The Phoenix Suns and their dream ride through to the NBA Finals stalled just before reaching its glorious destination, with the team unable to carry on and win their first ever championship, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks after six games.
Even for a season that extended deep into July—something unseen before due to this year’s late start—Suns fans undoubtedly still wanted it to continue at least a few more days. However, the Greek Freak had other plans.
Giannis Antetokounmpo proved too fast and too strong for the Suns to bottle up. He bombarded Phoenix during the series’s final contest with an absurd 50 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocked shots.
The esteemed back court of Chris Paul and Devin Booker certainly had their moments, combining for 45 points. But they also fell victim to Milwaukee’s swarming defense more often than desired, combining for nine turnovers. Booker also shot an ugly 0-7 from 3-point land.
With the final buzzer eventually echoing out, green and white confetti began to cascade down over the Suns, excusing them from the floor and closing the curtain on their fifth winningest season in franchise history. Booker and head coach Monty Williams took the loss especially hard, struggling to stomach their season’s finale while speaking with reporters after the game.
But although things might feel bleak right now, we need to keep the big picture considered. The Suns stand well positioned to bounce back and return to the league’s grandest stage, having surely built up the league’s most talented and young roster already for next year.
However, some changes must ensue, specifically relating to who they carry into battle during the 2021-22 season. Rounding out the necessary cuts, these guys just played their final games for the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix Suns Not Returning Next Year: Cameron Payne
Phoenix’s backup point guard Cameron Payne brought his career back from the ashes this season, not only playing himself into a new contract, but likely a lucrative one too expensive for the Suns to take on.
This postseason, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 assists while shooting 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. He also carried the Suns through their first two games during the Western Conference Finals with Chris Paul unable to suit up due to a positive COVID-19 test.
These numbers might not pop out as big-contract worthy figures, but this year’s free-agency class lacks point guard depth with only Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley, and Spencer Dinwiddie highlighting the field. For this reason, expect some less talented teams to extend an extravagant deal Payne’s way, and expect him to sign one given his almost permanent exit from the NBA last summer.
Paul’s pending decision whether or not to opt-out from his current contract with the Suns complicates their chances to re-sign Payne as well. Both financially and physically, the Suns cannot chase down Paul and Payne at the same time. Phoenix will surely target Paul as their first priority once free-agency opens up if he indeed opts-out, leaving Payne with others to entertain him.
These two variables just stack the odds too highly against Payne and the Suns reuniting. He certainly owes the Suns a lot though, as they gave him an opportunity to prove his worth when nobody else would. But at this point, he needs to look out for himself, and you cannot blame him for that.
Phoenix Suns Not Returning Next Year: Torrey Craig
Torrey Craig made his way to Phoenix halfway through this season oddly enough by way of their eventual NBA Finals opponent, the Milwaukee Bucks. At some points, he looked awkward on the floor, struggling to find his place with the team. But during others, he looked flawless, complementing those around him both offensively and defensively.
Due to this inconsistency though, you cannot expect the Suns to invest more money into him. No matter how intriguing Craig’s versatility makes him, it does not warrant much financial commitment.
Craig averaged 5.5 points 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8 percent from outside this season. The Suns can absolutely recreate that production with younger, and cheaper players either through the draft, or by signing other free-agents this offseason.
It just makes too much sense for the Suns to move on from Craig. At no point did he make a compelling argument with his play for the Suns to throw more money at him, and any younger player filling his spot can also bring an extensive ceiling as an asset as well, all together formulating as the better option.
Unfortunately for Craig, his time as journeyman will continue this summer. He absolutely still deserves a place in this league, just not one with the Suns anymore.
Phoenix Suns Not Returning Next Year: Frank Kaminsky
When Dario Saric exited with a torn ACL to start the NBA Finals, it foreshadowed Phoenix’s vulnerability down low. It took until Game 3 for things to really come into fruition, but once starting center Deandre Ayton picked up some early fouls, the Suns started to bleed under the rim.
Trying to patch things up as the team’s only remaining center, Frank Kaminsky began playing big minutes for the Suns. He surely tried his best to serve as an adequate understudy behind Ayton, but Kaminsky failed regardless.
Each time Frank “The Tank” took the floor, he embodied a true defensive liability for the Suns, which the Bucks exploited often. Every time Kaminsky trotted out onto the floor, you counted away the seconds until it became safe for Ayton to return. No player should be connected to a burden such as that.
This lack of muscle down low without Saric went down as perhaps Phoenix’s most fatal flaw during the Finals. Unfortunately, it looks like something that might persist next year though with ACL tears typically taking a full year to recover from.
With Saric out next season, the Suns need a real big to work behind Ayton in order to avoid this glaring issue. That starts with letting Kaminsky walk, and instead spending money on a Serge Ibaka or Nerlens Noel.