The good vibes have flowed out of the Phoenix Suns this offseason, which given how last season ended, is as encouraging as it is surprising. The play of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant at the Olympic Games was integral to this, with the pair starting and closing the games that really mattered.
Not to be outdone by their star duo, the Suns' front office were busy in getting a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, as well as capable role players in Mason Plumlee and Tyus Jones. With a pair of rookies also along for the ride, the back end of this roster has been remade in impressive fashion.
Which makes the question of which five players will start the 2024-25 season a difficult one.
This is a good problem for the organization to have - because beyond Booker and Durant last season - the lack of talent contributed to being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. Not that coach Budenholzer doesn't have work to do, and deciding who gets the nod to start is important in putting in place a pecking order in The Valley.
Not that the situation can't change as the season progresses. Cast your mind back to the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign and Josh Okogie started on that night. He played extremely well too. It should come as no surprise though, that you won't find Okogie here. Starting with the center position and working our way outwards -
Center - Jusuf Nurkic
Despite the new faces through the door in Phoenix this summer, center Jusuf Nurkic's position with the Suns is safe. For now. He has his flaws - and some were painfully exposed in the playoffs by the Timberwolves - but Nurkic plays his role perfectly for the Suns.
He passes out of the post, sets screens and moves without the ball, all while a play is rarely called for him as he rebounds on both ends diligently. As nice a pickup as the 34-year-old Plumlee was, it is unlikely he's going to be able to play 25-30 minutes per game and do everything that Nurkic does so well.
I asked Oso Ighodaro about being able to learn from passing bigs like Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee, and he said Shaka Smart actually had him watch Plumlee film at Marquette to help him
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 15, 2024
“I think I’ve watched every big that can dribble in the league, I’ve watched all their film” pic.twitter.com/zKaBzxsVw4
Coach Budenholzer clearly understands the importance of his big man as well, having been abroad to visit him already this summer. Fans might not like to admit it, but right now Nurkic is as good as it gets for them, and by some distance.
He might put a ceiling on how good this group can be, but the hope is that Booker and Durant's talent alone can break through that barrier. An interesting wrinkle here might be if a trade opportunity arises for Nurkic as the season progresses. He's entering the second last year of his current deal and on paper looks a nice fit on some other teams in the league.