The Phoenix Suns are one of several NBA teams expected to compete for a championship this upcoming season, as they’re coming off a league-best 64-18 record in the regular season.
NBA odds for the Suns to win the championship next season are currently listed at +750, which is the fifth best in the league.
A lot of NBA picks think the Suns have what it takes to get over the hump next season, so let’s take a look at what’s at stake in the desert next season.
Kevin Durant’s Preferred Destination
The Suns have been heavily rumored to be Kevin Durant’s preferred destination, as Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets at the end of June.
However, there seems to be no movement on that front, so they decided to match the Indiana Pacers’ offer sheet tendered to Deandre Ayton, as the hope is Ayton can take that next step that the former first overall pick is capable of taking.
Ayton’s Analysis
Ayton is coming off his best season as a pro, as he averaged 17.2 points on 63.4 percent shooting to go along with 10.2 rebounds per game.
However, Ayton only played 17 minutes in the Suns’ Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs, and when head coach Monty Williams was asked why, all he said was “that’s internal.”
Still, the smart play for the Suns was to hold onto Ayton rather than lose him for nothing, as talks for Durant could always resurface around the trade deadline, or Ayton can get them decent assets in a trade down the line if it doesn’t end up working out.
Suns Remains the Same
The Suns are essentially bringing the same team back next season, with the core of:
- Devin Booker
- Chris Paul
- Ayton
- Mikal Bridges
All are expected to lead this team once again.
NBA Stats
Booker is establishing himself as one of the best young scorers in the league, as his NBA player stats show that he averaged a career-high 26.8 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting this past season.
Paul is coming off a season in which he averaged 14.7 points on nearly 50 percent shooting to go along with 10.8 assists per game, proving he can still get it done. He will be 37 years old this upcoming season, so wear and tear will be something to consider.
Bridges is becoming one of the better two-way wings this league has to offer, as he averaged 14.2 points per game on 53.4 percent shooting while taking on the task of guarding the opposing team’s best player.
All of the other main contributors will be returning to the mix next season in:
- Jae Crowder
- Cameron Johnson
- Bismack Biyombo
As all will either bring a defensive intensity or shooting to give this team a boost around its stars.
Can the Suns Win It All Next Season?
The Western Conference got significantly stronger this offseason, with the Minnesota Timberwolves adding Rudy Gobert, the Mavericks adding Christian Wood and the Golden State Warriors just being right in that mix as the defending champions.
However, the Suns are bringing in a strong team in their own right with an all-time great at-the-point guard position and an elite scorer in a league in which you need that type of player to succeed.
It’ll be up to Ayton and Bridges to take their games up to the next level to fill the void of a third true bonafide star, especially with the unlikely nature of KD walking through those doors any time soon.
Top 5 Ranking
Keep in mind that this is still a team that ranked in the top 5 in both offensive and defensive ratings last season, so with the continuity and chemistry this team possesses, don’t be surprised if the Suns can get over the hump and get back to the Finals next season.
Some questions to consider when looking at the expectations for Phoenix Suns next season, however, are if CP3 can stay healthy and not burn out in the playoffs and if Booker can figure out a way to overcome opposing defenses when they’re keying in on him in the playoffs, and if Ayton and Bridges can take that next step the Suns desperately need.
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