The Phoenix Suns have a lot of questions still remaining about their roster this offseason after being swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have now advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!They have already made one significant change: firing first-year coach Frank Vogel and subsequently hiring Mike Budenholzer to replace him.
Phoenix also is reportedly clossing in on hiring former Brooklyn Nets executive Matt Tellum as assistant general manager to help them manager their cap situation. The Suns are projected to have the most expensive roster in NBA history that will come with a lot of limitations due to new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) rules.
“Outside of hiring a new coach, the Suns have all but exhausted their options in how they can change the roster. For better or worse, Phoenix is married to the most expensive roster in NBA history … It is unlikely that owner Mat Ishbia will do an about-face and explore breaking up the big three of (Kevivn) Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The teardown roster approach would represent a shift in philosophy for Ishbia.
“‘Would I rather have Brad Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker than just having two of those guys?’ Ishbia said to Ramona Shelburne in March. ‘I’d rather have all three a hundred times out of a hundred, and I don’t think there’s another GM or owner or CEO that wouldn’t say that exact same thing.’
“Beal has $160 million remaining on his contract and still maintains a no-trade clause. Booker’s $221 million supermax extension starts in July. Durant has two years and $106 million left on the extension he signed with Brooklyn in 2021.”
According to Hoops Hype, the Suns have three of the top-8 highest-paid players in the NBA for the 2024-25 season on the roster in Beal, Booker and Durant.
Marks adds: “Doubling down on this roster would have significant consequences.
“Phoenix is a second-apron team, a result of the $150 million owed next season to Booker, Beal and Durant. The salary of those three players is more than 14 teams’ total payroll in 2024-25.
“‘I understand all the rules that come with the second apron. I understand exactly what the CBA tried to do,’ Ishbia told ESPN. ‘I read it, I know it inside and out, and we made a calculated decision that we think the team with the best players wins.'”
However, it is very obvious that this strategy did not work out in Year 1 for the Suns. With that being said, president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones said last week that the Suns would not be trading any one of their Big 3,
"Those guys aren't going anywhere."@Suns president of basketball operations James Jones puts to bed any speculation that a member of the 'Big 3' would be traded this offseason.
????: https://t.co/9FB7poCRrL pic.twitter.com/eN6ohlRo8P
— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) May 17, 2024
Marks continues: “Having the best players on the court, however, only works if the offense is organized and the team has a strong supporting cast. Phoenix ranked last in fourth-quarter offensive efficiency and bench points. Suns reserves shot an NBA-low 31.9% on 3-pointers. The lack of depth in the first round exposed that Beal, Booker and Durant have to play at an All-NBA level for Phoenix to be a contender. The Suns will need to get creative to find players who complement Beal, Booker and Durant. Because of the apron restrictions, Phoenix is not allowed to take back more money in a trade than it sends out. The Suns also cannot aggregate contracts to trade for a single player who makes more. For example, combining the salaries of Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little in a trade is not allowed even if the Suns take back less money. Allen is also not allowed to be traded until Oct. 16 because he signed an extension. Phoenix also cannot send out cash in a trade, use the $5.1 million taxpayer midlevel exception or acquire a player in a sign-and-trade. The $6.5 million trade exception created in the Cameron Payne trade is frozen. If the Suns finish the 2024-25 season over the second apron, their 2032 first-round pick is not available in a trade.
“Outside of a coaching change or the unlikely scenario of breaking up their high-priced veterans, the options to fill out the supporting cast include this year’s first-round pick, re-signing O’Neale and once again signing a slew of players to the veterans minimum exception.”
Updated Offseason in Phoenix pic.twitter.com/ctUY5qFN4L
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 9, 2024
The Suns are pretty handcuffed in what they can do, as Marks details, especially since they plan to keep the Big 3 together. Phoenix also has Allen beginning a four-year, $70-million extension next season and Nurkić with two years left on a four-year, $70-million deal of his own.
There are some options for the Suns, but limitations on trades and free agency will make it extremely difficult.
Can Mike Budenholzer be the right coach to hold the Suns accountable?
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
