Suns 2024-2025 Season Discussions

[Phrazbit]

Not sure if this has been posted:

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It's all well and good to talk about but I don't think they can apply it because Durant wants to play his way. At the very start of the season Durant was buying into the offense, he was playing off the ball, moving around and doing some catch and shoot, but it didn't last.

Durant wants to ISO, he gets annoyed when his iso heavy load is even questioned, saying he is a "hooper", I don't think he will ever get away from his style of play.

 

[Phrazbit]

Plumlee would have been fine as a third center, which should have been his role.

He has taken a lot of flack for being cast otherwise.

I actually think we underuitilized Plumlee.

He makes a couple "What the hell are you doing?!" plays almost every game, but he we generally played far better with him out there than with Richards. Him getting buried the last quarter of the season didn't make sense to me. I know he got hurt and missed a week, but they'd basically dumped him from the rotation already.

A stat to make heads explode... Plumlee and Morris had the top on/off splits of anyone on the roster this year. Beal and Richards had the worst, by quite a large margin.

 

[Mainstreet]

I actually think we underuitilized Plumlee.

He makes a couple "What the hell are you doing?!" plays almost every game, but he we generally played far better with him out there than with Richards. Him getting buried the last quarter of the season didn't make sense to me. I know he got hurt and missed a week, but they'd basically dumped him from the rotation already.

A stat to make heads explode... Plumlee and Morris had the top on/off splits of anyone on the roster this year. Beal and Richards had the worst, by quite a large margin.

The Suns have been a hodgepodge this season. It's hard to figure when nothing works. It's been like throwing mud at the wall and hoping something sticks.

I put the blame at the feet of ownership and the GM, but it's hard to envision the Suns playing worse for a different head coach.

 

[Covert Rain]

Suns need to send Booker to the rockets to get their picks back and then build a tank around Beal.

They should only trade KD if there is a team dumb enough to trade something useful for him otherwise he can help with the tank fest.

That's an interesting strategy.

 

[Proximo]

This is a pretty good analysis.

Yeah, this has been obvious for a long time now. The fact nothing has really been done about it is reason enough for Bud to be fired in my book.

 

[Proximo]

It's all well and good to talk about but I don't think they can apply it because Durant wants to play his way. At the very start of the season Durant was buying into the offense, he was playing off the ball, moving around and doing some catch and shoot, but it didn't last.

Durant wants to ISO, he gets annoyed when his iso heavy load is even questioned, saying he is a "hooper", I don't think he will ever get away from his style of play.

This is probably also true, which is why I am more than fine trading him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gambo doubled down on Bradley Beal will not be back and he doesn't see him being traded.

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[Hoop Head]

I really hope we don't waive and stretch him. A buyout isn't great but take the pain for 2 seasons vs 5.

 

[Hoop Head]

Booker made it clear. The Suns skipped building a winning culture. We had one, with Monty and the Twins. I know he's addressing this season but the point still stands. The Suns tried overhauling what was successful to achieve more and it backfired spectacularly.

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[Hoop Head]

Windhorst addresses the KD trade talks this summer.

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[Mainstreet]

Windhorst addresses the KD trade talks this summer.

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And that beautiful team and system is no more.

 

[Covert Rain]

Gambo doubled down on Bradley Beal will not be back and he doesn't see him being traded.

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Nope sounds like it's going to be that stretch option unless someone comes knocking for Beal. However, he said the other day if they ask for picks it won't happen. Looks like we are going to keep Book and go back to the same old same old until he retires.

My only hope trying to build around Book again is that every single time I think the Suns can't do anything they do. Maybe they can pull of another trade somehow for another great player to play with Book. I won't hold my breath. I think we are going to ride a bunch of mediocre years as Book as our #1 until he rides off into the sunset still with out a Suns title.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nope sounds like it's going to be that stretch option unless someone comes knocking for Beal. However, he said the other day if they ask for picks it won't happen. Looks like we are going to keep Book and go back to the same old same old until he retires.

My only hope trying to build around Book again is that every single time I think the Suns can't do anything they do. Maybe they can pull of another trade somehow for another great player to play with Book. I won't hold my breath. I think we are going to ride a bunch of mediocre years as Book as our #1 until he rides off into the sunset still with out a Suns title.

I don't know if or why Beal would do it, but the part in bold would be the best case scenario aside from a trade.

