Things didn’t go exactly as planned for the Phoenix Suns Last season, the trio that was supposed to dominate the NBA, composed of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, ended up winning just 49 and losing 33 and was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Suns have struggled mightily in the fourth quarter all season, and questions remain about Durant’s happiness in the desert.
For now, Durant is staying put and Phoenix will try to win the championship again in 2025 (even though the team doesn’t really have a choice).
On the plus side, the Suns made a move this offseason that drew praise from John Hollinger of The Athletic:signature of Tyus Jones.
“…I don’t think the impact of this trade gets enough attention,” Hollinger wrote. “The Suns desperately needed both A) a true point guard and B) another starting-caliber player at any position. Jones filled both of those boxes without costing them a single draft pick (though they still had some to trade) or other assets.”
Phoenix was able to get Jones on a minimum contract, which is certainly a good deal.
NBA TRADE NEWS AND RUMORS: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns Updates
Last season with the Washington Wizards, Jones played in 66 games and averaged 12 points, 7.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.3 minutes per game. He shot 48.9 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Considering the types of contracts floating around these days, bringing in Jones for a pittance is a huge coup for the Suns.
Will the Suns be able to bounce back next season?
Of course, Jones alone won’t be enough to propel Phoenix into title contention. It will take a lot more than that for the Suns to go from sweep status to champions.
So what exactly should Phoenix do?
First, the Suns need to play better defense. They ranked 14th in defensive efficiency last year. They would also benefit from hitting the rebound more often after finishing 15th in rebounding.
But most importantly, Phoenix must find the solution in difficult times.
The Suns posted a fourth-quarter net rating of -2.4 in the 2023-24 campaign, which ranked last in the NBA. That’s completely unacceptable for a team as talented as Phoenix.
NBA TRADE NEWS AND RUMORS: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns Updates
Great talent doesn’t always equal winning. Just ask the 2018-19 Boston Celtics or the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. If the fit isn’t right, the wins won’t come.
Next season, the Suns will have to decide whether it’s worth continuing with this current group. If they struggle again, drastic changes may be necessary.
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