The Phoenix Suns’ most recent 116-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night improved the team’s record to 14-11 and earned the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.

Devin Booker’s 28 points on just 14 shot attempts ultimately led Phoenix to victory, but the team’s lackluster bench unit was unable to make a significant contribution on offense to decide the outcome of the contest.

Grayson Allen, their top reserve, hit just 30.8% of his attempts from the floor and ended up scoring 12 of the team’s 26 total bench points.

This has become a recurring theme through the franchise’s first 25 games, as Phoenix is ​​No. 24 in the association with 31.8 bench points.

Every night, the team relies heavily on its three-headed monster of former league MVP Kevin Durant, Booker and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, but with drawbacks.

This ongoing struggle could eventually tempt Phoenix general manager James Jones to make a major decision to improve a disappointing reserve unit. Jones could be inquiring about a multiple-time Milwaukee Bucks Sixth Man of the Year candidate who is reportedly available for a deal.

“The Bucks have been assessing the trade market for Bobby Portis to find rotational upgrades,” Evan Sidery of Forbes said via Twitter/X on Monday night.

“With Milwaukee ranked above the second frontcourt, they cannot take back salaries totaling more than $12.6 million from Portis.”

A 6-foot-10 power forward with an endless bag of tricks as an offensive weapon, Portis certainly has the attention of several front offices with his current averages of 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds coupled with a 36.7% shooting accuracy from distance as a trader draws attention to the deadline approaching.

The crafty 29-year-old finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting over the past two seasons from 2022 to 2024, and his consistent scoring ability suits any candidate looking to acquire his services.

In a team surrounded by three of the most dangerous goalscorers of the last decade, Portis’ offensive abilities could be further unleashed by giving the veteran striker more freedom to operate.

A potential deal for Portis would require Phoenix to overcome some financial hurdles as a second tax-ahead franchise.

The Suns’ best option might be to send a combination of veterans like Royce O’Neale and Mason Plumlee back to Milwaukee, as the salaries exchanged in the deal would have to be nearly identical.

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