By Tyler Drake, Arizona Sports, April 7, 2025:

“Basically, he’s got two years left. You can waive him, but you can’t waive and stretch him right now without him agreeing to a buyout because how the cap rules are, the stretch money can’t exceed 15% of the salary cap,” Marks told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Monday. “His stretch money is like $22 million-$23 million and that’s more. … Would he take $25 million off what’s owed to him? That would allow him to get the $14 million nontax midlevel if it’s available to him.

“You would basically reduce his $54 million cap hit to $17 million for the next two years. Yes, you would take on some dead money in Years 3 and 4 and 5 but it gets you to an avenue to use your exceptions. You’re no longer in the apron anymore. You can aggregate contracts. … Certainly (Durant’s future) is a big one, but I think figuring out what you do with Beal, because that basically sets the tone as far as free agency and the draft and what you can do in trades.”

How could Suns move on from Bradley Beal?

While many see a Kevin Durant trade as the biggest move the Suns could make this offseason, ESPN's Bobby Marks thinks otherwise.

arizonasports.com

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't know if or why Beal would do it, but the part in bold would be the best case scenario aside from a trade.

By Tyler Drake, Arizona Sports, April 7, 2025:

“Basically, he’s got two years left. You can waive him, but you can’t waive and stretch him right now without him agreeing to a buyout because how the cap rules are, the stretch money can’t exceed 15% of the salary cap,” Marks told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Monday. “His stretch money is like $22 million-$23 million and that’s more. … Would he take $25 million off what’s owed to him? That would allow him to get the $14 million nontax midlevel if it’s available to him.

“You would basically reduce his $54 million cap hit to $17 million for the next two years. Yes, you would take on some dead money in Years 3 and 4 and 5 but it gets you to an avenue to use your exceptions. You’re no longer in the apron anymore. You can aggregate contracts. … Certainly (Durant’s future) is a big one, but I think figuring out what you do with Beal, because that basically sets the tone as far as free agency and the draft and what you can do in trades.”

How could Suns move on from Bradley Beal?

While many see a Kevin Durant trade as the biggest move the Suns could make this offseason, ESPN's Bobby Marks thinks otherwise.

arizonasports.com

I think the Suns will tell Beal he will not be a big part of the team's plans. Plus, if your Beal the constant barrage of speculation about giving up his NTC up to the next years deadline then again in the off season all while knowing the team doesn't want you? I think that would wear down anybody.

Plus Beal did say the possibility of moving is different in the off season in an interview not that long ago. Sounds like he was more willing to listen in the off season. I just don't see how they can move him in a trade without invovling multiple teams and giving up something.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the Suns will tell Beal he will not be a big part of the team's plans. Plus, if your Beal the constant barrage of speculation about giving up his NTC up to the next years deadline then again in the off season all while knowing the team doesn't want you? I think that would wear down anybody.

Plus Beal did say the possibility of moving is different in the off season in an interview not that long ago. Sounds like he was more willing to listen in the off season. I just don't see how they can move him in a trade without invovling multiple teams and giving up something.

I'd be shocked if the Suns and Beal's agent hasn't already had discussions about it, not that he would agree to it.

 

[BirdGangThing]

ooooooooooooooooooooooof

After the Washington Wizards’ own punishing lack of patience for a rebuild left them in a situation where they would have to rebuild anyway, just without the assets, Phoenix rescued the Wizards by not only taking on Beal’s unwanted contract but also sending back four pick swaps and five second-rounders. Washington would have likely done the deal for a much lower price just to be rid of Beal’s boat-anchor of a contract (“free” comes to mind), but the Suns were so impatient they couldn’t even negotiate; they just gave the Wizards everything they had.

The cherry on top of this sundae? The 39-year-old Paul — the guy Phoenix wanted to get rid of in the Beal trade and used as the matching salary — now makes one-fifth as much and is still a better player

Suns are NBA cautionary tale, and Devin Booker trade is the only card left to play

No team in the last four decades has faced a situation anywhere close to this hopeless.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Raindog]

ooooooooooooooooooooooof

After the Washington Wizards’ own punishing lack of patience for a rebuild left them in a situation where they would have to rebuild anyway, just without the assets, Phoenix rescued the Wizards by not only taking on Beal’s unwanted contract but also sending back four pick swaps and five second-rounders. Washington would have likely done the deal for a much lower price just to be rid of Beal’s boat-anchor of a contract (“free” comes to mind), but the Suns were so impatient they couldn’t even negotiate; they just gave the Wizards everything they had.

