The Phoenix Suns are going nowhere fast - and if recent stats are to be believed - should break up their top three players this summer. That is most likely going to mean moving on from Kevin Durant, although the franchise would surely love to be able to send Bradley Beal packing as well.
Devin Booker doesn't appear too happy and head coach Mike Budenholzer is relying on the likes of Tyus Jones and Bol Bol to have an oversized impact relative to their roles. With rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro both struggling with injuries of their own - as well as consistency when they do get on the court - this is a season that has gone down in flames.
Yet there is one other franchise that is having a worse time of it.
We know we're trying too hard to take a positive view on the Suns' woes right now. Make no mistake, it is bad. It is probably going to get worse as well - as if the organization decide to part ways with coach Budenholzer - it will represent the third head coach hiring in three seasons. That is not the right way to build a successful culture in Phoenix.
They're also going to have to watch their first round pick go to the Houston Rockets this summer, although sending Durant there in order to get back some control of their own future might appeal to all parties. The Suns are also in the second apron and unless they move Durant are out of moves, so this is not a good place to be.
But at least they are not the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philadelphia 76ers big Joel Embiid OUT remainder of 2024-25 season. pic.twitter.com/d587XDYwA7
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 28, 2025
Their own best player in Joel Embiid is now going to miss the rest of the season, a massive blow for a team in Philadelphia who hitched all of their title hopes onto his massive frame. This is not meant to celebrate the injury of another player either, you never like to see that. But winning an MVP award looks like as good as it is ever going to get for Embiid and the 76ers.
If anything the Suns and their fans would love to be able to cheer Booker to a similar place, but that doesn't look like it is ever going to happen. The fatal mistake the 76ers made however was signing Paul George to a massive deal last summer, which in the moment looked like potentially the final piece of a puzzle that could end in an NBA Finals appearance.
Instead they somehow have an even worse record than the Suns, at 20-38. That's worse even than the Brooklyn Nets, who are actively trying to lose. They do at least boast Tyrese Maxey, although he is not quite on the level of Booker. For those keeping score at home then, the 76ers have a hobble franchise cornerstone, and an overpriced former star who they won't be able to move.
There might be some similarities between George and Beal, but at least the Suns don't have massive injury concerns of their own. Beal is injury-prone, but he's also the team's third best player on his best day. George also has a podcast that - during trying moments like this - appears to rub his fanbase up the wrong way.
Durant might like to jump on social media to share his thoughts, but there is a difference there. It will not be a surprise if Nick Nurse is also giving his marching orders from Philadelphia, although the Suns should steer clear of that head coach if he becomes available. The moral of the story here then, is that it could always be worse. On the basis of this particular season however, just not much worse.