Three Predictions for the 2022-23 Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns basketball is nearly here, as we're just hours away from the season opener at the Footprint Center.
The Dallas Mavericks will make a short stop in Phoenix before continuing with their season, and while opening night can provide a big boost for the Suns, 81 other games will be played after.
It's a long season, and for a team that has made a run to the NBA Finals before winning 64 games the next year, the Suns should know that more than anybody.
Yet after a long offseason of questions, Phoenix is ready to hit the court and get the ball rolling.
Here's three predictions for the Suns this season:
Three Predictions for the 2022-23 Phoenix Suns
1. Deandre Ayton Makes His First All-Star Appearance
There's been so much talk and speculation surrounding Deandre Ayton since the moment he was benched in Game 7 against Dallas.
I'm sure he's tired of hearing all of it. I'm sure you're tired of hearing, reading and talking about it, too.
His Media Day appearance was... something. As somebody who was merely feet away from that podium, the energy simply didn't seem great.
Ayton wasn't his usual self, and to be quite honest, I think that was intentional.
The big man is now paid, and while he did admit to the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin that it wasn't his intention to send a message on Media Day, there's an obvious focus he's trying to accomplish.
Ayton appears to be locked in on becoming one of the best big men in the game, regardless if he actually wants to be in Phoenix or not. There's also a great opportunity to emerge as the No. 2 option behind Devin Booker with Chris Paul's season-long health being a priority.
I'll drink the Kool-Aid, at least for now.
2. The Suns Will Finish Above the Los Angeles Clippers
Speaking of drinking Kool-Aid, it feels like the entire league has dumped the Los Angeles Clippers Kool-Aid on everybody like a head coach who just won the Super Bowl.
Look, I get it. Trading for John Wall and getting a healthy Kawhi Leonard back should put them as one of the top teams in the west.
But let's be real: We need to see it to believe with the Clippers, who couldn't match the amount of banners the Lakers have hung even if they were allowed to hang paper championships.
Leonard missed all last year with an ACL injury. Paul George played just 31 games in 2021-22 and John Wall has played just a combined 113 games in the last five seasons due to various injuries.
Until all three can remain on the court and prove themselves healthy, I'll trust the Suns to prove themselves to be better over the course of a season.
3. The Suns Make a Move at the Trade Deadline
I took the easy way out here, huh? Breaking news: Team who wants to win championship tries to upgrade roster.
The Suns, despite remaining adamant all offseason they were content with their roster, have been trying to wheel-and-deal behind the scenes in order to better their team.
And that's perfectly fine. As they should, especially given the current state of the squad in terms of keeping a championship window open. Failed attempts at Kevin Durant and Bojan Bogdanovic (just to name a few) are proof the Suns are in business.
With whatever you believe of the Ayton situation, along with Durant and if Crowder is somehow not moved by then, there's plenty of chess pieces that can be at play when the trade deadline sneaks up.
Even last year, Phoenix nearly had a deal with the Indiana Pacers before things fell through.
No matter how big or small, the Suns are likely to make some magic happen at the deadline, especially if teams around the West are living up to their potential.
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