Drastic changes are inevitable for the Phoenix Suns following yet another disappointing playoff exit. The only questions are a) how many changes will be made and b) who will be part of the shake-up in The Desert.
The Suns will most certainly retain Devin Booker and mid-season trade pickup in perennial All-Star Kevin Durant. The futures of 2018 first overall pick Deandre Ayton and star point guard Chris Paul, however, have been in question since the Suns were eliminated in round two by the Denver Nuggets.
Speaking on the “Hoops Collective” podcast (h/t Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report), ESPN’s Tim MacMahon stated he’s “pretty sure” that the 24-year-old Ayton “will be traded this summer.
Regarding Paul, McMahon reported it’s “more likely” that Paul will stay with the Suns. The future Hall of Famer is under contract through the 2024-25 season, though none of the money for the final year on his deal his guaranteed.
The Suns reached the NBA Finals two years ago, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Milwaukee Bucks. But Phoenix lost each of the next four games, falling short of the franchise’s first championship.
Phoenix rebounded by posting the best record in the regular season in 2021-22, but they suffered a humiliating 123-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
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Following a second consecutive elimination in round two, the Suns fired head coach Monty Williams. Frank Vogel, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA Championship in 2020, was named the Suns’ new head coach.
