Jude Magnotti 26’
EE Sports Columnist
Three superstars, three massive contracts, and 3.4 million fans; all for nothing.
After an off-season of big name signings and big time trades, the Phoenix Suns looked primed to be one of the best teams in the NBA. Phoenix had taken the “all in ” approach to a new level, and within a half a year of him taking over the Suns had already added Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and a menagerie of role players to their bench.
The Suns without a doubt possessed by far the most star power out of any team in the NBA. However, this power cannot be obtained without a severe cost. For the Suns, this cost includes giving up almost all their draft picks for the next seven years, and handicapping themselves two three massive contracts that they are unable to break out of.
If Phoenix failed to win a championship within the next few years, it could lead to catastrophic consequences for the future of their team. Still though, no risk no reward right?
This was the thought process of new owner Matt Ishbia, a real estate magnet determined to guide the Suns to a championship NO MATTER THE COST (both metaphorically and literally).
Unfortunately for Suns fans, Ishbia may have been a little over zealous with his heavy handed approach. Already at the beginning of the season, things were not looking good for the Suns. Bradley Beal was dealing with some serious injuries, their bench players weren’t performing up to standard, and with CP3 gone they had no true point guard to properly run the offense.
Sure DBOOK was still DBOOK and KD was still KD but it did not matter. In a highly competitive Western conference, the so-called “super-team” Suns could only squeak out a measly 49 wins and the 6th seed. Not bad at all, but considering the expectations that the team had of dominating everyone else in their path, the season was already seen as a failure unless they could do something in the playoffs.
Matched up against the third seeded Timberwolves, the Suns had the perfect opportunity to prove to the world that their “super team” is legit. So with an (almost) fully healthy squad and 194 million dollars worth of superstars, the Suns charged into one of the most important series in franchise history…then proceeded to get instantly swept and clowned on by Anthony Edwards in the T-Wolves.
In what was seen as an evenly matched series, the Suns could not even grab just one win from a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year themselves. Now, with a gun to head of the front office, and the future of their franchise in jeopardy, the Suns head into the offseason wondering, “How the heck did this even happen?”.
Well, I can’t tell you everything, but I certainly can name a few reasons for Phoenix’s inevitable downfall.
Number 1: Bradley Beal was almost never healthy the entire year. Between nagging back issues and a plethora of excuses, Beal underperformed both on the court and off it. He averaged an underwhelming 18 points per game in the few games he played in; A far cry from the 31 he onced averaged during his days in Washington. On top of that, Beal did essentially nothing the entire series against Minnesota. He averaged just 16.5 points per game and had only 9 in the crucial elimination game against Minnesota.
Beal’s lack of time to build chemistry with the rest of the team weighed them down heavily and despite all his faults he will still be getting paid an absurd 50 Million across the next year.
Number 2: The Suns made the right move to trade away Chris Paul, but what they failed to do was find an adequate replacement. They leaned too much on their scorers and forgot that the key element of a championship team is a facilitator. Booker, Beal, and Durant could score in isolation, but once those guys went to the bench the entire Phoenix offense dissolved.
Number 3: The scorers themselves. People like to say that “there is no such thing as too much star power!” However, in the case of the Suns, there 100% is.
The same reasons that people had to be excited about them are the same reason they failed in the end. A championship team is not built on individual players, but a team of well-synced players all dedicated to the goal of winning a championship. With the lack of chemistry, and the severe lack of teamplay from their stars, the Suns were going to fail in the end no matter what.
Do you honestly think they would have beaten a team with as much chemistry as Denver? Or OKC? Or literally any other team in the west? The suns have no choice but to walk back to the 100 degree weather in Phoenix with their tail between their legs. With no future, and little chance of winning now, the Suns’ fans can only hope and pray that Kevin Durant puts together some sort of miracle to save not just the legacy of himself, but the legacy of the Suns franchise as a whole…