This outdoor season has been huge for the Phoenix Suns, because they have finally changed course and decided to re-enlarge their 28-year-old superstar in Devin Booker. This meant going further from both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal – not an easy performance when they were above the second apron – and earning as much value as they could for the couple.
Whatever your thoughts are about what they brought back to the valley for them, this has had the knock-on impact to change the perception of various other movements that were done at a time when the Suns tried to be contenders. For example, the actions of Deandre Ayton cannot be experienced here, but unfortunately one trade gets worse.
Toumani Camara send away an absolute disaster for sunbathing.
You probably remember it, but Rookie Toumani Camara – who had only played in Summer League for the Suns up to that moment – was included in the trade that Phoenix Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson delivered. This was done to finally get away from Ayton, and the goal was to bring back a center that could be the perfect foil next to Booker, Durant and Beal.
In retrospect, we know how foolish that was, but continuing from Nurkic at the deadline made the inclusion of the Camara even worse. The Belgian quickly settled as one of the best perimeter defenders in the entire competition in only his second season, and that is why it was no surprise to see him also be mentioned as a second team All-Defense last season. Great work for a second player.
Active hands never get out of fashion.
Toumani Camara presses passers -by, but returns to Rips and Jabs. A hand follows the ball high, the other remains low for the RIP learning book Old-School Fundamentals that still work at the highest level.
It has an impact on the ball, not alone … pic.twitter.com/hywj68xp9f
– Mike Jagacki (@mike_jagacki) August 15, 2025
The Suns, on the other hand – after they tried to make Nurkic the answer – broke out a valuable future first round instead in three less seductive selections and packed one of them with the Bosnian to the Charlotte Hornets. To the surprise of nobody, the Hornets have already moved from Nurkic, making the suns look even more stupid.
Moreover, Phoenix has added a center of Charlotte in Nick Richards to the deadline, of whom they are said to try to continue. The solution? Rookie Kaman Maluach – who is as raw when they come – and another big man from Charlotte in the often damaged Mark Williams. An excellent addition if he can stay healthy, but someone who comes with a huge reservation.
His Rookie deal will soon be up, and it will be up to the Suns to pay him. All that heartache, and if they had just kept Camara, they could have extended him and had the version of this team of Mikal Bridges for the rest of the decade. Big things are expected from the second -year player Ryan Dunn this coming season, and even if he exceeds expectations, he will not be at Camara’s level.
The last nail in the coffin here? The Suns are no longer a competition, so Camara would have had all the minutes to change into the player we know he is going to be. All so durant and Beal can have an attacking big man who is able to get out of the mail and to be physical on the other side. One of the worst decisions that this Front Office has made.
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