While there has been some speculation that the Suns will break up their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal this summer following a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Brian Windhorst of ESPN doesn’t get the sense the team is seriously considering taking that path. In an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (YouTube link), Windhorst said he expects all three stars to remain in Phoenix.
“Do people in the league say (the Suns will have to trade a star)? Yes, they do,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “I’ve talked to multiple people who think that’s what they’re going to have to do. Do the Suns say that? No, they do not. I think the Suns’ intention is to keep all three of these star players, tweak the roster, tweak some of their systems and their processes, and try to be better next year.”
As Windhorst notes, the Suns’ approach to the offseason could change if one of their stars asked to be traded, but there was no indication in their end-of-season comments to the media that any of them is looking to get out of Phoenix. In fact, Durant and Booker expressed a belief in the value of continuity.
“Not that he is sworn to telling the whole truth all the time (but) Durant when he left basically said, ‘I think continuity is valuable,'” Windhorst said. “He was looking at the Timberwolves team that had basically brought their entire team back from last year and he was like, ‘That continuity is pretty important there.'”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- A decision on the future of Suns head coach Frank Vogel is expected to happen “soon,” sources tell Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Team owner Mat Ishbia essentially said as much when he spoke to reporters last Wednesday, indicating that the club would conduct an in-depth evaluation of its season, including Vogel’s performance, before making any decisions. It sounds like that evaluation process is almost complete.
- While the NBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement will make it more difficult for taxpaying teams like Phoenix to make roster upgrades, it could actually benefit the Kings, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat. As Ham details, the new CBA gives teams that are under the tax aprons more trade flexibility, since they’re subject to more lenient salary-matching rules and – beginning this offseason – are permitted to use their mid-level exception to acquire players via trade.
- Appearing on ESPN’s SportsCenter (Twitter video link) over the weekend, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said that Lakers star Anthony Davis will have a voice in the team’s head coaching search (hat tip to Lakers Nation). “Of course LeBron James’ opinion will be taken into consideration, but not just LeBron James — Anthony Davis as well, I’m told,” McMenamin said. “The team kind of looks at Anthony Davis as finally taking the torch from LeBron in the last season-and-a-half. While LeBron can still have the time to process the end of this season as he decides his future with the team, they have another voice and another leader in Anthony Davis, whose opinion they will take under consideration.”
Reality Check, IMO
There are only 4 good free agent (starters) to sign this summer.
Paul George (true value 4 years $120 million, market value 4 years $220 million
OG (true value 4 yeas $120 million, market value $160 million)
DeRozan (true value 2 years $50 million, market 4 years $100 million
Hornets Bridges (true value 2 years $60 million, market 4 years $120 million
Should Suns trade Beal for these overpriced guys?
Beal has a NTC. He’s not going to Chicago and he sure as hell isn’t going to Charlotte. PG and OG are getting paid by their teams this summer so they’re not leaving. Beyond that, none of the guys you listed are point guards which this team needs desperately. They’ve gone all in on offense and don’t have somebody to run it…
If there’s one person in the NBA who understands continuity it’s Kevin Durant.
Suns don’t have a PG. They can’t move Beal. They can move Booker or Durant for a massive haul, but then what’s the point? Beal nor Booker are a wing player so bring in a PG you push Beal to the bench.
Sixers would love Durant or Booker. They’ve coveted Booker for years per all sources I’ve always seen it like can they get Booker, prior to the whole Finals run.
Solid PG, Scoring SG or Wing, and a Scoring Frontcout player. That’s the basic formula for success in the NBA.
If you don’t have a decent PG usually you don’t win.
Steph and Klay are the anomaly bc typically the two best players being your backcourt players doesn’t win a chip. I would say GSW pre Durant and Bad Boy Pistons are the only ones that didn’t with that formula.
So I think the Suns if they are going to keep this core, they need to S&T Royce or Allen for a PG and move Beal to the bench.
Pat Bev, Lowry, or any other vet min guy probably isn’t the answer. Could the bring back CP3? Might be a bandaid for this situation. Can he play 15-20? And you pull him for a defensive guard late in games?
But they didn’t solve PG last year. They’re stuck with Beal till they get picks or his final year.
Been along time since Beal was a star.
Wonder if Chris Paul would return to Pheonix, cause he’s almost definitely getting waived from GSW. He’d be a really solid point guard, table setter for them but obviously not going to be a 30 minutes per night guy anymore. I’d make that my Plan A and got for Pat Bev as a Plan B.
But either way I’d be trying to trade Bradley Beal mainly just for depth.
For example I’d try go to Utah
Beal, Roddy and some picks for Collins and Clarkson
That would leave you with
CP3/Bev Booker KD Collins Nurkic
Clarkson Allen Little ONeale and then get a centre on vets min
That’s not awful and gives you flexibility to make future moves
Beal had No Trade clause he’s not going to okay with going to Utah
Ishbia vs the CBA, Round 2. PHX’s situation, starting with its upcoming offseason, should be studied by any team thinking of going over Apron-2 while their roster is still a WIP. The CBA, not in so many words, but as clearly as any document can speak, “DON’T”. Ishbia says “But I want to”. We’ll see how it turns out.
Durant ain’t goin nowhere til he goes back to Seattle for the 25-26 season