The Utah Jazz gave the Phoenix Suns everything they could handle on December 13. The Suns were missing Bradley Beal, so that may have leveled the playing field a bit, but since the Jazz and Suns have vastly different intentions, it shouldn't have been that close.
And that's precisely the problem with the Suns. They have a razor thin margin for error with their squad. If one of Beal, Kevin Durant, or Devin Booker go down, they're in trouble. They got all-around contributions from the likes of Tyus Jones and ex-Jazzman Royce O'Neale, but Durant and Booker combined for 64 points.
Beal would have more likely than not made a huge difference if he played, but the Suns play with so much fire by depending on as much as they do on their Big 3. Sure, they can manage the storm against the Jazz, but they may not have the same luck against the Thunder or Grizzlies.
Having three excellent scorers is an extraordinary luxury, but not when it comes at the expense of a weak supporting cast. The Suns' overall rotation could be worse, but nights like tonight make their concerns stick out like a sore thumb.
That's also why the Jazz work as potential trade partners if the Suns ever decide to do something about this.
The Jazz have players the Suns need, which showed itself tonight
John Collins and Jordan Clarkson are the Jazz's two most available players. Collins is leaps and bounds better than who the Suns have in their frontcourt. With his floor-spacing abilities combined with his reputation as a lob threat, he would open up so many possibilities for the Suns.
The Suns need that versatility that they very much lack with Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee. Even if he's overpaid, teams respect Collins much more than the other Suns' centers, and that is enough reason to acquire him.
Clarkson kept the Jazz in the game against the Suns because he got hot. He's never consistently been that player, but he has consistently shown that when he gets hot, he can be the best scorer on the floor.
Of course, the Suns are heavily strapped because they have crossed the NBA's second tax apron. Trading for Collins and Clarkson would not be possible without trading one of the Suns' more expensive players. If it came to that, the most likely culprit would be Beal.
Beal is a better scorer than Clarkson, but Clarkson is good enough to be a third scorer (and Collins isn't too shabby in that department) that they can warrant trading him for them because of how many holes they would fill, as Collins is an immense upgrade in their frontcourt. Clarkson isn't too much of a downgrade as a suitable third scorer for Phoenix.
The elephant in the room is that Beal has a no-trade clause, and a betting man would put good money on Beal, never accepting a trade to the Jazz. However, if they can find a third team to re-route Beal to, this is a deal the Suns should think about.