Exciting Offseason Transformations Ahead: What’s Next for the Suns After Their Season Finale?

PHOENIX — Devin Booker took a moment to gather his thoughts when asked about lessons learned from the Phoenix Suns’ disappointing 35-45 season. After a long pause, he replied, “Yeah. I would say… Kind of the opposite of what we’ve been doing.” This pretty much encapsulates the state of the team.

Significant changes are on the horizon for the Suns. The organization plans to revamp its roster, coaching staff, and front office. But one thing is clear: Devin Booker is here to stay. Suns owner Mat Ishbia made that quite obvious during a recent interview.

What about Bradley Beal? Reports suggest he might not be in a Suns jersey next season. After a tough year filled with injuries, Beal’s trade value has dropped significantly. Even with added assets, finding a good trade partner seems unlikely without taking on another bad contract.

One option is a waive-and-stretch strategy, which could leave the Suns with $22 million in dead money for five years. This approach seems risky. There’s a chance the Suns could walk away from Beal’s contract if he cooperates, but so far, he hasn’t shown willingness. The best move might just be to keep Beal next season and hope he regains value before a potential trade.

This leads us to Kevin Durant. Initially, the Suns were committed to keeping their core intact, but as the season progressed, they toyed with the idea of trading him. Reports now suggest that a Durant trade might be more unavoidable than ever. The team needs to recognize that having both Durant and Booker hasn’t produced the desired results, as their on-court synergy hasn’t been effective.

As for coach Mike Budenholzer, his performance has sparked conversations about accountability. Despite having solid defensive personnel, the Suns’ defense took a significant hit this season. A major concern is whether Budenholzer is the right coach to shape a new identity for the team after such a lackluster year.

Changes in the front office also loom large. General manager and president of basketball operations James Jones has been navigating tough waters during this ownership transition. With Ishbia taking a more active role, it’s unclear how much influence Jones retains in decisions moving forward.

Looking ahead, the Suns need to reconsider their strategy, focusing on physical, athletic players to better support Booker. Recent drafts show Jones has an eye for talent, which could be crucial if the team opts to rebuild. The Suns find themselves at a crossroads, with a lot resting on how they approach this summer.

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