3. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are now reportedly set to field arguably the top trio in the NBA in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Phoenix has gone all-in, trading for both Durant and now Beal within the last six months. The Suns were fantastic down the stretch with Durant this year (and gave Denver arguably the toughest series of their title run), and now add a 3-time All-Star coming off of a season in which he averaged 23.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game on 50.6% shooting (albeit in just 50 games) (who has twice averaged 30 points per game in a season) in Beal.
After the trade, the Suns interestingly now only have two other players under contract for next season outside of those three: Deandre Ayton (at $32.5 million) and Cam Payne (who has a partial guarantee on his $6.5 million deal). So, the Suns will have some work to do on filling out their roster outside of their scintillating top of the roster.
While the deal leaves the Suns with major salary cap and depth questions (more on that later), Phoenix now has three players who have all very recently been No. 1 options on teams. Also, Beal’s no-trade clause allowed the Suns to pull off a seemingly widely lopsided trade in which Phoenix is reportedly only sending Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, future 1st round pick swaps, and second-rounders to the Wizards for the high-scoring guard.
The Suns are also reportedly set to add Jordan Goodwin in the trade as well, who should help them in their rotation. The trade was a steal from Phoenix’s perspective in terms of value.
One major question is that as previously mentioned, Ayton is also still on the roster (which brings forth some major questions regarding his future). Does he stay as the Suns’ 4th option, or does Phoenix move him in order to provide much-needed depth and salary flexibility (which is what I think happens)?
The foursome of Durant, Booker, Beal, and Ayton is currently slated to count for over $160 million against next year’s cap. That is a staggering number that might force Phoenix’s hand in whether to keep Ayton or not. Some interested parties in Ayton might be Indiana, Dallas, and Miami. If they move Ayton, Phoenix’s goal would be to improve their depth and relax cap burdens.
Of their pending free agents, it is looking like only Torrey Craig and Jock Landale can be brought back for more than the minimum, which I think is likely as they look to make out their bench. Outside of those two, the rest of the players signed will likely have to be for the minimum.
Phoenix does not have their first-round pick, as it is headed to Brooklyn from the Durant trade. The Suns’ lone pick of the draft will be in the second round (pick No. 52), although it’s currently unclear whether that will be one of the second-rounders heading to Washington in the Beal trade. Even if it is, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Suns buy a pick in the late second round to add a cheap youngster to the backend of the rotation.
While there are major questions about the rest of the roster, it’s impossible to ignore that the Big 3 Phoenix is about to have automatically puts you in championship contention. The Big 3 itself will also have some fit questions (those two concerns are why Phoenix isn’t higher on this list), but the Suns will still have one of the most talented teams in the NBA this next season.