What if Chris Paul Was Never Traded to Suns?
The last three years for the Phoenix Suns have been rather successful despite failing to bring home an NBA championship.
Suns fans experienced some rough teams after drafting Devin Booker, though a run in the bubble spurred a turnaround that featured a run to the 2021 NBA Finals and a record-setting 64 wins in the following regular season.
A massive part of Phoenix's revival came when Chris Paul was acquired via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns needed a veteran point guard who could take their offense to the next level, and that's exactly what they got.
Now, the two have gone their separate ways - but what if the Suns never traded for CP3?
ESPN's Tim Bontemps went through various "what if" scenarios and pinpointed Phoenix's trade for Paul.
"Before acquiring Paul ahead of the 2020-21 season, the Phoenix Suns hadn't made the playoffs in a decade. After his arrival, Phoenix immediately returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 30 years, and then made trips to the second round the following two years," wrote Bontemps.
"In this scenario, however, Paul never arrives, with Phoenix instead trying to build on its impressive run in the bubble in 2020 with Ricky Rubio still manning the point, and Kelly Oubre Jr. on the wing. But, instead of leaping up to the top of the West, the Suns instead hover around the play-in tournament mix, eventually finishing ninth and losing to the Warriors in the eighth-place game to miss the playoffs.
"While steps forward took place the past two years, making the playoffs and losing in the first round both times, the massive leap forward this group experienced in the Paul era never materialized. As a result, the Suns never acquire Kevin Durant, nor Bradley Beal -- and Monty Williams was still let go after this season ended."
