Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Suns reportedly making drastic changes amid losing streak

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 8:10 AM ET

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The slumping Suns (15-18) — who have won only three games since the start of December — are set to bench veteran starters Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic in favor of Mason Plumlee and rookie Ryan Dunn. The Suns reportedly decided on the roster changes after dropping their fourth straight game to the Pacers on Sunday night.

In the 126-108 loss, Beal shot 3-of-12 from the floor for eight points and Nurkic did not suit up due to his suspension for his role in last week's brawl with the Mavericks.

According to insider Chris Haynes, Beal will be relegated to a bench role starting with Monday's road game in Philadelphia.

"There is also tension in that locker room," Haynes said via X. "I'm told certain players are unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they're being used."

Sources: Rookie Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee expected to replace Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkić in the Phoenix Suns starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/ody525bQsg
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 6, 2025

Sources: In midst of 4-game losing streak and tension in locker room, Phoenix expected to make drastic change by removing Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic from starting lineup beginning Monday at Philadelphia. #haynesbriefs pic.twitter.com/utz0FNLppB
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 6, 2025

The chatter of "tension" in the locker room is an alarming development for a team that entered the 2024-25 season as a legitimate title contender. During the offseason, the Suns hired former NBA champion Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach and signed two point guards, Tyus Jones and Monte Morris, to free up Kevin Durant and Devin Booker of ball-handling duties.

Those offseason moves immediately paid dividends as the Suns started the season with an 8-1 record and seemed primed to finish as a top-three seed in the West. However, the Suns have gone 7-17 since their 127-118 OT loss to the Kings on Nov. 10. Since that loss, Phoenix has won back-to-back games only twice, falling to put together a string of wins due to inconsistent play on both ends of the floor.

Beal's benching likely signals Phoenix's eagerness to trade the veteran guard. According to multiple insiders, Phoenix has engaged Miami on a swap involving Beal and Jimmy Butler, but the latter is reportedly uninterested in taking back Beal's hefty contract. Beal will have to waive his no-trade clause for any trade to materialize.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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