This one move could turn the Suns' offense into a two-way juggernaut
Let's be blunt: the Suns are stacked with scorers in the backcourt. Devin Booker and newly acquired Jalen Green are walking buckets, but both are best off-ball in a shooting guard role. The offense isn't begging for another guy who needs the ball to score 20+. What it does need is someone to run the show, play defense at a high level, and not demand touches.
Oh, and if that someone can guard the opposing team's best wing? That's gold in the Valley.
Simmons vs. Giddey vs. Durant: Why Defense Still Matters
Sure, the Bulls' Josh Giddey is another oversized point option floating around in trade rumors. But the man regularly earns F grades from advanced defensive metrics. And it's not just the eye test. The numbers are ugly. Put him in a lineup next to Booker and Green, and you've got three perimeter defenders made of warm butter. That's not a Big 3, that's a Big Mistake.
Let's stop pretending the Booker/Beal/Kevin Durant trio was ever built to last. That experiment was doomed from day one. You can't run two dynamic scoring guards next to a 36-year-old power forward who can't defend, can't facilitate, and needs the ball in his hands to function.
Durant's presence didn't unlock Booker and Beal. It choked the life out of the offense. Instead of movement and flow, we got ISO after ISO while the rest of the team stood around like they were waiting in line at the DMV. Defensively? A disaster. KD couldn't stay in front of wings, couldn't fight through screens, and didn't rotate fast enough to clean up mistakes. He wasn't a floor-raiser; he was a traffic cone with a jump shot. And in the playoffs (lord forbid if we had made it), that kind of lineup gets cooked. We saw it happen so often that we missed the playoffs completely.
Ben Simmons, on the other hand? He's a 6'10' defensive cheat code. A three-time All-Star, a 2020 All-NBA Third Team member, a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team honoree, and one of the best perimeter-and-post switch defenders we've seen this decade. He can still clamp 1 through 4 on defense, crash the boards, and — when he's healthy — push in transition like a freight train with elite passing vision.
And look, the Suns don't need him to be All-NBA Ben again. They need Phoenix Version Simmons: chilled-out, Zen desert Ben. Just facilitate, defend, and vibe.
Let's Talk Fit — Because It's Actually Perfect
The Suns' lineup is suddenly fascinating. Here's what a starting five could look like with Simmons running the point:
Offensive Lineup
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Devin Booker
SG: Jalen Green
SF: Brooks/Dunn
C: Mark Williams
Defensive Matchups
PF: Ben Simmons
SG: Devin Booker
PG: Jalen Green
SF: Brooks/Dunn
C: Mark Williams
It's not traditional. But you know what, neither is two shooting guards, and it makes sense in this lineup! Simmons gives the Suns the ability to actually get away with running two scoring guards in Booker and Green because he's the defensive glue and primary table-setter.
A Soft Landing Spot for a Complicated Career
Let's not sugarcoat it, Simmons' career has taken a hit. Between back issues, confidence struggles, and the ruthless pressure cooker that is the New York media (and, before that, the brutal Philly market), Ben's been through the wringer.
He needs a market that isn't dissecting his every move. He needs fans who aren't booing him for passing out of a dunk. He needs Phoenix.
This is the place where he can quietly get healthy, mentally and physically. Where expectations are measured. Where the team isn't asking him to do what he can't do — just lean into what he still does better than almost anyone else: defend and distribute.
Ben Simmons isn't washed. He's just miscast. And in Phoenix, he might finally find the right script.
The Bottom Line
On most teams, Ben Simmons is a weird fit. But on the Suns, he's oddly perfect. We don't need him to shoot. We need him to defend wings and bigs, lead the break, and deliver dimes to two elite scoring guards. His weaknesses aren't exposed here — they're covered.
So maybe it's time to stop laughing at the idea of Simmons in purple and orange… and start asking:
What if we're the team that figures him out?
Would you take a chance on Simmons in the desert? Drop your thoughts in the comments — but be nice. Ben's already had enough Philly in his life.
Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.
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More from brightsideofthesun.com:
Recap: Denver Nuggets Hold Off Phoenix Suns 120-104
The Dudley Double: Suns forward will match your donations to Bright Side Night!
What the heck are the Phoenix Suns doing on offense?
Locked On Suns Tuesday: Should we start to worry about Devin Booker's shooting?
Gamethread: Suns take on the Nuggets
Jared Dudley emerges as the Phoenix Suns' new sixth man
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