We are reaching the very end of what has been a long offseason for the Phoenix Suns, but there was still time for ESPN to land one final blow on the franchise ahead of the new season. Their future rankings - which compiled a list of who has the best to worst future in the NBA in the next three seasons - putting The Valley dead last.
Not that we feel the same way here, actually we think the front office did the best job it realistically could have given the situation they found themselves in after a disastrous 2024-25 season. They managed to get rid of Bradley Beal (even if it was via buyout), and added 23-year-old elite scorer in Jalen Green and a defensive menace in Dillon Brooks.
Suns do have worst outlook in the league, for now...
But while that return for Kevin Durant may have felt underwhelming at the time, Phoenix did also manage to land three first round draft picks as well. Yet despite all of this, ESPN is not wrong to put the Suns bottom of their list, especially when the criteria was current roster, management, ownership, coaching, spending habits, cap situation, reputation of the city and the franchise.
What kind of draft picks they expect the team to have in the future was the final piece of the puzzle, which is a great place to start because - the Suns don't have any. They're not in control of their 2026 lottery pick - and although Devin Booker is as great a place to start as any when building a roster - he does need some help.
Only going to be one question on everybody’s lips when #Suns return for media day (✍🏻 @LucaLockheart)https://t.co/waKNbZNoOE
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) September 15, 2025
It is all well and good to believe that Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea and Rasheer Fleming are all going to hit, but the odds of that actually happening are low. If even one of them becomes a starter that will be a massive win, but that also shows you how far away the Suns are from being relevant in the next three years.
For those of you out there who think that is an overly negative stance to take, remember how excited we all got about the additions of Yuta Watanabe, Chimezie Metu, Keita-Bates Diop and Eric Gordon? Four of the most perfect role players you could ever hope to have alongside Booker and Durant. How did that end again?
The front office obviously doesn't inspire a lot of confidence right now either, although it is fair to give General Manager Brian Gregory some time to prove us wrong. Owner Mat Ishbia on the other hand, has had a bumpy ride so far. Then there is the fact are not only a small market, but one that doesn't typically attract star players.
Durant came because of Booker - and a long time prior to that Charles Barkley called Phoenix home - but generational stars head to The Valley by choice on average... well less than once a generation. To expect that to change when Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are the only recognizable point guards on the roster is foolish.
Ending on a positive though and for all of the shortcomings of the franchise on and off the court, three years is a long time and a lot can change. The team is no longer in the second apron, while they somehow got three firsts at a time when they had no draft capital. Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale can be traded. Moves like this one are still possible. The outlook is bleak, but all is not lost.