Phoenix Suns are in win-now mode
Phoenix was the best team in the entire NBA in the regular season in the 2021-2022 campaign, but in the playoffs they were unable to reach the Finals, something they did achieve in 2020-2021.
Are the Suns missing a piece to reach the title?
1- What’s keeping the franchise awake at night?
The Phoenix Suns have established themselves as one of the best teams in the Western Conference in recent years. Although despite making a Finals run, the team eventually succumbed to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020-21 season, the reality seems to indicate that they are missing a piece to reach the title.
The piece in question has a first and last name: Kevin Durant. But bringing him onto the roster comes with a hefty price tag. James Jones, the general manager, must continue to calculate what is the maximum price he is willing to pay to bring KD without having to sacrifice too much.
Kevin Booker is ruled out, Deandre Ayton can’t be traded until after January, which leaves Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder and possibly Cameron Payne or Dario Saric at an eventual exit door to match the $44 million salary Durant will demand. And that’s not counting compensation via draft – will 4 first round picks be enough to convince the Brooklyn Nets?
Determining how many players and how many draft picks to give up to bring in a player like Durant is what the franchise must determine. In other words, they have to know how far to tighten their belts while remaining comfortable (Marcelo Bousquet).
2- What is the Suns’ main unfinished business?
To take the definitive step to the Finals.
During the last two seasons, Phoenix dominated their conference, showed that they have the squad to compete with anyone, but when it came down to it, something happened to them and they ended up being a disappointment.
For the campaign that is about to begin, there is no excuse. They renewed coach Monty Williams, Deandre Ayton returned, they have two of the best point guards in the league in Chris Paul and Devin Booker in their first unit.
Also, this could be one of CP3’s last chances to win an NBA title, as at 37 years old we could be seeing his last steps on the court, at least at the level he has shown throughout his career.
It seems that this team has no excuses, as the bench is also solid, now they already have playoff experience so there seems to be no good reason for the Suns not to make a definitive leap not only in the West, but in the whole Association.
3- Fact or fiction: Phoenix can win the title with the current roster.
Fiction. We already saw it in the recent postseason, where Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson and the Dallas Mavericks tore them apart in a decisive duel.
While it is true that they already did their first task, that of renewing Deandre Ayton, the most important task remains: convincing the Brooklyn Nets to make a trade for Kevin Durant.
Ayton didn’t work out at the key moment and Chris Paul will turn 38 in the upcoming playoffs. It can’t all fall on Devin Booker who, by the way, is the main reason Durant would have left for the Suns.
Although they renewed Bismack Biyombo, they let Javale McGee go. Damion Lee is a good signing, but more is missing. The bet is Durant. The key question is: how to get him? Quite possibly they will have to include Mikal Bridges in the deal. But Durant is Durant.
In a Western Conference where the champion Warriors will come better and the Clippers will have Leonard and George, this does not give Phoenix, best team of the 2021-22 season, but a very different one in playoffs.
