What do the Suns need to do to get back to the NBA Finals?

[FAH1223]

Do they need more shooting?

Size and more defensive dogs?

A backup PG who can be the heir apparent to CP3?

Do you keep Ayton at less than the max at 5 years $125M like ATL did with John Collins? No one has cap room to offer the max.

If you’re James Jones, what do you do?

 

[Raquinotj]

They need to hope that one of other team star players gets hurt in THREE different series again. Like it happened last season with AD/Murray/Kawhi.

it only happened in the first round this year with Zion.

 

[Walt]

It’s a wrap for them.

 

[jeh]

Time for Christopher Paul to come back to the Eastern Conference, he'd be a great fit for the Washington Wizards

 

[UpAndComing]

They need another scorer who can score off the dribble and get their own shot. When defenses clamp down on them, that pass pass, cut cut, open 3 type of offense doesn't work at all

The way the offense is set up, its way too easy for an opposing team to double or triple team Booker

I would trade Mikal Bridges to get that type of piece

 

[FAH1223]

Time for Christopher Paul to come back to the Eastern Conference, he'd be a great fit for the Washington Wizards

He would be... he'd probably lead the Bullets to a 50 win season.

But we don't got the assets to get him. That ship sailed in 2019 or 2020 when we coulda used Wall to get him from OKC.

 

[djthegreat88]

Window closed

Paul is ancient for an NBA PG. Suns too dependent on him continuing to play at high level.

Booker is great player but not on that Luka, giannis level
Bridges overpaid role player that is probably at his ceiling. Cam getting raise

Pistons/Spurs could offer Ayton the max.

Sarver is cheap. Doubt he pays luxury tax to run it back

 

[Hersh]

ayton doesn't have what it takes to take the reigns as the number 2...

trade CP for s-t Tre Jones and whoever else.. ( or a younger pg + piece to team CP can help).

book needs to train all summer against the double.

 

[Primetime]

TNT was caping for CP3, saying he can’t be expected to be consistently great offensively in the playoffs at his age…

If so, then Phoenix has a problem because iirc they’re paying him a big ass contract that requires him to be more than just 2011 Jason Kidd.

Really, the importance of a true point guard is a bit outdated. It’s a nice bonus as a tertiary skill set of a 3&D guy, otherwise said point guard needs to be a primary scorer/show closer.

The 4 teams in the conference finals don’t have true point guards; either their primary scorers/show closers can facilitate (Luka, Butler), or they run an offense that may be flawed (turnover prone-GSW; stagnant at times-BOS) but allows their stars to cook and dictate.

If Ayton can’t develop into Embiid-lite, dictating and cooking to support Booker, then this iteration of PHX is at their limit.

 

[Brozay]

book needs to train all summer against the double.

 

[J-MIL]

Team ain't built right

CP0 gotta go he too damn old now

 

[tremonthustler1]

Short term: put everything into Aaron Holiday being the future PG, sell high on Cam (a team might overpay to make Cam their big acquisition) and hope the teams that would otherwise pay Ayton don't get Jabari Smith, Holmgren or Banchero in this draft.

I could see one of those convoluted 3-4 team deals where team X gets Capela, Phoenix gets Collins and Atlanta gets Ayton. Hornets make the most sense outright but Jordan might not wanna pay the lux for that roster (Ayton, Miles Bridges, LaMelo in 2 years), but they have the most to give back in terms of young cheap assets (13 & 15, Thor, Washington-Renner, Kai Jones)

Detroit is only an option if they'd rather draft Ivey over the field.

Call Houston and see if they'll give up Wood/Gordon.

this summer has the least amount of maneuverability ever.

 

[Hersh]

exactly lol

 

[Inertia Creeps]

Suns willingly made their bed with Cliff Paul right as his papers to Larry Holmes Gardens were being written up, now they gotta lie in it. First things first they have to S&T Ashtray Ayton or lose him for nothing, cause you know if Sarver's cheap ass wasn't extending him off an actual Finals run... no way in hell he does it after one of the worst elimination losses ever. Maybe reunite him with his old assistant Willie Green for old time's sake...

 

[Michael's Black Son]

Acquire Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson and Oliver Miller