The Phoenix Suns crashed and burned in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves needed just four games and a broom to end Mat Ishbia’s newly bought franchise. Despite a top-heavy roster that featured Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker, the Suns fell off the cliff quickly in the playoffs.
That leaves the Suns with a long offseason in which they might have some tough decisions to make.
All that being said, Ishbia still believes that most other teams in the league would rather be in Phoenix’s situation concerning future outlook than stick to the status quo.
Mat Ishbia Still Believes in the Phoenix Suns
During the Suns exit interviews on Wednesday, Ishbia said that he thinks that a great majority of general managers in the league would love to switch places with Phoenix “as is.”
Via Kellan Olson of Empire Of The Suns:
“It’s extremely fixable. Let’s just be real. Although this isn’t a cool narrative and the national media really won’t want to play it out there but ask the other 29 other GMs, 26 of them would trade their whole team for our whole team and our draft picks and everything as is. The house is not on fire. We’re in a great position. it’s not hard to fix. It’s not like we’re like, ‘Hey guys, we don’t have enough talent to win a championship.’ We have enough talent to win a championship.
On paper, the Suns should still be a formidable team next season, assuming they still have the core trio of Booker, Beal, and Durant. But given the ton of assets they had to give up in order to acquire Durant and Beal, the Suns are not left much to look forward to in the coming years. That’s not a healthy sign for franchise continuity. However, the Suns can opt to trade Beal or Durant. Finding suitors for either player would likely vary in terms of interest. Beal has an onerous contract plus the Suns would need him to waive his no-trade clause for them to move him. Durant, meanwhile, is easier to trade, largely because he’s still productive.
In any case, it is going to be an interesting offseason for the Suns.
For More NBA And College Basketball Content:
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) at @Rexwell14. Also, do not forget to follow us @HardwoodHeroics for even more great basketball content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in the NBA, college basketball, and the WNBA, especially with the 2024 NBA Playoffs now here and NCAA hoops offseason in full swing, click here!
