1 Reason the Suns should already be worried about 2025-26 season

With training camp just around the corner for NBA organizations, now is a time of optimism for the Phoenix Suns, and rightly so. They've got Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, which means they've always got a shot. Bradley Beal looked more comfortable in The Valley towards the end of last season, and he will also be back in a big way.

There's a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, an improved second unit and even a pair of rookies who will be fighting hard to earn some minutes. Not only that, but the Suns have gone from overhyped last offseason when they traded for Beal, to now being disregarded as not one of the elite teams in the West. This will suit them just fine.

For all those good vibes though, 2025-26 looms on the horizon as a potential disaster for the franchise.

That's because the team is still very much stuck in the second apron - and will continue to be next season - which is going to hamper their chances at improving their roster any more than they already have. Credit to the front office, for the job they've done, getting Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee on minimum contracts was amazing business.

ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks appeared on The Lowe Post recently, and he mentioned just how grave the situation will be for the Suns next summer. "Them (the Boston Celtics) and Phoenix is another team that's going to blow through the roof - I mean they already are - but next season, when they're a repeater tax (offender)."

The penalties for continuing to be above the second apron through their roster construction are going to make it extremely difficult for the Suns to even add competent veterans on minimum deals next year. After that, what few first round draft picks they have will begin to get frozen or put to the end of the first round of future drafts.

The only solution would be to move one of Booker (not going to happen), Durant (shouldn't happen as he represents their best chance to win) and Beal (would be great if it could happen but never will) in order to get below the second apron. With that out of the question, constructing a winning roster around their talents only gets harder after this coming season.

Which means that Jones, Morris, Plumlee, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Josh Okogie and a pair of rookies represent the best group the Suns will ever have with this big three. It is certainly a nine deep rotation - but if 2024-25 does not lead to a deep playoff run - then 2025-26 is not only going to be no different, the organization will begin to move backwards.