The launch of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup took place on Friday, with more than just a revamped name and new title sponsor added to the mix. The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural competition last season, although quite what ultimately meant remains to be seen.
The Lakers were roundly booted from the postseason at the first hurdle, and as of this moment it doesn't look like an in-season tournament trophy will be used when trying to build a case that LeBron James is the greatest player of all-time.
The Phoenix Suns did learn their pool opponents in what was an open draw, and it has throw up some exciting contests to look forward to.
Unlike the Lakers, the Suns are in a more interesting position when it comes to how seriously to take this NBA Cup. Last time out this writer made the argument that the whole thing was an unwelcome distraction for a Suns team that had ideas on winning a first ever championship. How wide of the mark that ended up being.
With the benefit of hindsight - and some tempered expectations as a result of their own first round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves - perhaps the Suns should be looking to make a deep run in the cup this time out. A championship still seems a far distant dream, but there's no doubt the roster is better now than last campaign. The franchise drawn against the following teams.
West Group B for the #EmiratesNBACup 🏆
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 12, 2024
Sup, @Lakers, @utahjazz, @spurs, @okcthunder. See you in November 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9qcRWEdgHF
Right off the bat a rematch with the Lakers is the standout tie in West Group B. This is because the Lakers knocked out the Suns in somewhat controversial circumstances last time out, on their way to winning the whole thing. The Suns got some measure of revenge in beating the Lakers twice after this defeat, but losing to the Lakers three times in a row prior to that was unacceptable.
The Lakers exposed the painful flaws that the Suns' roster had - namely they couldn't handle the paint presence of Anthony Davis - and this rematch is a chance to prove the 2024-25 version Suns are in a better place. Mason Plumlee is a nice place to start in compating that size, although Jusuf Nurkic looks likely to be back as the starting center, which was part of the problem last season.
Beyond that Lakers matchup, and the chance to have a go at the Oklahoma City Thunder is an exciting one. Outside of the Orlando Magic, there probably isn't another organization who have had a better offseason. The Thunder adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to a core that was the top seed out West last season.
This will represent a great opportunity to see how close the Suns are to once again being amongst the best in the conference having made the NBA Finals in 2021. The Utah Jazz game will be interesting for one reason, and that will be to watch a player in Walker Kessler who the Suns could only dream of having on their roster and perhaps one day could.
Finally it is a meeting with the San Antonio Spurs, in what will be the sophomore outing of French phenom Victor Wembanyama. There's no doubt he is destined for the top, and could be coming off a memorable Olympic Games in his homeland as well. This game will also see the return of a familiar face in Chris Paul, who the Suns could only wish was on their roster for this coming season.
At worst the franchise figure to go 2-2 in group play, but there's a legitimate chance to go 4-0. If the trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal aren't destined to win a championship together, would the NBA Cup be any sort of consolation? Not to fans in The Valley, but the need to actually give this competition a go after the shortcomings of last season are there for all to see.