Are the Suns stuck in the Western Conference?

Even with more moves on the horizon, what is the ceiling for this team?

The Phoenix Suns made it clear following a disappointing season that changes would be necessary to reshape the team’s culture. They went out and reshuffled the front office and coaching staff, letting go of GM James Jones and head coach Mike Budenholzer. These moves were made so the Suns could replace them with Brian Gregory as GM and Jordan Ott as head coach.

This was the Suns’ first wave of moves, designed to change their identity and ensure everyone was aligned on the same page. (Fair warning, I will use that buzzword as long as Gregory does, as it just hits on a funny note and he now knows it lol)

Even after those front office moves, the Suns were not done, as they also wanted to reshape the roster. The team decided it was finally time to move on from Kevin Durant after trying to trade him at the trade deadline and sent him to the Houston Rockets.

This gave the Suns back Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, two starters from the #2 seed in the Western Conference. The Suns also acquired their number ten overall pick in the draft, alongside five second-round picks. They turned those into three players from the 2025 NBA Draft, adding Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea.

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The Suns, despite making multiple moves, were not done, as they traded Vasilije Micic to their longtime friends, the Charlotte Hornets, for Mark Williams. Not to mention, in free agency, the team made two signings to complement this roster, with Collin Gillespie and Nigel Hayes-Davis.

That being said, when looking at the depth chart, it is obvious there are still some holes on this roster. The team has too many shooting guards and centers, with some key pieces still missing. So, how will the Suns get out of this, and even if so, are they still stuck in a tough Western Conference?

Bradley Beal Dilemma

This has been the situation: all fans have kept their eyes on the offseason. After a disastrous season with Bradley Beal in the rotation for the team, in a role that did not feel comfortable for him or the team, it is said that the time has come. Not to mention that he has an untradeable contract; even though Beal is still a productive player on the court, he is not worth the contract he is currently receiving.

That is no surprise to the Suns either, as teams around the league are aware of this, and that is why no trade has been proposed for Beal that would allow him to waive his no-trade clause. The no-trade clause itself is a significant hindrance, as he can choose his destination, but the added uncertainty of staying healthy and fitting in with this roster is causing the departure from both sides.

At this moment, the Suns and Beal are currently working on this solution, which will be implemented via a buyout of his contract, followed by the stretching and waiving of that money over five seasons.

Now, with the Suns unable to buy out Beal at his full amount due to them already having dead money from Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell last season. Therefore, the buyout is taking longer than expected, which can benefit the Suns. If a team is willing to give Beal more than what the Suns can buy him out at, then they can save more money and use it for other contracts.

While we wait for Beal to be bought out, we all know it will benefit the Suns, as not only will they free up a roster spot (and eliminate another shooting guard), but also drop below both aprons, allowing for complete flexibility in trades and free agency. This allows the team to aggregate salaries via trade and have every ability to sign someone in free agency.

Now, even though it’s exciting, will this truly save the Suns this season?

Suns’ Expectations This Year?

When examining this roster, the expectations for this team are that they may not have a better record, but they will provide a better product on the court. That being said, teams in the Western Conference have only continued to improve.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are locking up their Big 3, the Rockets got KD and made other moves as well to competive, the Nuggets moved MPJ and brought back familiar faces to fill out depth they need, the Clippers are going all in as well within this two year window making big moves left and right.

This all doesn’t mention teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves who made back to back Western Conference Finals and still look to be dominant, the Lakers with Lebron James and Luka Doncic, the Warriors with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the other moves they make and even the Spurs with Wemby and Fox for a full season with the two draft picks they added.

This is why the Suns may be stuck even for this season, regardless of the changes they make. That is eight teams that are currently in a better spot than the Suns for next year. This would mean competing with teams like the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Kings, and Mavericks. Now, the Suns are better than some teams I listed, but this seems to be their home court, and if the play-in is their best hope, what does that mean for the future?

Suns’ Expectations For the Future?

Even with all the above, I am sure the Suns’ front office knows this is the case, and this is their plan to establish a new identity.

By bringing in young players and signing rookies, they can maintain that flexibility in future offseasons, building off the last two. With at least four players on those deals and one needing an extension in Mark Williams, this allows the team to reshuffle the salary not into three top-heavy ones, but throughout the roster. The Suns’ primary goal should be to find those depth pieces who can help develop their young prospects.

And they have already started that. All three draft prospects from this class have a “mentor” in my eyes.

Maluach has Williams, a shot-blocking, rim-protecting, and rebounding big who went to the same college. Similarly, Brea has Booker, who models his shot-making ability, and also attended the same school as Book, Kentucky. Lastly, Fleming has a mentor in Hayes-Davis, someone who is returning to the NBA but shares a similar frame and play style with the rookie from St. Joe’s.

By having these mentors, the Suns can have a representation of what their role should be for this team. It will make the growing pains easier and ultimately provide a guide for their rookie season.

Alongside that, you would have Ryan Dunn continuing to grow with Dillion Brooks still being that feisty wing on the side and Collin Gillespie still growing, hopefully getting a mentor of his own. CP3 anyone?

All of this depends on what the Suns want to do with the contracts of Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Oso Ighodaro, Jalen Green, and Nick Richards, as they finish this offseason and head into next. This could also indicate the direction this team is heading with its younger core.

This will all depend on the Suns having this youth movement go in a positive direction. Having the young guns playing with heart and hustle while showing grit on the court will buy you right back into the potential this team had, similarly, when they had the twins just a few seasons ago. Not to mention that with more cap space, the Suns have the option to acquire another star-level player down the line. That, combined with the growth of these young guns, will surely set the Suns up for success down the line, so it is not all doom and gloom.

You take all that into account with Devin Booker buying back into this team with this latest extension, and it gives you hope for the future. Even if the Suns are stuck now, it seems that the front office, alongside Devin Booker, sees a brighter light at the end of this tunnel, and by the time his new contract kicks in I assume the Suns will be on that right path of trying to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Valley for the first time, which will tasts sweet for all the believers who saw us at our lowest and counted us out.

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