The Phoenix Suns were one of last season’s biggest disappointments in the NBA, as the star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal struggled to find their rhythm, leading to a sweep by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Durant and Booker, fresh off winning a gold medal with Team USA, bring renewed optimism to the Suns for the 2024-25 season. Durant was a standout performer in the tournament, while Booker played a crucial, though understated, role. This success gives Phoenix hope moving forward.
Beal, who played only 53 games last season and averaged a career-low 18.2 points per game since 2015-16, could provide a significant boost if he remains healthy and gets more time on the court with his co-stars.
General manager James Jones secured sharpshooter Grayson Allen on a long-term deal and made a savvy under-the-radar signing by bringing in point guard Tyus Jones, addressing the Suns’ need for a true floor general that was missing last year when Booker and Beal were forced to shoulder that responsibility.
The most impactful offseason change came with the coaching staff, as Jones replaced Frank Vogel with Mike Budenholzer, a highly respected offensive strategist with a championship pedigree from his time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Phoenix has made solid moves to improve from last season, but recent roster decisions suggest that more changes could be on the horizon.
The Suns released wing Nassir Little and forward EJ Liddell, freeing up a roster spot and some financial flexibility. Liddell, who played eight games for the New Orleans Pelicans as a rookie last year, would have been a depth piece for Phoenix, while Little, the 25th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has not lived up to expectations, averaging just 5.5 points and shooting 33.0 percent from three over his first five seasons.
The Phoenix Suns are waiving forwards Nassir Little and EJ Liddell, per sources. By releasing both, the Suns open up a roster spot and create flexibility for signings and trades during the season. Suns will stretch the three years and $22 million remaining on Little’s deal. pic.twitter.com/UTsuimA2yX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2024
With these moves, the Suns could be active in the trade market this season. Their 2024 NBA Draft picks, versatile big man Oso Ighodaro and defensive specialist Ryan Dunn are expected to have more prominent roles, bringing valuable skills to the rotation.
This roster flexibility gives the Suns the potential to add an impact player via trade or free agency, bolstering a six-man rotation featuring Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic. The first few months of the season will likely determine how Phoenix capitalizes on this flexibility, but they now have options to upgrade.
