Amongst all of the information coming out in the aftermath of their playoff elimination, it was reported that Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel wanted a point guard but the team’s front office said no.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, TNT NBA insider Chris Haynes talked about Vogel’s situation and mentioned that a new point guard never came because the front office wanted the stars of the team to have more of the ball possession.
“Frank Vogel wanted a point guard on that roster, and the front office believed that bringing a point guard over would take the ball out of the hands of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.”
“Frank Vogel wanted a point guard on that roster, and the front office believed that bringing a point guard over would take the ball out of the hands of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant…” – @ChrisBHaynes
“They’re bleeped.” – Dan
Chris Haynes joins the show as we… pic.twitter.com/8SKHJzxtUm
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) April 29, 2024
If the claim that Vogel wanted one and the Suns rejected is true, it shows that something was missing with how the team functioned. There was no true playmaker or primary ball handler in the starting lineup as all three of Booker, Durant and Beal wanted the ball and would shoot.
Since they traded Chris Paul in a blockbuster trade that included bringing Beal to Phoenix last summer, the Suns haven’t had a “traditional” or “real” point guard. To compromise this season, Booker took the reigns at the position as Vogel was still able to play the “Big 3” together.
Phoenix did sign Isaiah Thomas on March 20, but was underutilized and didn’t see much game action. The 12-year NBA veteran only appeared in six games, and did not start once even though he was a major star from 2014-17 with the Boston Celtics before injuries.
Besides Thomas, the only other point guard on the Suns’ roster was Saban Lee who managed to play just 24 games this past season.
With Phoenix looking for answers following a first-round exit, the front office will have to get creative with how they form next season’s roster given their current financial situation. Durant will be earning $51.2 million, Beal’s salary will jump to $50.2 million and Booker is about to make $49.4 million. Additionally, it is projected that the Suns will have the highest tax bill in the NBA next season, $209 million.
There is a lot of uncertainty about what they would target if needing a point guard is indeed something they are thinking about offseason. Phoenix could ponder over small trades around the roster or trade of the “Big Three” and get a package back.
Whatever the case may be, it will be a very interesting summer surrounding the Phoenix Suns.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
