Even after a surprisingly successful 2025-26 season, there are still some who believe it's past time for the Suns to go into full rebuild mode, trading Devin Booker and any other assets Phoenix has the opportunity to sell-high on.
The reality is, that's not an option, even if the Suns wished it were. They essentially forfeited that choice when they traded four first-round picks, a pick-swap, and two second-round picks for Kevin Durant, and then further buried themselves when they went and traded four pick-swaps and six second-round picks for Bradley Beal.
No control of draft assets for years to come
The fallout from those two trades has left the Suns with no control of their draft assets through the 2032 NBA Draft. Not only do they have just four first-round picks over the next seven drafts, but the first three of those picks are heavily swapped (meaning they are very likely to be late-round picks), and the 2032 pick is frozen (meaning it cannot be traded) due to tax apron penalties.
The main benefit of rebuilding is to provide the team with a great opportunity to attain young talent at the top of the draft, but with no control over their own draft picks, the Suns would receive no benefit from being one of the league's worst teams. Pair that with the upcoming anti-tanking measures soon to be implemented by the NBA, and that option becomes completely moot.
Devin Booker is aging and needs a co-star
Now, although the draft future is bleak, not all is lost in Phoenix. Having a true superstar and franchise cornerstone in Devin Booker means championship contention is never out of question, but he turns 30-years-old this year, so the time to compete for a championship is now.
Given what we saw in the playoffs, it's evident that Booker needs some more talent next to him for the Suns to reach that territory.
With no incentive to tank, it's in the Suns' best interest to find Booker the co-star he needs, and some solid buy-low options could hit the market this offseason, like Ja Morant and Zion Williamson, which align with both the Suns' lack of assets and minimal room for risk.
Any trade for a star, especially the ones in Phoenix's price range, is a risk, and it's understandable for the Suns to be hesitant given how the trades for Durant and Beal went, but it's a risk that ultimately needs to be taken.
Suns management signaling plans to the contrary
Although Suns management surely doesn't have any plans to start a rebuild, they have signaled plans for a quiet offseason. It seems their offseason approach won't be one focused on star-chasing, but one that prioritizes continuity, retaining their impending free agents and continuing to build on what they started this past season.
Maybe it's all a big bluff, as speaking highly of their current assets is to their benefit, but it sounds like it will essentially be the same team hitting the floor next season.
Hypothetically, there could be a new level this team can reach, especially if Jalen Green can develop into the player the Suns need, but realistically, the piece they are missing will likely come from outside the organization, if it ever does.
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