After a much-hyped summer of 2023, the Phoenix Suns limped into the playoffs last season as the sixth seed, only to be dismantled by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round sweep.
Predictably, the Suns fired head coach Frank Vogel in the summer, replacing him with Mike Budenholzer who was also let go after his own playoff struggles in Milwaukee. While Phoenix made a savvy move by adding Tyus Jones, the rest of its offseason changes mainly were minor.
Without making a major trade over the summer, can the Suns make a Finals run, or was last year’s postseason a precursor of things to come in 2024-25?
Frontcourt depth
Although the Suns enjoyed an unusually injury-free 2023-24 season, with Kevin Durant playing his most games since his Golden State days and Jusuf Nurkic staying healthier than he had since 2018, they can’t rely on such good fortune again this year. While teams like the Thunder, Wolves, and Mavericks are deep enough to withstand a significant injury to one of their starting forwards or centers, the Suns are not built for that kind of setback. Their frontcourt is razor-thin, making them particularly vulnerable to a player getting sidelined. Any serious injury to either Durant or Nurkic could derail their season.
If Nurkic, who has only played more than 60 games once in the last five years, goes down, the Suns would be forced to rely on 34-year-old Mason Plumlee or, in a move that reeks of desperation, the recently signed journeyman Frank Kaminsky, who inked an Exhibit 10 contract after being out of the league last season. This lack of depth raises serious doubts about Phoenix’s ability to contend, especially considering it ranked just 13th in points allowed (114.6 per game) in 2023-24 under defensive-minded coach Vogel despite having near-perfect frontcourt health.
While Durant is an all-time great offensive talent, his defensive versatility might be even more crucial on a roster already stacked with scorers like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. If Durant were to get sidelined, the Suns’ best option for wing defense would be Royce O’Neale or Josh Okogie. However, at just 6-foot-4 each, neither O’Neale nor Okogie has the size to effectively contain the elite bucket-getters in the Western Conference.
Playmaking
Last season, the Suns opted not to have a traditional point guard on the roster, instead relying on Booker as their primary playmaker, with Beal and Durant sharing some of the responsibilities. The experiment backfired, as the team ranked 27th in the league in turnover percentage at 13.4%. Without a true floor general orchestrating the offense, Phoenix’s half-court sets frequently stalled, leading to Booker and Durant taking turns hoisting difficult, off-the-dribble midrange shots.
The Suns front office addressed their playmaking woes by signing Jones to a one-year, $3.3M deal—arguably one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. Jones led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio last season, posting an impressive 7.3 mark (minimum 50 games played). While he may not be a flashy, headline-grabbing point guard, Jones excels as perhaps the league’s best game manager. He brings steady playmaking and efficient decision-making, qualities that will help Phoenix’s offense run smoothly and limit the costly mistakes that hounded them last year.
Bradley Beal
Beal was electric in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, averaging 30.5 PPG and 6.6 APG, followed by 31.3 PPG and 4.4 APG, combining a lethal shooting stroke with explosive speed to blow by defenders and dominate in the paint. However, his career has been marred by injuries since those standout campaigns, leading to one underwhelming year after another. Last season with the Suns was particularly disappointing, as he managed just 18.2 PPG in 53 games.
There were some bright spots amidst the struggles. Beal closed out last year, hitting an impressive 43.0% from beyond the arc, the sixth-best mark in the NBA. Heading into 2024-25, he’s healthy and ready to make an impact. If he can carry over the same sharp shooting into this season, he’ll provide the much-needed floor spacing for Booker and Durant, keeping defenses honest and making things easier for the entire Suns offense.
Can the Suns compete for a title?
Phoenix boasts the NBA’s most expensive trio. With Durant, Booker and Beal set to make a combined $150M in 2024-25, the Suns have had to sacrifice their depth. If Nurkic, Durant or Jones suffers a significant injury, there’s no adequate replacement waiting in the wings, which could leave Phoenix battling for a spot in the play-in tournament. However, if its starting lineup stays healthy, the Suns have a real chance. With Jones’s playmaking, Beal’s long-distance stroke, Nurkic’s solid defense, and Booker and Durant’s shot-making, they could be a dominant force in the West, potentially securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and positioning themselves for a legitimate run at the Finals.