Report: Suns Expected to Make 'Significant' Changes After This Season
The Phoenix Suns have seen quite the amount of success in recent years.
Stemming from the days of the NBA Bubble where Phoenix showed signs they could be something to a 2021 NBA Finals trip and most recently a 64-win regular season, the Suns have managed to again inject basketball fever in the Valley.
Though Phoenix has won their previous six-of-seven heading into tonight's meeting with the Atlanta Hawks, things with the Suns have been shaky due to injuries across the board. In a fairly strong Western Conference, Phoenix feels behind squads such as the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies among others.
Jae Crowder has been the primary name involved in trade conversations this season (for obvious reasons), yet the overall play of Chris Paul this season has led some to believe the 37-year-old floor general is finally starting to slow down.
In a four-team proposed trade from Bleacher Report that involves the Suns acquiring D'Angelo Russell, NBA writer Eric Pincus revealed the following info:
"Despite changes at the very top, the team is expected to make more significant changes after the season, but sources say the team has come to terms with the likelihood that Paul is starting to decline (38 years old in May). Even if he can bring it for another postseason, the Suns need to find a long-term replacement," said Pincus.
"Paul is owed $60.8 million over the next two seasons, but only $15.8 million is guaranteed. If the team can find a taker that brings back a suitable replacement who can help the team now and into the future, now may be the time to move him. Phoenix can include players like Jae Crowder and Dario Šarić as needed for salary-matching purposes. Shedding payroll could help, given that the team is about $16.4 million over the luxury-tax threshold with $33.3 million in expected penalties."
Recently, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that while Phoenix will certainly look to evaluate their potential backcourt options in the summer, the Suns will look to address their wing spots ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
"I think the point guard search probably looks more into the summer time because right now the need is more at the wing. They've got CP [Chris Paul], they've got Book [Devin Booker], they've got [Deandre] Ayton. I think with Devin Booker, the good news is they have treaded water for the most part," Charania said.
The future will certainly be interesting to monitor, especially with the Suns undergoing new ownership.