The cherry on top of this sundae? The 39-year-old Paul — the guy Phoenix wanted to get rid of in the Beal trade and used as the matching salary — now makes one-fifth as much and is still a better player

Suns are NBA cautionary tale, and Devin Booker trade is the only card left to play

No team in the last four decades has faced a situation anywhere close to this hopeless.

www.nytimes.com

People can gripe about Ishbia's foolishness on the Durant trade all they want, and he certainly deserves it. But this bomb was all on James Jones.

 

[Mainstreet]

ooooooooooooooooooooooof

After the Washington Wizards’ own punishing lack of patience for a rebuild left them in a situation where they would have to rebuild anyway, just without the assets, Phoenix rescued the Wizards by not only taking on Beal’s unwanted contract but also sending back four pick swaps and five second-rounders. Washington would have likely done the deal for a much lower price just to be rid of Beal’s boat-anchor of a contract (“free” comes to mind), but the Suns were so impatient they couldn’t even negotiate; they just gave the Wizards everything they had.

The cherry on top of this sundae? The 39-year-old Paul — the guy Phoenix wanted to get rid of in the Beal trade and used as the matching salary — now makes one-fifth as much and is still a better player

Suns are NBA cautionary tale, and Devin Booker trade is the only card left to play

No team in the last four decades has faced a situation anywhere close to this hopeless.

www.nytimes.com

It's clear after the Durant, Beal and Ayton trades, the Suns didn't value assets properly. As I recall, James Jones tended to view draft picks as skeletons. Has he changed his mind or is someone else making the choices?

Suns GM James Jones Admits He 'Probably' Would Have Passed on Devin Booker

Phoenix Suns GM James Jones recently did an interview with ESPN about Phoenix's approach to the NBA Draft, and made an interesting comment on Devin Booker.

www.si.com

 

[BirdGangThing]

People can gripe about Ishbia's foolishness on the Durant trade all they want, and he certainly deserves it. But this bomb was all on James Jones.

im to the point of not caring who came up with any of the trades anymore - the fact that neither stopped any of the trades from taking place means their are no adults in the room

but in the end jj is the only one that can be replaced

so... will ish look for someone to tell ish to shut up and butt out - or does ish feel he has to be in on the decision making to get us out of his mess?

because im guessing it's the latter - because the only thing we do know is ish definitely okay'd all those trades - we can't say the same for jj because we don't know - he could've been overruled - and he'd be smart to keep his mouth shut about it if he ever wants another owner to hire him

 

[Vacard]

LMAO

 

[Mainstreet]

Ryan Dunn talks about where the nickname the "Gauchos" came from.

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[Mainstreet]

It sounds like Collin Gillespie's future in Phoenix is up in the air. He doesn't know, but he would love to be here.

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[Chaplin]

ooooooooooooooooooooooof

After the Washington Wizards’ own punishing lack of patience for a rebuild left them in a situation where they would have to rebuild anyway, just without the assets, Phoenix rescued the Wizards by not only taking on Beal’s unwanted contract but also sending back four pick swaps and five second-rounders. Washington would have likely done the deal for a much lower price just to be rid of Beal’s boat-anchor of a contract (“free” comes to mind), but the Suns were so impatient they couldn’t even negotiate; they just gave the Wizards everything they had.

The cherry on top of this sundae? The 39-year-old Paul — the guy Phoenix wanted to get rid of in the Beal trade and used as the matching salary — now makes one-fifth as much and is still a better player

Suns are NBA cautionary tale, and Devin Booker trade is the only card left to play

No team in the last four decades has faced a situation anywhere close to this hopeless.

www.nytimes.com

You had me until they said Chris Paul is a better player than Beal. That is simply not true, in any universe.

 

[Hoop Head]

You had me until they said Chris Paul is a better player than Beal. That is simply not true, in any universe.

But he is. He averages more rebounds, assists, and has higher box plus minus and VORP.

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Chris Paul (2025-2025) vs. Bradley Beal (2025-2025): Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead.com

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Chris Paul (2025-2025) and Bradley Beal (2025-2025) including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead.com

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[elindholm]

You had me until they said Chris Paul is a better player than Beal. That is simply not true, in any universe.

I guess it depends on how far into the future you're looking, but if the "universe" is the 2024-25 season, Paul has been quite a bit better than Beal.

Among other things, the number of games Paul has missed so far this season is ... zero. That's pretty darned impressive.