Phoenix Suns
Last but not least we have the Phoenix Suns. It may seem like a surprise to have the Suns a part of this list, but people forget the Suns were in the headlines more this offseason than any other team not named the Brooklyn Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers.
After setting a franchise record in wins (64) and being the favorite to win the championship at the start of the playoffs a season ago, the Suns lost in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks. And they didn’t just lose. They lost in one of, if not the most embarrassing fashions a team can lose.
In a Game 7 in their own arena, the Suns lost by 33 (123-90) to the Mavs. Phoenix scored just 27 points in the 1st half and trailed 57-27 at halftime.
Shortly after the Suns’ catastrophe loss, drama surrounding DeAndre Ayton, the coaching staff, and the front office came to the forefront.
The “tension” dated all the way to last offseason when the Suns refused to give Ayton the five-year $170 million maximum in early bird negotiations. According to Bleacher Report, Phoenix gauged Ayton’s trade value in February. Then, in that infamous Game 7, Ayton played just 17 minutes.
After that game, Head Coach Monty Williams was asked after the game why Ayton played just 17 minutes and responded by saying “it’s internal.”
Monty Williams on why Deandre Ayton only played 17 minutes “it’s internal.”
— Mark McClune (@MarkMcClune) May 16, 2022
The drama surrounding Ayton continued in the off-season when the big man signed a 4-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, but, later that day the Suns quickly matched the offer.
Fast forward to training camp, Ayton told reporters that he hadn’t spoken to Monty Williams since that Game 7 loss.
That whirlwind of a story surrounding Ayton was just a piece of the drama-filled pie that stuffed the Suns this offseason. The biggest piece belonged to Robert Sarver who was forced by the NBA to sell the team after an investigation found conduct that clearly violated workplace standards.
The Phoenix Suns and Jae Crowder have mutually agreed that the veteran forward will not participate in training camp as the sides work on a trade, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 25, 2022
The Suns then lost to the Adelaide 36ers: a part of Australia’s National Basketball League. It marked the first time an NBA team lost a preseason game to a non-NBA team since the Oklahoma City Thunder lost to Real Madrid in 2016.
The loss was so bad, they felt a statement was needed.
The Phoenix Suns have released a team statement after their loss to the Adelaide 36ers. pic.twitter.com/Rrjak4slPV
— Buttcrack Sports (@ButtCrackSports) October 3, 2022
Last but not least, Jae Crowder, a key part of the Suns’ success over the past couple of seasons, requested a trade prior to the season.
All of that contributed to many NBA analysts being down on the Suns coming into the season.
Through 10 games, the Suns have put those concerns off to the side. At 7-3 and second in the West, the Suns have played like the team we have seen over the past two regular seasons.
Phoenix is top ten in both offensive rating (114.3) and defensive rating (105.4). Before his injury, Cameron Johnson stepped right into the Jae Crowder role and delivered, averaging 13.0ppg, shooting 43.1% from three.
Devin Booker has been sensational, Chris Paul is still the “Point God,” dishing out the third most assists per game in the league (9.4), and despite the off-season drama, DeAndre Ayton has performed well.
However, as mentioned before when discussing the Jazz and Cavs, it is still very early. The Suns are only 10 games into an 82-game season. Out of the three teams mentioned in this article, the Suns’ hot start may be the flimsiest which may sound ridiculous when the other two teams are the Cavaliers and the Jazz but let’s paint the picture.
The Suns are already feeling the injury bug as Cameron Johnson, a key part of their early success, is expected to be sidelined for 1-2 months. Speaking of injuries, Chris Paul has surely dealt with his fair share of health concerns. In fact, he’s already dealing with something as he left the second quarter of the Suns’ Monday night loss to the 76ers due to right heel soreness according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Then there’s the whole DeAndre Ayton situation. The noise surrounding Ayton’s future in Phoenix has quieted since the start of the season but would it surprise anyone if he requested a trade or if the Suns looked to deal the big man after January 23rd (Ayton cannot be traded before January 23rd)?
Who knows? Maybe the Suns are motivated to wash away the embarrassment of last season. They are playing great basketball to start the season, but things could change quickly with the news of Cam Johnson’s injury and Chris Paul’s minor heel soreness.