If there is one thing that the Phoenix Suns have really missed in what has been a terrible season, it is the sense of team that existed in The Valley not so long ago. When the organization went all the way to the NBA Finals back in 2021, the fanbase was as invested in that group than any that have ever suited up for the Suns.
It was exciting watching Devin Booker ascend to superstar status, while first overall pick Deandre Ayton was the defensive anchor everybody envisioned. Both Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson were their guys, and the vibes around that group were absolutely immaculate. All of that was traded away for Kevin Durant and later Bradley Beal, and they need to recapture some of that.
Which is why they should bring Chris Paul back next season.
In the moment the move made sense. The ageing point guard had taken the Suns from mediocrity all the way back to the mountain top - and although they couldn't get it done versus the Milwaukee Bucks - there was no doubt Paul was getting older. The opportunity to turn him into an multiple-time All-Star in Beal - believe it or not - was the right thing to do.
Until it wasn't, and that occurred quite quickly. These days the Suns are stuck with Beal - and we mean as stuck as they've ever been - while it is Durant who is likely to be moved on this offseason. The Suns already attempted to do this in trying to acquire Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, and it is the only realistic way the franchise can salvage what they have.
Whether Durant sticks around or not - and he actually might consider it if this move happens - the Suns simply have to bring Paul back. Has he lost even more of a step since departing and ending up with the San Antonio Spurs via the Golden State Warriors? Absolutely, and yet he's still somehow started all 62 games he's played for them this season at nearly 40-years-old.
Much like how he is being used in Texas this season however, it is not even really about what Paul can bring on the court each night. The Suns have tried to have a traditional point guard in Tyus Jones start with this group during the season, and after a promising start it didn't work out. Jones now coming off the bench, as he has for most of his career.
You have to imagine Paul would be ok with that, while also bringing back the mentality that he instiled in Booker and all of the other young guns the first time around. It would be simplifying things to say that Booker hasn't had that dog in him since Paul left, and yet that has mostly been the case. Bringing Paul back to a veteran-heavy group would hold everybody accountable.
It would also give the fans a little bit of the magic back from that run to the finals, and this could also be achieved financially as well. Paul is making $10 million this season with the Spurs - and while the Suns could likely only offer the minimum - at this point in his career that's likely all it is going to take to get his signature.
Paul also enjoyed his time in Phoenix as he could be close to family, and the only roadblock here would be if a legitimate contender tried to bring him in. Whether you want to admit it or not, the Suns are no longer in that class. With the future Hall of Fame player back in the fold they'd be moving in the right direction again though, which is why they have to move early this summer to do this.