The Suns are on the brink of elimination after losing their sixth straight game Sunday night in New York, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Phoenix is winless since Kevin Durant suffered a sprained left ankle last weekend, and although there’s hope that he can resume playing, it may be too late. At 35-43, the Suns would have to catch either Sacramento (38-40) or Dallas (38-41) to sneak into the postseason.
As Rankin describes, Sunday’s game was typical of the recent slide as Phoenix was competitive for much of the night but still found a way to lose. The biggest problem against New York was three-point shooting as the Suns, who rank third in the league in that category at 38%, were a dreadful 4-of-34 from beyond the arc.
Although their situation looks bleak, Devin Booker said the players can’t afford to lose their focus in the final four games of the season.
“Same approach, man. I keep saying for the love of the game,” Booker said. “You never play with this sport. This is our lives. Whatever the situation is, whether we’re in or out, we’re going to give it our all and do what we can do.”
Attention now turns to what the Suns will do this summer after a hugely disappointing season despite a payroll that tops $400MM with luxury tax included. Rankin expects another coaching change, even though Mike Budenholzer was just hired last May.
Trade speculation involving Durant has been steady for the last two months, and Rankin believes the focus should be on getting under the second apron so they’ll have more flexibility to remake the roster. He also notes that owner Mat Ishbia’s willingness to change coaches hasn’t extended to the front office where general manager James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein have kept their jobs despite not producing a contender.
There’s more on the Suns:
- Bradley Beal, who returned Friday after missing eight games with a strained left hamstring, said he’s feeling much better, Rankin adds in the same story. Beal was held scoreless in the first half Sunday, but he delivered 16 points after intermission. “Night and day better,” he said of the hamstring. “A lot more confident. Still, in the first, kind of felt like I was still trying to feel my way into the game, but I like where I was defensively. The effort on defense kept me in the game and I was able to find that rhythm in the second half.”
- The Suns weren’t able to work out a Durant trade before the February deadline because they were asking for “a massive haul,” sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Windhorst doesn’t expect Phoenix to get that kind of return when trade talks resume this summer, noting that Durant will turn 37 in September and will be eligible for a two-year, $120MM max extension. Like Rankin, Windhorst suggests that a Durant trade might provide the Suns with cap flexibility rather than win-now players and draft capital.
- Bol Bol was held out of Sunday’s game and has barely played over the last month or so. In a separate story from Rankin, Budenholzer explains his decision to bench Bol, who was used as a starter for 10 games around the All-Star break. “I think Cody (Martin) has gotten healthy, we’ve played Cody,” Budenholzer said. “Ryan (Dunn) has been playing more. Just always trying to give different guys opportunities, different mix, different combinations. So, (Bol’s) kind of fallen out of (the rotation).”
Mike Budenholzer is not to blame. No head coach can do better in my opinion this is just a difficult roster.
Its been a weird season in regards to the starting roster and playing time.
How does Bol Bol go from starting a bunch of games to not playing at all?
How is Gillespe starting a ton of games and then get no minutes. Agree the luxury tax is the true killer, but i cant understand the playing time night over night.
It is not surprising at all. Bol Bol’s defense sucks. The Sun’s defense sucks. But, it might not matter. The government just might deport him. Kinda sad.
This is the same guy that signed Mel Tucker to a 10 year contract at Michigan State. He provided the money.
I cant see Ishbia trading KD for money reasons. They will be under apron 2 after a KD regardless, thats fine for 2026
2 things just need to break right for Phx
1~ A market for Kd with multiple suitors. I’m very confident this will occur
2- KD doesn’t grab complete hold of the wheel steering only where he wants to go and lets it happen semi organically. This is a much bigger obstacle Imo as KD is a seasoned pro in this arena and this might be his last chance to show his stuff. Dal keeps popping in my head here as a partner
The Suns sit at 254MM for 2025/206, and if they can get Duran traded that should drop them to 200MM + whatever they have incoming. I believe the Aprons sit at 195 and 207. I think they could waive Martin, Richards and Micic saving another 21MM, but could see reasons to keep Martin and Richards at 13MM, dropping them somewhere near 190MM + Incoming Durant potential trades.
I think to keep Booker you need to try and dangle a Grayson Allen or Royce Oneale along with some of the capital back from Durant to shed Beals contract. How i have no idea but one can dream of shedding 100+MM off the payroll.
Your including cap holds which they will pick up none of
They only sit at 214 and they could cut both Martin and Micic for nothing. Apron 2 is 208 which would be the number to be under end year
They have a rather easy path to only being apron 1 next year-
Maybe KD will finally realize “Gee, maybe trying to steer myself to specific destinations ISN’T a great idea”. One would hope this latest epic failure would be enough to humble and wake him up. But who knows.
This team blows