During a big offseason in which they extended star center Deandre Ayton and are tied to Kevin Durant in trade rumors, the Phoenix Suns rank high in the Western Conference
In an August 8 ranking prepared by NBA.com writer John Schuhmann, the Phoenix Suns were ranked 2nd in the Western Conference behind the reigning champs, the Golden State Warriors.
Schuhmann had no lack of praise for the Suns calling the 21-22 version “the best team in the league by a wide margin.”
That team is returning for 22-23 largely intact as of early August. Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton will continue to headline the group, and the key core of contributors in Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Cam Payne, and possibly Jae Crowder, are likely to remain as well.
The Suns are in a position where they are not forced to play a young lineup. Their veteran lineup took 96% of the available minutes last season and that group is still built to “win now.”
After a historic 64-win season in 21-22, the Suns might be set up to be even better this upcoming campaign. If there is any truth to the continued rumors of a Kevin Durant trade it might make what is already a stellar starting lineup into inarguably the best in the league.
Imagine it. Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant. Now that is a super team.
The team here at AZSPORTS Underground is going to go around the table and give their quick reactions to the Suns’ spot in this latest Power Ranking.
Joe Comeau –
Number two seems fair and appropriate for a team that had the best record in the regular season, but experienced an epic collapse in a game that I’m trying to forget exists. The reigning champions deserve to be ranked ahead of the Suns, and I credit Schuhmann for not overreacting to the way the Suns season ended. It would have been trendy to put someone like the ascending Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the Suns – a team that, in my opinion, has a similar ascending-contender vibe as the “Bubble Suns” had a few years ago.
If the Suns don’t end up pulling off a Durant trade, some might argue that they haven’t improved from last season – and have maybe even regressed, with the loss of backup center JaVale McGee. But that would be flawed thinking. When you have, arguably the most complete team in the NBA, you don’t need to improve your roster. You need to continue developing your young players, like Deandre Ayton and Cam Johnson, and replace any role-players you may have lost. Is Jock Landale a downgrade from McGee? Sure. But are the 2022-2023 versions of Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson one-year more experienced? Absolutely.
It’s the same core that led the NBA in wins for the past two seasons, with more experience. I’ll take those chances any day.
Andrew Heidemann – If the Phoenix Suns are to continue their NBA dominance then they must prove they can go all the way. If Kevin Durant goes to the Suns, he could be the clutch factor the Suns need to go from number two to number one. The Suns are good but they need to clutch up when it matters most in order for them to be the best team in the NBA.
Scott Allen –Being number 2 currently is more than fair. Golden State deserves the top spot. The Phoenix Suns honestly would be fine with what they have now, they don’t necessarily need Kevin Durant. It may end up being a good thing they don’t get him. If they do, we’ll have to see who they part with. The Suns should compete with the current roster for a championship in 22-23.
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