While the Phoenix Suns have two of the best players in the world in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, there are still several areas in which the team needs to improve in order to become a playoff contender next year. The team’s lack of success over the past two seasons has led to a sense of urgency among fans and analysts alike, with many calling for the Suns to make some significant moves in order to improve the team’s long-term prospects. The domination the Suns faced in Game 6 of the second round of the playoffs was considerably bad, and already some players are getting thrown under the bus including former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. Of course, the rumors are also heading in future Hall of Famer Chris Paul’s way because the point guard is 38 years old and simply cannot keep healthy for long. Essentially, everyone outside of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker will be available in the trade market.
One of the most significant areas of concern for the Suns is their lack of depth at every position. While Deandre Ayton is a promising young player, he is still developing his game and the Suns do not have a clear reason to keep the often underwhelming big man. Additionally, veterans like Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren have not provided the consistent production the team hoped for this season, and there is a lack of reliable depth alongside them. Another issue facing the Suns is their lack of perimeter shooting and playmaking outside of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Adding a proven scorer and playmaker like Chris Paul could help alleviate this issue and provide the star duo with additional support on the offensive end.
Given these concerns, it’s clear that the Suns would benefit from making some major moves in the trade market. While it’s important for the team to maintain some level of continuity, they cannot afford to become complacent if they hope to become a competitive team in the Western Conference. It’s possible that the Suns could trade some of their young assets and draft picks to bring in more established, veteran players who can make an immediate impact. Specifically, there is a three-part plan for the Suns to return to the top seed in the West for the first time since the 2021-22 season and avoid the constant playoff blowouts. Here is the master plan for the Phoenix Suns to earn their last chance to win a title next year with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker acting as the stars of the show.
The Suns Trade Deandre Ayton For Myles Turner And Chris Duarte
The first step of the master plan is to swap centers with the Indiana Pacers and also add a talented young swingman who can make things happen off the bench. Losing a 24-year-old former No. 1 overall pick is not an easy thing to do, but it is necessary to give the team a chance to push for the Finals next year.
Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Myles Turner, Chris Duarte
Indiana Pacers Receive: Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton
Trading Deandre Ayton, a young and promising big man, might seem like a risky move but there may be compelling reasons for the Phoenix Suns to pursue this trade. To start with, Myles Turner is one of the league’s best defenders, particularly in the paint. He has a proven track record of blocking shots and altering shots at the rim. Turner has averaged an impressive 2.3 blocks per game throughout his career and can provide the rim protection that the Suns have been sorely lacking in recent seasons. Turner also brings size to the team, measuring in at 6’11” and weighing 250 pounds. This could be invaluable to the Suns, especially in matchups against bigger and more physical frontcourts such as those of the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to Turner, the Suns would also receive Chris Duarte in this trade.
Duarte is a young wing who is already making an impact in the league. In his first two seasons with the Pacers, he has averaged 10.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 1.4 APG per game while shooting 34.7% from beyond the arc. Duarte is also a solid defender who can play multiple positions and give the Suns some much-needed depth on the wing. Getting a new starting center and a swingman who can defend and also score a little bit would be a massive help to the roster. Deandre Ayton has certainly shown some promise as a young big man in the league but he has yet to take the leap expected of a former No. 1 overall pick. While Ayton’s rebounding and scoring have improved since his rookie season, his defense still leaves much to be desired and it seems the entire Suns franchise and fanbase have had enough of him. Adding a shot-blocking extraordinaire and a far tougher center in Turner makes a ton of sense.
The Suns Trade Chris Paul To The Grizzlies
The next step for the Suns would be losing their 38-year-old point guard and starting to get younger, more aggressive, and certainly healthier. Paul has yet to stay healthy consistently and it seems it might never happen again with the aging point guard breaking down by the month.
Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Dillon Brooks, Luke Kennard
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Chris Paul
Chris Paul
The Suns have made a significant investment in their future by locking up their superstar core Kevin Durant and Devin Booker who have lucrative long-term deals. However, they still need to add some depth to their roster if they want to become a contender in the Western Conference. Dillon Brooks and Luke Kennard could be exactly the pieces that the Suns need. Dillon Brooks is a young and talented swingman who has shown excellent potential in his career thus far. He is a solid scorer and a reliable defender, and he has the potential to become a top-tier starting swingman in the league. Adding Brooks to the Suns’ roster would give them another reliable scorer and someone who can play solid defense against the opposing team’s best perimeter players. Despite his putrid 32.6% shooting from deep this season, Brooks made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team and competes hard on both ends.
