The quiet free agent signing who could finally unlock KD, Booker and the Suns' Big 3

FOR MOST In his 13 years in the NBA, Bradley Beal had a good sense of who he was as a player. An elite shooter and goalscorer. A willing passer and versatile defender. The three All-Star games confirmed this self-image. The same goes for the annual interest in him from prospects while he played for the Washington Wizards.

But last year was a strange one for Beal. Not just because he finally asked about the Phoenix Suns in August last year and was traded to them. But because he had been asked and tried to play a very different position for the Suns than the one he had played for most of his career: point guard.

“They used me more as a facilitator than a scorer, and honestly that kind of worked with my head,” Beal told ESPN. “Literally, I had a whole reflection the whole summer, just like, 'Who are you?'

“I had to have a real conversation with myself, you know. I took some time to look at myself in the mirror and answer, 'What do I need to do better? Who am I?' And then we'll just come back to it.

Around the same time that Beal was reflecting on his first year in Phoenix, the Suns were doing the same. How could a team with three superstars – Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker – make so little difference in the playoffs? Why had they failed so much in their collective abilities?

Neither Frank Vogel nor the Suns had decided to play Beal and Booker at point guard because they believed that was the best role for them. This was a result of having to trade Chris Paul to the Wizards to acquire Beal and his $46.7 million salary, and being one of five teams using the NBA's new “second frontcourt.” had to go through, which severely limited a team's ability to make trades and fill out its roster with players earning more than the veteran minimum.

All season long, Beal, Booker and Vogel said they were determined to make the best of the situation. But at the start of the season – and after – it was clear that the experiment was untenable. The numbers told the story. Beal averaged 18.2 points per game last season, his lowest since 2015-16, and 72% of his touches resulted in a pass, according to Second Spectrum. His usage rate (22.4%) was the lowest since 2014-15.

For his part, Booker brought the ball up on nearly 30% of the Suns' possessions per game and second spectrum, the highest rate of his career, while also posting his lowest overall usage (29.4%) since 2016-17. Only 25.5 of his touches resulted in a shot, the lowest rate of his career.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns' first-round opponent in the playoffs, took full advantage.

In the Suns' last five games against the Wolves – their final game of the regular season and the four-game stretch – Minnesota pressured the player bringing the ball up on a total of 157 possessions, the highest number by the Suns struggled in all five games. Playing time last season.

“I mean, it was just a different role, a different responsibility,” Booker told ESPN. “It was something neither of us was used to, but we were willing to learn and do it.”

Vogel was replaced by Mike Budenholzer after just one season. But the Suns knew they needed more than just a coaching change to change their fortunes, team sources said. They needed a player who could bring Beal and Booker back to the positions where they had become superstars.

“I think after the year we realized it was about optimizing those three guys,” Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein told ESPN. “I mean, Bradley Beal led the league in scoring. Let's get back to it.” That's not to say there won't be times this year where Brad and Devin are the guards, but when we took a step back to look at it, the most important thing was when we have those three guys , how do we get them to be the best version of themselves?”

Those questions were calmly but firmly answered nearly four weeks into free agency, as the Suns spent $3 million on a player they believe will unlock the unprecedented championship potential of basketball's most enticing Big 3 becomes.

IF ANY, THAT The issue became even more difficult for Phoenix to deal with this summer as the new collective bargaining agreement took full effect in July of this year.

Phoenix couldn't even afford to keep backup point guard Cameron Payne, who traded his $6.5 salary and a second-round pick to San Antonio last offseason to save money for the Replacement center Bol Bol was used.

New owner Mat Ishbia told ESPN in March last year that his solution, if there was one, would be to create a culture where experienced players would prefer higher salaries elsewhere.

“I understand all the rules that come with the second apron. I understand exactly what the CBA was trying to do,” he said. “I read it, I know it inside and out, and we made a calculated decision that we thought the team with the best players would win. Would I rather have Brad Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker than just two of those guys?” I'd rather have all three a hundred times out of a hundred, and I don't think there's another general manager, owner or CEO who doesn't have exactly that Same would say.

“Now how do you maneuver this around? Well, you have to differentiate yourself. … I need to create an environment where [we’re] I’m trying to be the best franchise in sports that players want to play.”

It was an idealistic feeling. And Ishbia understood that other owners or front offices thought he would soon be humbled by the harsh realities of the NBA, just like other cocky new owners.

But he also believed that it only took one experienced player to prove him right.

That player ended up being Tyus Jones.

THE GUARDIAN OF THE 10TH YEAR Duke has ranked in the NBA's top five in assist-to-turnover ratio for eight straight seasons. He led the league in five of those games and last season had the best rate (7.35) since individual turnovers were first recorded in 1977-78.

In any other year, Jones would have been well paid as the top point guard on the free agent market with a reputation as a mature leader. And in fact, Jones assessed the more lucrative interest from the Wizards, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets, league sources said, with offers ranging from $8 million to $12 million per year.

But none of those teams offered the kind of role and ceiling that the Suns did.

“The first conversation I had with my agent, I thought, 'Man, I wish they had more money because as far as basketball goes, it was a perfect fit,” Jones told ESPN.

This conversation took place before free agency began. After the first week of free agency — in which the Spurs signed Paul to a one-year, $11 million contract and his other suitors began pressing him for answers — Jones' decision became clear: Take the money in a losing situation and make it you it the best of it. Or sign a veteran minimum contract with a contender and test free agency again next summer.

Bartelstein pitched the idea to Jones' agent, Kevin Bradbury, over drinks at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas and concluded that he was, at best, just doing due diligence.

“The probability has increased from 0.1% to 1%,” said Bartelstein. “We just opened the door … and then it became like college recruiting.”

Bartelstein called Ishbia with Jones and his wife, Carrie, and they met in person with James Jones, president of basketball operations, in Phoenix. Then Tre Jones sat down with Budenholzer to discuss the role he would play and the coaches' vision of how the team would play with Jones as chief of staff.

“She was actually involved in the conversations with Josh, Bud and Mat,” Jones said. “Because this was more than just a decision for myself. It’s also about her and the family. We just have to decide where we want to be, what would be a good place for them, both in terms of life and in terms of organization.”

“Honestly, just including them and understanding our family is a big part of the decision. We pay attention to everything for our children, and what helps her feel comfortable ultimately helped me feel comfortable with the decision.”

Beal isn't shy about what it means to him to land a player like Jones on the court. He probably could have skipped all this soul-searching and self-reflection if he had known the Suns were going to get a point guard like Jones in free agency.

In the Suns' first four games this season, Jones is averaging 10 points, 6 assists and fewer than one turnover per game – but he's making an impression far beyond his individual performance, taking the pressure off Booker and Beal last season the offensive load he had to carry.

Beal is dribbling 30% less before attempting a shot so far this year and is shooting 42.1% from distance, near a career high, while Booker is dribbling 51% less before attempting a shot and is shooting 41.9% from distance the distance, by far the best mark of his career.

“I think anyone on the outside who looked in last year understood that he was asked to do more than he probably normally does. And that’s when I felt like I could help,” Jones said. “I try to make their work easier. I’m trying to set the table for them, put them in good positions so they can just shoot the ball and do what they do at an extremely elite level.”

Whether that will be enough to help the Suns win the title remains to be seen, but for the first time these Big 3 now have a man to make the team.

“Tyus makes our lives so much easier,” Beal said. “I have a lot more weight off my shoulders. We can just do what everyone knows us to do.”