B/R Says Suns Should Regret Not Making Splash in Trade Market
When putting it into perspective, the Phoenix Suns have had a fairly good 12 months.
How far we've come from the dark days of Suns basketball - now fans expect a trip to the NBA Finals on a yearly basis with the current squad.
It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. The window is closing to bring home the Larry O'Brien trophy in the Valley, and many feel like the roster needs to capitalize here and now.
When nitpicking for potential regrets from the past year as 2023 approaches, a few things come to mind: Phoenix's collapse in Game 7 to the Dallas Mavericks, not finding an agreement with Cam Johnson, etc.
Yet in Bleacher Report's recent article detailing each team's biggest regret, they address the elephant in Phoenix's room:
B/R Says Suns Should Regret Not Making Splash in Trade Market
"Go ahead and select the Game 7 meltdown or blown 3-2 series lead against Dallas in the second round of the 2022 playoffs. I get it. I also can't bring myself to go there following the reports of a COVID outbreak among the Phoenix Suns at the time," said Dan Favale.
"Passing on material changes since then matters more, to me.
"Flash-bulb moments reminding the Suns that they need someone, something extra to fortify their championship chances have been peppered throughout the season. There was—and still is—the Jae Crowder absence. There was—and still is—the Cam Johnson right knee injury. And then the Chris Paul right heel injury. And then the Cam Payne right foot injury. And now, there's the Devin Booker groin injury, a blow that could realistically derail the team's entire season.
"Phoenix is not without reinforcements. Mikal Bridges is better. Deandre Ayton makes finesse work. Payne was in the middle of a bounce-back year before his foot issue cropped up. The Suns have received useful minutes from Damion Lee, Josh Okogie and, lately, even Landry Shamet.
"It's not enough. They need more—someone, something, preferably in the form of a ball-handler who can play beside both Booker and Paul when everyone's healthy.
"The Kevin Durant ship has sailed for this season. And while it's easy to excuse the Suns not spending their mini mid-level in free agency (who could they have realistically signed?), their reticence on the trade market is less understandable. The sellers market hasn't developed yet, blah, blah, blah. That doesn't fly here. The Suns were caught up in the KD vortex but had all offseason to take a swing, and general manager James Jones' front office hasn't really been a regime willing to roll the dice on meaningful midseason acquisitions. Phoenix's 2022-23 title stock is currently taking a hit because of it."
All valid points, Mr. Favale.
Plenty has been made about Phoenix's current draft capital, as they're practically the only contending team with all of their ammo for the future at their disposal.
Yet how good are those picks if they wont be put to use?
Where there's smoke, there's fire. The Suns ultimately didn't want to pull the trigger on a trade for Durant and have yet to find a suitor for Crowder.
Time will tell if GM James Jones has made the right call by sticking to his guns, but as things currently stand, the Suns could use an obvious boost to their lineup.
