Phoenix's Big 3 Lands in Top 5 NBA Rankings
If you haven't heard: The Phoenix Suns are running it back.
After Deandre Ayton confirmed via pen to paper that he'll be sticking around for four more seasons, the trio that has seen plenty of success for the Suns in recent memory will be preserved.
With Chris Paul running the show and Devin Booker emerging as one of the league's best scorers, the Suns still present themselves as dangerous threats to make a run to the NBA Finals amid the constant movement throughout the league.
Other players will certainly play a role in helping Phoenix notch their first NBA title, yet in a star-driven league, the overall performance of Ayton-Booker-Paul will ultimately decide their fate.
So, where does the Suns' Big 3 compare to the rest of the league?
Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz recently assembled his top rankings around the NBA for dynamic trios using the Estimated Plus-Minus stat, and Phoenix found themselves landing in the top five:
Trio of Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker and Chris Paul Makes Top 5
Teams Below Phoenix
Honorable Mentions: Boston's Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and John Wall
5. Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton
- Estimated Plus-Minus Rank: 4th (12.5)
- Lineup Net Rating Rank: 4th (plus-8.0 in 835 minutes)
- Eye Test Rank: 4
- Average Rank: 4.0
"With the Suns matching the four-year, $133 million offer sheet signed by Ayton with the Indiana Pacers, their core will at least be intact to start the regular season. Booker tied Jimmy Butler for the second-highest EPM score (4.7) among all shooting guards last year while making his third All-Star Game, reaching career highs in points per game (26.8) and rebounds (5.0). His three-point efficiency (38.3 percent) tied a career-best mark as well.
"Despite turning 37 in May, Paul led the NBA in assists per game (10.8), the first time he'd done so since the 2014-15 season as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He should still be playing at an All-Star level this year. While the future of Ayton in Phoenix is uncertain, the Suns were two wins short of an NBA title in 2020-21 and finished 64-18 in 2021-22 with him as the starting center alongside Paul and Booker. This trio still works really well, at least on the court.
"If Phoenix can somehow turn a package of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and first-round picks and swaps into Kevin Durant, the Suns will easily have the best Big Four in the NBA."
Teams Above Phoenix
4. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey
3. Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons
2. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
1. Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday
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