PHOENIX (AZFamily) — To say the Phoenix Suns were the most disappointing team in the NBA during the 2024-2025 season is stating the obvious. The Suns had expectations to go on a deep run into the postseason. With the most expensive roster in league history, they didn’t even make the playoffs or the play-in. And for many Suns fans, the last two seasons haven’t been fun to watch. It doesn’t look like the players were having fun or cared about what was happening on the court. And as the kids say, the vibes were just off.
The team had moments where they looked Top 5 in the West. They started the season 8-1, beating the Mavs twice, and won four straight games in March in what looked like a push to make the playoffs. But that was about it.
By the time the NBA Finals were underway, the Suns were already making moves. They didn’t fire James Jones like many, including myself, would have preferred, but he is no longer the general manager. That now belongs to Brian Gregory, who was the team’s vice president.
The team also got rid of head coach Mike Budenholzer on April 14, a day after the Suns’ season ended with a record of 36-46. He only spent one season in the Valley after signing a five-year, $50 million contract. This was also necessary since he couldn’t get a handle on player minutes and rotations, and the team did worse with more talent. The Suns have brought in Jordon Ott, a Michigan State alum and now former assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now the franchise has some tough decisions to make during the offseason regarding the team’s direction, especially after dealing Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Here are five things the team should do to get the squad back on track.
Say goodbye to Bradley Beal
This should be a top priority, even though it sounds impossible. Bradley Beal has what many would call an untradeable contract, with him being paid $53.7 million in the 2025-26 season and $57.1 million in the 2026-27 season. That’s a lot for a guy who averaged 17 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 3.7 apg. He also has a no-trade clause, so if a team like the lowly Charlotte Hornets offers the Suns a deal, he could say no. Beal has said he doesn’t want to uproot his family, but that was in the middle of the season, and he could be more open to a move in the offseason. The Suns would have to attach a first-round draft pick to make it worth it for a team to take the contract. It was reported that Beal was interested in being traded to the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets or LA Lakers (which will never happen), but maybe after thinking about it, he’ll be open to other teams. Another way is a buyout. As Bright Side of the Sun reported last month, it could work and give the Suns some cap space. Beal may be open to it, considering he turns 32 this year, and this year could be the last long-term contract he gets in the NBA. He also won’t get much playing time coming off the bench.
Find an identity
While there’s been a lot of talk about changing the “culture” and “alignment,” the Phoenix Suns need to find an identity. All during the 2024-25 season, the team didn’t know who they were, and sometimes it looked like they didn’t care. Did the offense revolve around Durant or Booker? Was Beal playing better coming off the bench? What was Ryan Dunn’s role? Were the veterans allowed to be vocal in the locker room? In the mid-2000s, the run-and-gun Suns were known for their “7 seconds or less” offense. During their run to the 2021 NBA finals, the team was known for its fun, energetic atmosphere on and off the court, but still worked hard. Around the league, the Boston Celtics chuck 3s at a record pace. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a young, swarming defense. The Indiana Pacers have an uptempo offense with shooters all over the place. With the hiring of Jordan Ott, I think the Suns will go with a defense-oriented scheme, but they need to lean into that with their mentality and players.
Get an energetic leader
While the NBA doesn’t have a specific enforcer position, Phoenix needs someone like that in the locker room. Right now, Dillon Brooks, who the Suns got from the Houston Rockets in the KD trade, is that guy for Phoenix. He is an antagonist who annoys you when he’s not on your team. There’s already a video circulating online of Brooks walking in front of a camera during a Booker interview. Now that he’s on the Suns, fans should embrace that tenacity, and so should the locker room. He’ll stand up for his teammates when they’re disrespected. Brooks also brings energy and toughness that the 2024-2025 Suns sorely lacked. If the front office decides to trade him, they’ll need another guy to fill that role. The team could also bring back Chris Paul. He had that fire and focus on perfection that this team needs, especially with the Suns having draft picks again.
Give Ott time to work
The Suns are entering the 2025-2026 season with their fourth coach in as many years. The franchise ditched Monty Williams after not making it to the Western Conference finals in 2023, fired Frank Vogel after being swept in the first round in 2024, and got rid of Mike Budenholzer in 2025 when the team didn’t make the playoffs or even the play-in. Arguments could be made that those men deserved to be fired after those disappointing seasons. However, Vogel and Budenholzer could never really get their system going. Ott, who was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, reportedly has pretty good offense and defensive strategies and a knack for player development. Let him do his work for at least three years (on a four-year contract) and then reevaluate him.
Keeping making moves
This seems obvious since with the Durant trade, there’s no way the team is having Booker, Jalen Green, Beal, Allen, and Brooks all starting with Nick Richards playing center. But it also comes to the draft as well. If Khaman Maluach from Duke isn’t there at No. 10, trade down and look at Derik Queen from Maryland or Michigan’s Danny Wolf as someone who can play the 4 position. While maybe there’s not a market to trade Green right now, maybe someone will buy in on Allen or Royce O’Neal. I have a hard time believing the Suns didn’t make the Durant trade without other trades in mind or possibly teed up. The Suns said they weren’t trading Green, but that could just be so his value goes up.
If the Suns do these things and make the right moves, the team will be fun to watch again and back in the playoff hunt in a couple of years.
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