If there is one thing the Phoenix Suns could do with having more of ahead of the 2025-26 season. Not because they figure to be contenders - but with Grayson Allen somehow the second longest tenured player on the roster - they need old heads to lead the youngsters and tack on some wins to their overall record as well.
With the organization not in control of their first round pick in 2026, the incentive to tank and just play rookie center Khaman Maluach 35 minutes a night isn't there either. Which is why it was interesting that they reportedly turned down the chance to reunite with Chris Paul this offseason, despite Devin Booker seemingly being into the idea.
Kevin O'Connor thinks Chris Paul can be Sixth Man of the Year contender.
The 40-year-old instead ended up joining another former team in the L.A. Clippers - and although they now have a Kawhi Leonard problem on their hands - Kevin O'Connor is bullish on his chances of winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. A sentiment he shared recently with Legend of Winning on his podcast on Yahoo! Sports.
Whether or not O'Connor is going to be proven correct - and really Paul continues to defy the odds wherever he ends up - there is no doubt he could have had an even greater impact in Phoenix. Winning awards is cool, but unless we're talking rings, then Paul doesn't care. That wouldn't have happened with the Suns, but he's not as close as he thinks to the pinnacle with the Clippers either.
What Paul could have done in The Valley is boost his legacy even further, because he would have started for the Suns, at least initially. Yes that would have meant a difficult conversation with Jalen Green - who himself could have then entered the Sixth Man race - but Paul could have been a genuine contributor who made Booker's life a lot easier by setting up his teammates each night.
He also would have had guys like Maluach, Dillon Brooks and Ryan Dunn who could have done so much of the dirty work for him defensively that his body no longer allows him too. Although that is also true of his teammates in Los Angeles, beginning the season as a starter before possibly moving to the bench would have been so much cooler to see.
Paul also would have been an incredible mentor not only to a young guy like Green who has all the tools, but a hard-working backup in Collin Gillespie as well. Should he make a run for this award with the Clippers, the Suns' front office are going to once again look foolish for not bringing him back for what is sure to be his final year. Not like there's going to be much else to celebrate in 2025-26.