The 2023 season was chalked up as an all-time failure for the Phoenix Suns organization. Preparation for the year started last summer when team architect James Jones plunged on acquiring Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, pairing the star guard with ascending MVP candidate Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, one of the greatest scorers in league history.
Fast forward to the following April, and Phoenix was beaten down by the hands of Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards, who was often seen mocking the opposition with every made basket and poster dunk.
However, as irremediable the Suns future looked fresh off being swept in the first round, perhaps the best option for the team is to run it back the next campaign, which they apparently are looking to do judging on the activities of this offseason. Maybe one more go at it will create the firepower between the team’s star trio like initially expected.
NBA HOFer urges to watch out for Phoenix
The Suns were well-represented this offseason, with Durant — who became the most decorated player in men’s basketball history with four Olympic gold medals — and Booker — who was lauded for being Team USA’s unsung hero — each rattling off countless difference-making plays and being the tone-setters in key moments of games.
After witnessing the burgeoning camaraderie of the duo in Paris, retired superstar Kevin Garnett is on the edge of his seat with the new NBA season on the horizon.
“[Phoenix] had two superstars that played this summer; that means something,” s ays the 2004 NBA MVP. “I’m telling you, bro, Phoenix [is] going to be better than what most people [expect].”
The Suns’ floor and ceiling will be largely determined by the consistency of their two best players. Durability has been a concern for both Durant and Booker throughout their careers, although, last season, the two-time champion appeared in the most games since the 2018 campaign.
No. 1 is considered by many to be the team’s best player, based on Durant’s age and subtle signs of attrition. As the guard approaches his 30s, the time to play like an MVP candidate is now.
“Devin Booker can be an MVP,” Garnett says. “[Bradley] Beal can be an MVP. These guys, they got it. And you got [Durant]?
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Greatness on the horizon?
Whenever you have two of the top 10 players in the NBA, winning becomes much easier. However, going from the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference to championship-caliber would require a monumental jump — something that’s virtually one-in-a-million in a conference loaded with giants like Minnesota, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Denver Nuggets.
Regardless of how it gets done, the Suns need to get it done. The high-risk/high-reward moves to acquire Durant and Bradley Beal in the same calendar year will come down to next season’s outcome. If Year 2 of the Big Three experiment goes sideways, a massive overhaul is imminent.
The good news is that No. 35 was remarkably healthy in 2023-24 compared to his partial first season in Phoenix and any of his three-and-a-half seasons in Brooklyn; Booker played a reasonable 68 games; and Beal, although often hurt, squeezed in 53 games, the most since 2020. How far the upcoming season takes Phoenix and its trio remains to be seen.
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