It’s over.
The Phoenix Suns kicked off their NBA Summer League campaign in Las Vegas on Saturday with a matchup against the Washington Wizards. While the game will be remembered for Wizards rookie Tre Johnson making Suns big man Khaman Maluach look downright silly, another major development quickly took center stage.
The Suns acquired three rookies in the Kevin Durant trade, one of whom was Koby Brea, selected in the second round. Signed on a two-way deal, Brea was expected to quietly contribute with his smooth shooting ability and help space the floor. With most of the spotlight on Maluach as the potential future anchor down low, Brea entered with little hype.
Brea’s elite shooting immediately makes Grayson Allen expendable.
Against Washington, Brea lit it up from deep—drilling four of his five three-point attempts and finishing with a team-high 19 points. Beyond the numbers, his shooting form was pure. Though it’s early, Brea’s blend of size and ability to confidently pull up from three-point range is exactly the kind of perimeter presence Phoenix has been missing. As a result, Grayson Allen’s role now appears redundant.
Allen was already on the trade market, a move driven more by necessity than desire. When Durant was still around and Beal wasn’t on the verge of a buyout, the Suns had to dangle valuable assets like Allen to improve the roster. And not long ago, Allen did lead the entire NBA in three-point shooting.
But now, with Brea arriving and the presence of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and even Royce O’Neale still in the mix, there’s simply no room left for Allen. The Suns aren’t title contenders right now, so it makes sense to give their rookies a real shot and see if they can develop faster than expected.
Even if Allen finishes his current contract, he likely won’t be around when Phoenix is ready to compete again around Devin Booker. Brea, however, could be a foundational piece for the future—and he’s off to a blazing start. There’s another layer to consider, especially if Beal ends up leaving Phoenix.
In that scenario, the Suns would dip below the second tax apron, giving them more flexibility to combine contracts in trades. Bundling Allen with someone like Nick Richards could net Phoenix some decent returns. A first-round pick might be optimistic, but it’s not completely out of reach. If the front office did indeed uncover a gem in the second round, it would be a major success following Durant’s departure.
