From now until the start of the season, Corban Ford will be releasing offseason reviews for all 30 teams. These pieces will lay out the key losses and additions, along with analysis describing some of the major moves and if they positioned the team better for success, or closer for disaster. This edition will focus on the Phoenix Suns.

After an extremely active 2023-2024 offseason, followed by a mostly disappointing campaign, the Phoenix Suns have attempted to reverse course with a quiet-yet impactful offseason heading into 2024-2025. Do better results lie ahead in the Valley of the Sun?

Key Losses
Frank Vogel (fired May 9th) Eric Gordon (signed with Philadelphia), Drew Eubanks (signed with Utah)

Key Additions
Mike Budenholzer (hired May 10th), Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Dunn (selected 28th), Oso Ighodaro (selected 40th)

After a four game sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the end of May, the Suns found themselves in a place where changes were definitely needed, but so was continuity. That tricky balance had to be threaded by the front office, but they deemed that it could be done without the head coach they had hired just one year ago, as they fired Frank Vogel. I maintain that Vogel caught the short end of the stick due to constant injuries and a team that just didn’t have consistently capable defensive personnel, but regardless, he was replaced by Arizona native, Mike Budenholzer. Much like Vogel, Budenholzer brings a championship pedigree and defensive background. However, he also has more offensive ingenuity and a willingness to push his teams to bomb away from deep, which should not only help spruce up last year’s middling offensive rating, but also manufacture better looks across the board for the likes of mid-range guys such as Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.
Looking back, it is interesting to see what Phoenix was able to pull off with such limited assets, having only the 22nd pick and minimum contracts available to upgrade their team. They started by trading down in the draft to pick up defensive minded forwards Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in addition to a few extra second round picks. Dunn and Ighodaro will provide additional versatility and more of a defensive identity on the court, while the 2nd rounders will provide value and flexibility off of it. Phoenix also plucked up veteran big man Mason Plumlee as their backup five. Plumlee is not only an upgrade over the departed Drew Eubanks on both ends of the floor, but he excels as a vertical spacer on the offensive end with very real playmaking pop from the center position.

Speaking of playmaking, the biggest additions to this Suns roster came from the PG spot, with Monte Morris and Tyus Jones coming over on one year minimum deals (for the record, the minimum contracts speaks to the lack of relative money across the board for NBA teams than it does for these player’s performances last season). Tyus Jones had the better 2023-2024 season between the two floor generals, but both he and Morris provide heady playmaking, solid shooting, and capable defense for a team that needed all three attributes at various points of the season. Additionally, having one of Jones or Morris on the floor at basically all times allows Durant, Beal, and Booker to shine as the elite play finishers they all are, ultimately rendering them even more dangerous offensively.

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, the Phoenix Suns found a way to make meaningful upgrades along the margins despite limited resources, while maintaining a level of continuity, especially among their big three. However, one has to ask if it is another to consider themselves true championship contenders. The western conference as a whole got much stronger, Kevin Durant turns 36 at the end of September, and injuries always seem to be just around the corner for several members of their team. If health is indeed on their side, and coach Budenholzer can help juice up Phoenix’s offense while still playing solid defense, then there is a true chance for the Suns to advance deep into the playoffs. As to whether or not that all comes together…well, that, as they say, is why they play the games.