The playoffs were not particularly kind to the Phoenix Suns. After struggling through injuries all season, a late trade was supposed to make the difference. Instead, it is a summer of questions and rebuilding. Fortunately, the Suns have two untouchable players to build around, but they need to move three others in rebuilding.
Rebuilding may be a strong word for what the Phoenix Suns need. Any team with two players capable of scoring a combined 80 points on any given night has a puncher’s chance. However, after 55 years of disappointment, we in the Valley of the Suns have learned that a puncher’s chance is not much of a chance.
Signings will be a priority for the Suns over the summer
Going into the 2023-24 season, the Suns technically only have seven players under contract. Of those seven, four are fully guaranteed – Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Landry Shamet – while Chris Paul and Cameron Payne have partial guarantees, and Ish Wainright has a team option. This means there will be a lot of free agents coming and going, but it is with the signed core of the team that the biggest changes do and do not need to be made.
Suns untouchable number 1 – Our cornerstone
Maybe the best thing the Phoenix Suns have going for them is our young superstar. Although injuries limited D-Book in the regular season, we have all seen him during the Suns’ playoff run, demonstrating that he is ready to take that next leap into superstardom.
Booker’s shooting and scoring in the postseason have made his 28 points per game in the regular season seem quite pedestrian. He has upped his game during the postseason in almost every aspect, and while some of this is a result of more minutes, a lot is simply the continued growth of our franchise leader.
The hope is that Booker will continue to grow and that the step we have seen in the postseason is a real step forward for D-Book, which will trust him into the MVP conversation and the Suns into the championship discussion.
Suns untouchable number 2 – Ishbia’s big bet
For many new leaders that come into an organization, the first few days and weeks are a feeling-out process. The leader doesn’t rock the boat too much as they work to get a lay of the land. For the Phoenix Suns’ new ownership group, led by Matt Ishbia, aka the Flopper, the first day was not for laying low and understanding the organization. In the first hours of his ownership, Ishbia green-lit what will arguably go down as the biggest trade in Suns’ history in acquiring Kevin Durant from Brooklyn.
Unfortunately, the price was steep, but fortunately, Durant can still ball. Despite never having that other-worldly performance that we were all hoping to see, KD was more than a roll player averaging nearly 30 points per night, with near double-figure rebounds and more than 5 assists per game. If not for Nikola Jokic throwing out triple-doubles and Booker playing like a man possessed, we would all be talking about just how good KD has been.
Instead, we have wanted more, but the good news for Phoenix is that Durant is under contract, and with Booker next to him, the Suns have the foundation for a positive future. And for those who think Durant is getting too old, we should remember he is a year-younger than Steph Curry, and I think we’d all take him on our team too.
Player 1 the Suns need to sell – The contract we had to sign
It would be less than honest to say it was anything other than a disappointing season for the Suns’ Deandre Ayton. Although Ayton had some stretches where he looked like a dominant big man, he also had stretches where he looked like the smallest player on the floor, with none worse than his disappearing act against Denver.
Phoenix had little choice last summer but to match Indiana and Ayton’s contract or lose him for nothing. Now that the Suns are a year into the contract and Ayton’s growth continues to be anything but linear; it is time to sell on the center.
While the Suns are unlikely to get value back that is equivalent to a former number one overall pick that is on a max contract, a serviceable role player and some draft picks for a team that is seriously lacking both would be useful in building a team that can compete behind Booker and Durant.
I would love to see Ayton work; we all would, but his future needs to be anywhere except Phoenix.
Player 2 the Suns need to sell – Moving the coach’s kid
Okay, Landry Shamet is not related to Monty Williams. However, Williams likely will never live down his comment about Shamet being the guy he wants his daughter to marry. While his daughter can marry him, we Suns fans want someone who can help carry us when times get tough.
Shamet was non-existent in the regular season, missing more than half the year with various injuries, and outside of one good game, he was equally non-existent in the playoffs, despite playing far too much. Shamet’s contract is not terrible; he has three more years at about $33 million. The $10-11 million a year range should provide several trading options and opportunities for the Suns if they can find a buyer. Moving an oft-injured, streaky shooting guard who turns the ball over too much is not easy, but the Suns must do it.
Player 3, the Suns need to sell – Thanks for the memories
After already moving Bridges and Cam earlier in the season, the Suns might as well finish tearing things down and try and move Chris Paul. Although neither of his two remaining years on his contract is fully guaranteed, CP3 is on the books for some $60 million over the next two seasons, and if this past season was any indication, that is way too much.
There is no doubt that when he is on, Paul is still one of the best in the game at dominating an offense and setting up his teammates. Unfortunately, Paul is best in a slower game, which is not today’s NBA. Add in the growing laundry list of injuries over the last three seasons, including multiple playoff problems, and it is impossible to see how the Suns can afford to pay Paul all that money.
Of course, eating half that salary by letting him walk is not an option, and finding a trading partner for a 38-year-old point guard on a massive contract is not easy. No easier than moving a low-motor center or a poor shooting guard. However, this is the reality for the Suns. Phoenix has Booker and Durant, and beyond that, James Jones needs to get to work.