The 2024-25 NBA season is right here! We’re breaking down the most important questions, best- and worst-case eventualities, and fantasy outlooks for all 30 groups. Take pleasure in!
PHOENIX SUNS
2023-24 end
Offseason strikes
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Additions: Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro
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Subtractions: Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Thaddeus Younger, David Roddy, Isaiah Thomas, Nassir Little
The Massive Query: Was a degree guard all that was lacking?
Undrafted combo guard Jordan Goodwin was the closest factor to some extent guard the Phoenix Suns had on the roster final season. He performed half their video games and totaled 78 assists. Seven members of the rotation registered extra assists, together with everybody within the beginning lineup. (Sure, Jusuf Nurkić had extra assists.)
With that sort of firepower, the Suns ought to have simply boasted a top-five offense. As a substitute, they submitted the worst assist-to-turnover ratio (1.82) of any critical crew within the Western Convention final season. They moved much less and slower than 27 of the league’s 30 groups, in keeping with NBA monitoring information. They have been nearer to the Twenty fifth-rated Toronto Raptors than they have been the league-leading Boston Celtics.
In addition they had nothing greater than minimal contracts out there to handle this challenge within the offseason. In some way they landed each Tyus Jones and Monte Morris, who sandwiched Delon Wright among the many league’s leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio. They’re table-setters, firstly, and so they hardly ever flip the ball over.
Add a brand new head coach, Mike Budenholzer, who designed top-five offenses in each Atlanta and Milwaukee, and that could be a strong place to begin for important enchancment. Out of the blue, you notice, Oh, yeah, possibly they need to have had somebody to arrange a trio of elite scorers reasonably than allow them to fend for themselves.
Besides, Jones and Morris don’t tackle a obtrusive weak spot on protection. The Suns have been swept from the primary spherical of the playoffs, permitting 123.2 factors per 100 possessions to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and so they might have simply gotten worse on that finish. If Phoenix desires to play its three stars, a middle (Nurkić or newcomer Mason Plumlee) and a degree guard, they want Booker, Durant and Beal to be higher on protection. That’s it.
[Haberstroh: Are Durant and Booker the next dominoes to fall?]
Booker is a prepared defender if not an excellent one. Beal was as soon as related however deserted his protection on the Washington Wizards. Durant is 36 years outdated, although he’s nonetheless higher than he will get credit score for on that finish. Collectively they must put forth the hassle. Possibly having a degree guard who will make their lives somewhat simpler on the offensive finish will save them some vitality on protection, the place true contenders are made.
Budenholzer constructed an elite protection in Milwaukee, however he had an All-Defensive triumvirate — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Vacation and Brook Lopez — because the spine of his championship crew. Who on the Suns can come shut to creating that declare? They have been lucky to fee thirteenth on protection final season. Then once more, outgoing coach Frank Vogel constructed a championship-level protection on the Los Angeles Lakers.
If the Suns preserve a league-average protection and area an elite offensive unit, that could be a 50-win crew. That is properly inside attain and ought to be for a crew that boasts two members of Staff USA. Will it make a lick of distinction within the playoffs? Provided that Budenholzer can scheme a protection higher than the sum of its components.
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Greatest-case state of affairs
Jones thrives in his first expertise as a starter on a proficient crew, sorting Durant, Booker and Beal into one thing like 75 factors an evening. One other season collectively (this one wholesome) yields improved chemistry, particularly on the defensive finish. Shifting Grayson Allen to the bench, the place Morris and Plumlee present extra depth, prevents Phoenix from fielding the league’s worst-scoring reserves once more this season. And they’re now not first-round fodder however a critical upset menace to any of the convention’s elite.
If all the things falls aside
Leaning heavier into offensive group does nothing to handle their defensive woes — or worse. Neither Durant nor Beal, each of whom have missed important time over the previous a number of seasons, can get a deal with on their well being. Nurkić can not anchor a median protection. A brand new coach can not corral a crew caught in its methods. The Suns, as they have been for a lot of final season, are scrapping simply to remain related within the West, and they’re vulnerable to turning into probably the most dreadful monetary funding into any roster ever.
Fantasy spin
Shifting from Vogel to Budenholzer is an improve in fantasy. Coach Bud’s offense prioritizes taking extra 3s and getting environment friendly appears to be like close to the rim. He usually would not play his starters over 34 minutes a sport, however given the well being considerations across the Suns’ large three, that is a great factor in the long term.
I’ve docked Durant to a mid-second-round choose as a result of a lot of his stats final yr got here with out Beal on the courtroom. Beal has didn’t play greater than 60 video games in three straight seasons, so Durant’s ADP might be a steal if historical past repeats. Nurkić’s fantasy worth is rising since he presumably takes on the Brook Lopez position as a stretch-five on offense and the drop protection rim protector on protection.
Bringing Jones in on a one-year deal was a great transfer to assist the Suns on each ends. Jones is regularly an affordable supply of assists and steals from the guard spot who goes late in drafts. And be careful for the swole sniper Grayson Allen. Assuming all that muscle did not have an effect on his jumper, he ought to be a great supply of 3s, even when he is coming off the bench. — Dan Titus
2024-25 schedule
They gained 49 video games final season and are higher. Take the over and don’t really feel nice about it.
