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Phoenix Suns Navigate Coaching Changes, Roster Rumors
New coach Jordan Ott, potential trades, and Devin Booker‘s extension stir debate among fans.
The Phoenix Suns are at a crucial juncture,facing key decisions regarding coaching staff,player acquisitions,and contract extensions. How these choices play out will substantially shape the team’s future and competitiveness in the league.
New Leadership and “The Process”
Reactions to the hiring of Jordan Ott as head coach are mixed, with some questioning the “Michigan connection” to owner mat Ishbia. Concerns have been raised about Ishbia‘s involvement in team management, with some fearing micromanagement could hinder the franchise’s progress.
Did you know? The Suns’ new coach,jordan Ott,is known for his focus on player development,signaling a potential shift towards a younger,more talented roster.
Ashton, a contributor, noted that Ott‘s strength lies in player development, which could mean a rebuild around young talent. However, Ashton also expressed concern over Ishbia‘s hands-on approach, questioning if he might be overextending himself.
OldAz voiced worries about the “Michigan connection” perhaps stifling diverse opinions within the front office. Despite these reservations, OldAz remains open to being impressed by Ott‘s performance on the court.
rod stated he knows little about Ott, but is willing to wait and see how he performs before making a judgment. Rod is more concerned with the roster the front office assembles for Ott.
Trade Winds: Seeking a Center
Rumors suggest the Suns are targeting a center in potential trades for Kevin Durant. this strategy has sparked debate, especially regarding the decision to trade Deandre Ayton previously.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on potential three-team trades that could bring the Suns the center they need while also addressing other roster needs.
Ashton feels the pursuit of a center is a rehash of past debates about Ayton, suggesting the Suns should not have traded him in the first place. Ashton suggests drafting a center, unless OKC is willing to part with Isaiah Hartenstein.
OldAz believes the Suns will regret trading Ayton, and will spend many seasons searching for a replacement. OldAz feels that Ayton‘s contract is more palatable than Beal‘s.
Rod thinks it’s wise to communicate their needs but remain flexible in trade negotiations. A good deal that doesn’t fulfill every need could lead to another deal that does.
Booker’s Extension: A Pricey Proposition
The possibility of Devin Booker receiving a 2-year,$150 million contract extension has ignited discussions about salary cap management and team building.
Reader Question: Can the Suns build a championship-caliber team with such a large portion of the salary cap allocated to a single player?
Ashton believes extending Booker is a foregone conclusion, essential for maintaining fan engagement and team stability. In the worst-case scenario, Booker‘s value should hold in a trade in the future if he regresses.
OldAz questions whether the inexperienced GM can navigate around such a large salary, as few teams with such top-heavy salaries have made deep playoff runs. According to data from Spotrac, the NBA’s salary cap for the 2024-25 season is projected to be $141 million, making Booker‘s potential salary a significant portion of the team’s budget (Spotrac).
Rod understands the concerns but notes that the extension wouldn’t begin until the 2028-29 season, leaving ample time to plan for it.Rod would love to see Booker volunteer to take a lesser amount to insure more future cap versatility.
Trivia Time
On June 10, 1977, the Suns drafted walter Davis in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1977 NBA Draft.
On June 11, 1993, Charles Barkley of the Suns and Michael Jordan of the bulls each scored 42 points in Chicago’s 111-108 victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. It was the first time in NBA history that opposing players each scored 40 or more points in a Finals game.
On June 13, 1993, the Suns were down 0-2 to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals after losing Games 1 and 2 at home in America West Arena.The series moved to Chicago Stadium, where the Suns pulled off a 129-121 triple overtime win behind Dan Majerle‘s team high 28 points, a 24-point, 19 rebound game by Charles Barkley, and a 25-point, 9 assist night by Kevin Johnson. Johnson also set a Finals record by playing 62 minutes, and teammate Dan Majerle set a mark that still stands by playing 59 minutes without committing a personal foul. This was only the 2nd time in NBA history that a Finals game went into three overtimes, the first was played in 1976 by the Suns and Celtics in the Suns’ first trip to the NBA Finals.
On June 13, 2021, with a 125-118 win, the Suns completed a 4-0 sweep of the Denver Nuggets in their Western Conference Semifinals playoff series. It was their first playoff sweep as they swept the San Antonio Spurs 4-0 in the Western conference Semis back in 2010. It was also only the third 7-game playoff series sweep in team history. (The Suns also had 4 more first-round series sweeps, but those were back when they were still best-of-five series.)
CBA rule Changes
Several new CBA rules could impact the Suns’ offseason strategy:
- Teams above the 2nd tax apron can aggregate salaries in trades only if the trade brings them below the apron.
- Teams under the 1st tax apron have varying limits on taking back salary in trades, depending on the incoming salary amount.
- There’s a limit on aggregating minimum-salary players for salary-matching in offseason trades.
Poll Results
Last week’s poll asked, Do you believe that Bradley Beal would agree to a buyout this summer?
51% voted Yes.
49% voted No.
A total of 221 votes were cast.
Key Dates Ahead
- June 17, 20 or 23 (after the NBA Finals) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents
- June 25-26 – NBA Draft
- June 30 – Teams may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m.