Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns may have made the best move of the offseason with the addition of Chris Paul to the roster. Paul and Devin Booker should form an elite backcourt that can compete with any team. After their undefeated Bubble run, going 8-0 in the seeding games and narrowly missing out on the playoffs, expectations are high going into this season.
Chris Paul turned the Oklahoma City Thunder into a playoff team that pushed the Houston Rockets to 7 games and narrowly lost to them. If Chris Paul can do the same for the Suns they could reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season when Steve Nash was leading the charge. Paul and Booker could both make the All-Star team and lead the Suns to a winning record.
The offseason additions of Jae Crowder, Langston Galloway, Damian Jones, E’Twaun Moore, and Abdel Nader give the team some great veteran toughness and versatility that will be needed in a tough Western Conference. Deandre Ayton, Cameron Johnson, and Mikal Bridges remain promising young players that should continue their development and get plenty of open looks playing with the adept passing of Chris Paul.
Paul has a calming effect on teams and James Harden is probably still regretting asking the Rockets to trade Paul for Russell Westbrook. Expect to see the Suns back in the playoffs and Devin Booker to average over 25 points per game in the most anticipated Suns season since Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were in action.