Suns Named Biggest Winners of NBA Offseason
We're a few games into the NBA Summer League, and the dust has mostly settled on moves that will happen in the league. Veterans will still trickle into the depths of free agency and there's still a major move or two (looking at you, Dame).
However, it's comfortable enough to start chalking wins and losses after a hectic few months of rumors and speculation.
When it comes to the Phoenix Suns, it's hard to find another organization that's been praised more.
ESPN's Kevin Pelton dubbed the Suns as the biggest winner from the NBA offseason thus far.
"Admittedly, my feelings about the Bradley Beal trade would have been more positive had I expected Phoenix to clean up in free agency with only minimum contracts to offer," wrote Pelton.
"The Suns will bring back four of the six players from last year's final roster who played at least 1,000 minutes for the team (Torrey Craig and Chris Paul being the two departures) while adding three players who saw at least 1,400 minutes of action elsewhere (Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks and Eric Gordon). The result could be a team that actually goes deeper than last year's group while having more star power with the addition of Beal.
"Phoenix needs someone from the minimum group or holdover Cameron Payne to emerge as a reliable fifth closer alongside the group of Beal, Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Suns also remain heavily dependent on staying healthy in the playoffs.
"Still, Phoenix looks better equipped to handle the grind of the regular season, and the versatile Bates-Diop could be the 3-and-D wing the Suns were lacking in the 2023 playoffs if he can maintain last season's 39% 3-point shooting.
"More generally, the minimum market has yielded better players than in past years. It will be worth watching whether that's a temporary change or a result of the NBA decreasing the value of the taxpayer midlevel exception and reducing the number of teams who can use it via the second apron in the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), meaning there are fewer avenues for veterans to get offers above the minimum."
Pelton also didn't mention the coaching switch Phoenix made after dumping Monty Williams. You could argue Frank Vogel's fresh presence comes at a time where the Suns simply needed a new voice in the locker room.
Ultimately time will tell, but it's clear the Suns have impressed mostly everybody with their recent run of moves.
