The Phoenix Suns season came to an end on Sunday night thanks to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not only did they lose in the first round, they were swept by a team they were undefeated against in the regular season. Phoenix has not only fallen well short of their championship hopes but their abysmal loss may also signal the end of an era in the NBA. For decades now in the NBA having a big three or super team was a common method for great players and organizations to build championship teams. From the Boston Celtics in 2008, the Miami Heat (aka the "Heatles") in 2010-14 or the Golden State Warriors in 2016-19, building a team around three great players who could coexist was an effective winning strategy. However, the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns big three and the roster adjustments it took to build it may hamper their opportunity to improve the roster next season. The Suns now are at a point where tough decisions need to be made from a financial and basketball standpoint as their near future appears murky at best.
It's no secret the Phoenix Suns roster was flawed when originally formed last season, though their star power gave them high expectations. Regarding the big three itself, the Suns were never able to maximize the success of their three All-Star players in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Injuries to Beal kept the Suns from having their big three together to form cohesion for the first half of the season. They still managed to end the season with a solid record of 49-33 to finish with the sixth seed in the West while also having a top ten scoring offense. Despite having three talented offensive players, their lack of cohesion was most apparent in the fourth quarter. Phoenix was by far the worst team in the fourth quarter as they were outscored by 195 points. Roster construction played a role in this issue as the lack of a true point guard was a talking point throughout the season. In the end, the decision to not add a point guard who could properly manage the offense should be considered a clear mistake by the front office. Phoenix ended up getting exposed by the Timberwolves as their stifling defense shined more light on how ineffective the Suns were as a team. The Suns were the worst defensive team in the playoffs and had no answer for Anthony Edwards who dropped 40 points in the close out game in Phoenix. Their bitter defeat was not only very disappointing but also puts the franchise in a difficult reality as the Suns are basically locked into a roster that simply is not good enough to contend.
What the Suns can do with their roster will be the story of the offseason for the Suns as their three stars are due over 150 million dollars combined next season. The new collective bargaining agreement that went into effect last offseason was designed specifically to work against high spending teams when it comes to roster building. A major restriction brought forth by the new CBA is the rules on the mid level exception and how money is managed in trades. The rules now prevent certain players from being available at a discount relative to their talent which super teams of the past once used to their advantage. Arguably the most restrictive aspect of the new CBA for teams like the Suns is the second tax apron which causes teams to make difficult choices financially. The second tax apron basically works as a hard cap for teams with payrolls $17.5 million dollars above the luxury tax threshold to make transactions. An example of the effect was already seen from the Miami Heat who were fresh off a Finals appearance last season. Miami lost several key players, such as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent , who were integral pieces from their Finals run of last season due to being at risk of going over the luxury tax threshold. Phoenix could potentially be in a similar situation unless they are to trade one of their three stars or make some minimum salary deals. Regardless, they will likely have little room to move the needle roster wise due to lack of financial flexibility.
The landscape of the NBA is changing as the formula for how a successful or championship caliber team is formed is considerably different from just a few years. Unlike previous years, young teams are a dominant force in the NBA. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks and Timberwolves appear to be set up for years to come as drafting homegrown stars was a key part of the roster construction and established culture. The Suns decision to move several key pieces to make a trio of stars and expect to contend has become an outdated method due to the new CBA and how good teams have been drafting. The defending champion Nuggets are a great example of how modern championship teams in the NBA are constructed as their best players in Jokic, Murray, and Porter were all drafted. They also added solid complimentary vets to fill out the roster in Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while still filling out the roster with young talent. When the Suns leveraged their future to set up their big three it put Phoenix in a very difficult situation that is more likely to get worse before it gets better.
Source: NBA YouTube Channel
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