Things did not exactly go according to plan for the Phoenix Suns last season. What was supposed to be a dominant trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal ended up going just 49-33 and getting swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Suns struggled mightily in the fourth quarter throughout the season, and there have been lingering questions about Durant’s happiness in the desert.
For now, Durant is staying put, and Phoenix will take another stab at a championship run in 2025 (not that the team has much of a choice).
On the bright side, the Suns did make a move this offseason that has garnered some praise from The Athletic’s John Hollinger: signing Tyus Jones.
” … I don’t think the impact of this move is getting enough attention,” Hollinger wrote. “The Suns desperately needed both A) a real point guard and B) another starting-caliber level player, at any position. Jones checked both boxes without costing them any draft picks (not that they had any left to trade) or other assets.”
Phoenix was able to get Jones on a minimum deal, which is certainly a bargain.
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Last season with the Washington Wizards, Jones played in 66 games and averaged 12 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.1 steals over 29.3 minutes a night. He shot 48.9 percent from the floor, 41.4 percent from three-point range, and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Considering the types of contracts that get thrown around these days, landing Jones for peanuts is a massive coup for the Suns.
Will the Suns be able to bounce back next season?
Of course, Jones himself will not elevate Phoenix into title contention alone. It will take much more than that for the Suns to go from getting swept to playing for a championship.
So, what exactly does Phoenix need to do?
Well, for one thing, the Suns need to defend better. They ranked 14th in defensive efficiency this past year. It would also benefit them to hit the glass more after finishing 15th in rebounding.
But most importantly, Phoenix must figure out what to do in the clutch.
The Suns tallied a minus-2.4 net rating in the fourth quarter during the 2023-24 campaign, which ranked last in the NBA. That is thoroughly unacceptable for a team as talented as Phoenix.
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Immense talent does not always equate to wins. Just ask the 2018-19 Boston Celtics or the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. If the fit isn’t right, the victories won’t stack up.
Next season, the Suns have to figure out if it is worth moving forward with this current group. If they struggle again, wholesale changes may need to occur.
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