4. Leaving the cupboard bare
The Suns traded virtually everything for Bradley Beal. Deandre Ayton was in the rumors, but Phoenix could not find a deal to their liking. The former number-one overall pick is about the only asset the franchise has beyond their Big 3. They were even trading secondary swap rights to get a few second-round picks to add to deals.
The Suns do not control a first-round pick through 2030. They have six second-round picks to trade after making a few more deals late in the summer, but most of those are late selections that won’t hold a ton of value.
If this experiment does not work, the Suns must trade one of their Big 3 to recoup assets. There is only a small window here. Kevin Durant is already 35 and showing signs of slowing down. Beal is over 30 with a lengthy injury history. Phoenix has, at most, four cracks at winning a championship with this roster, and that is generous. If they wait that long, pivoting will be nearly impossible as KD and Beal’s trade values will drop significantly.
The Phoenix Suns will regret leaving the cupboard bare for years unless they win a championship. That won’t be easy and will take some luck. It could be a roster flaw that becomes their undoing.