynamic creator. His game is about making the simple read, moving the ball to the next open teammate, and avoiding mistakes.

And while that worked in Memphis and Washington, it doesn’t work in Phoenix, where the Suns need a point guard who can break down defenses and create scoring opportunities from nothing.

Jones doesn’t generate rim pressure, doesn’t manipulate defenses like a James Harden or even a prime Chris Paul, and when facing elite defensive schemes, he often disappears.

Against teams like the Thunder and Rockets, which thrive on defensive discipline, Jones has been a non-factor:

• 2 games vs. OKC: 5 assists, 3 turnovers

• 1 game vs. Houston: 6 assists, 6 turnovers

If a point guard can’t bend defenses, he’s just a ball mover. And Phoenix already has enough ball movers—what they need is someone who can break the game open.

Defensively, Jones is a Liability

If Jones at least brought defensive value, his offensive limitations might be tolerable.

But that’s another major issue—he’s a defensive black hole.

At 6'0" (1.83m) with average athleticism, Jones is routinely targeted by opposing offenses.

• Opponents shoot 72.3% at the rim when guarded by Jones

• Their overall FG% increases by 3.8% when he’s on the floor

• When Jones plays, the Suns are outscored by 3.4 points per 100 possessions

• When he sits, they outscore opponents by 0.2 points per 100 possessions

That’s a devastating impact.

On a team already lacking elite perimeter defenders, Jones’ inability to hold his own makes things even worse. Opposing teams simply hunt him in mismatches until Phoenix is forced to take him off the floor.

And that’s exactly what happened—Jones has gradually been demoted from a starter to a bench player.

Phoenix Didn’t Land a Steal—They Walked Into a Trap

Last summer, when the Suns signed Jones for just $3.3 million, many viewed it as one of the best bargain deals of free agency.

But here’s the reality:

• Jones’ value was never that high to begin with.

• His impressive assist-to-turnover ratio? A result of playing ultra-conservative basketball.

• His strong stats in Washington? Inflated numbers on a bad team.

• His defensive limitations? Impossible to hide on a contender.

That’s why no serious playoff team fought for his services.

Even though his salary was only $3.3 million, the Suns’ luxury tax situation meant they actually paid an extra $12 million in tax penalties, bringing the real cost of the signing to $15 million.

And what did they get for that money? A point guard who hasn’t moved the needle at all.

The Harsh Truth: The Suns Are Stuck

The worst part of this failed signing isn’t just the money wasted—it’s the fact that Phoenix is now out of options.

Since they went all-in on Durant and Beal, they can’t afford to take a step back. They have to keep chasing a championship, even if their roster is fundamentally flawed.

Their choices are simple:

1. Run it back next season with the same core, hoping things magically improve.

2. Make a desperation trade, likely giving up their remaining draft assets.

3. Blow it all up and start over.

None of these are great options.

And if they fail to make the playoffs this year?

That third option—blowing it up—might be their only choice.

Final Thoughts: Phoenix Is Running Out of Time

What looked like a championship-caliber roster on paper has turned into a cautionary tale of flawed roster construction.

• Three elite scorers, no true playmaker

• A defense that can’t hold up against elite competition

• A financial situation that leaves them with no flexibility

Tyus Jones was supposed to be the missing piece.

Instead, he’s a $15 million reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.