Luke Kennard is a versatile shooting guard who has shown the ability to score from beyond the arc and to create his own shot. He has a high basketball IQ and can effectively run an offense when called upon. He would make a great backup to Devin Booker, giving the Suns a reliable floor-spacer and scorer off the bench. While Chris Paul is certainly a valuable asset to have on any team, he is also one of the highest-paid players in the league, and his age could become a concern in the near future. By trading him for Brooks and Kennard, the Suns would not only save money but also add younger, promising players to their roster who can grow with the team for years to come. Adding a defender and a shooter for a 38-year-old point guard is a no-brainer.
While trading an elite playmaker in Chris Paul could be a risk, it could ultimately pay off for the Phoenix Suns by giving them added depth and young, potentially game-changing talent in Dillon Brooks and Luke Kennard. They would become a more well-rounded team and would be better positioned to compete in the challenging Western Conference with a stronger supporting cast around their core players. In the playoffs matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the Suns only had one other player besides Kevin Durant and Devin Booker average double-digit scoring and that was underperforming center Deandre Ayton who only posted 10.8 PPG. That simply won’t cut it against the best teams in the NBA and getting two new wing players could benefit the team.
Russell Westbrook Joins Kevin Durant After 7 Years
Russell Westbrook had a rejuvenated run with the Los Angeles Clippers and he has silenced the majority of critics who are claiming he is washed and even praying for his downfall. The former MVP is the greatest player to have ever played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and had his best years with the franchise. With Kevin Durant beside him, Westbrook helped lead the Thunder to the Finals in 2012 and also formed a title-contender year after year.
Russell Westbrook
A potential reunion of Westbrook and Durant would be a massive storyline in terms of media attention and the former Thunder duo would be put back together. Westbrook has proven he can still play at a high level and even if he doesn’t shoot a high percentage from the field, he is a terrific rebounder, passer, and high-energy star who will always play a high number of games. At this stage of his career, Westbrook is also far more available than Chris Paul as the former played 73 games and the latter only completed 59 appearances.
Having a point guard who is available, plays hard, and is four years younger than Paul would be a blessing. Obviously, Russell Westbrook is a free agent who is looking for the most money and the best opportunity to compete for a championship. The former MVP can slot alongside Durant and Booker to complete a dynamic Big Three alongside Dillon Brooks and Myles Turner. Russ won’t have to shoot the ball like a sharpshooter or force the action because he is surrounded by defenders and elite scorers.
The Suns Can Raise Again
The Phoenix Suns’ master plan is complete with their three major moves this summer. It would require some negotiating to get the deal over the line, especially because even head coach Monty Williams is feeling the pressure after facing another disappointing playoff exit. Here is the roster of the Suns next year if the masterplan goes according to the script:
Starting Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Kevin Durant, Myles Turner
Best Players On Bench: Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, Chris Duarte, Luke Kennard, Darius Bazley
Russell Westbrook, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Kevin Durant, Myles Turner
The starting lineup becomes complete with a younger point guard who is always available alongside two elite stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The final two spots are complete with two elite defenders, one in Dillon Brooks who made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team, and the other who is one of the league’s best shot-blockers (2.3 BPG this season). While Durant and Booker are capable of carrying the scoring on their own, they will need help with elite defense and a point guard who can push the pace and make things happen.
The bench also looks more complete with Chris Duarte and Luke Kennard bringing their offensive talent and defense to the table. Cameron Payne has proven to be an excellent backup point guard as he showed with his 31-point performance in Game 6, and Landry Shamet is another elite shooter who can play off stars (38.8% career 3-PT FG). Darius Bazley is only 22 years old and can be molded into an efficient backup big man. Not to mention, Phoenix can also be in the market for another backup big man including former All-Stars Andre Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins in free agency.
The master plan for the Phoenix Suns is complete with Russell Westbrook reuniting with Kevin Durant as the new starting point guard, bringing energy and speed. Meanwhile, Brooks and Turner bring elite defense and the ability to space the floor as the new starters. Of course, Durant and Booker can dominate the scoring and will do it at a superstar level. The bench also looks deeper with Duarte and Kennard bringing their skills to the floor, with the potential to bring on some more pieces in free agency as well. The 25-point beatdown to the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 was simply unacceptable, and these changes can make Phoenix the favorite to win it all next year.
Source: fadeawayworld.net
