Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Phoenix Suns

[MrGoat]

The first question is obviously what do they do with Ayton, it's not sounding like his relationship with the team is going great right now. Do they pay him, or maybe try to get something back in a S & T, or sign him but hunt for a trade. You don't want to lose him for nothing. CP3s age and contract hamstring what they can do a bit but they do have assets. A game like they played in that game 7 leaves a stink so some sort of reshuffle is probably needed. I wouldn't fire Monty though.

[hauntedkiwi]

CP3 averaging 10 points and five assists next year will lead to a 34 win season. He's finished, realistically.

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

[hauntedkiwi]

The first question is obviously what do they do with Ayton, it's not sounding like his relationship with the team is going great right now. Do they pay him, or maybe try to get something back in a S & T. You don't want to lose him for nothing. A game like they played in that game 7 leaves a stink so some sort of reshuffle is probably needed. I wouldn't fire Monty though.

The whole team needs to be blown up, and he just proved he's closer to a bust than a franchise player. Anything we get back is going to be garbage except for the draft compensation unless we try to target a Wiggins type player.

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

[Doctor MJ]

Man, a brutal loss that just makes it seem like the team isn't really a contender come playoff time.

I'm not sure what I'd do now. I said a year ago the Suns were making a mistake treating Paul as if he was a key part of their core going forward, but there's no point in trading him unless you get just the right stuff back, and I'm not sure what would be realistic.

People are talking about them trading Ayton now, and frankly it makes sense given the fact I'd think he might really want to leave...but again, not sure what I'd be going for.

In the end, this is a situation where the team can expect to be a very solid club for the foreseeable future if they can just keep a positive attitude. I'd be looking closely at this were I the franchise.

[FeatheryTouch]

Bad loss for the Suns, but Phoenix will be unlikely to completely blow this thing up. They were in the finals last year and had the best record in the league this year, after years of sucking.

That said, they've got a big issue - current Booker is clearly not a championship-caliber #1 option, and old Chris Paul certainly isn't one either.

Reading the tea leaves with the Ayton drama, he's gone. I'd package him in a sign and trade for a veteran scorer. Maybe he(with picks/ other players) could fetch a Siakam type borderline all-star(best case)? Knicks would love to trade for him, how would Julius Randle and Obi Toppin look in a Suns uniform(worst case)?

As much as he's helped elevate the Sun's trajectory, if some team surprises them with a decent offer for Paul they've got to consider it. Age is undefeated.

[LewisnotMiller]

I'd sign and trade Ayton. Its hard to win with a centrepiece centre, and he's very good...but not great.

Keep Bridges and Booker on the wing. Keep CP3 (there's not much choice) and try to pick up a combo who can play point minutes to reduce Paul's load through the season pretty drastically. Doesn't have to be a gun. I would have said 'someone like George Hill' if I hadn't just seen him look terrible against the C's. Anyway...conceptually he lets you reduce Paul's RS minutes. You're still basically ride or die with CP3 in the playoffs.
Hopefully you'd get a couple of useful big men back for Ayton. Not stars, but maybe a solid vet and someone with upside?

I dunno...it's not the easiest spot to be in, really. The two Cams stepping up next year would really help.

[lautreamont]

Chris Paul was awful to close the series and it's going to be downhill from here. Suns championship window is closed if they return the same roster.

[Synciere]

Bad loss for the Suns, but Phoenix will be unlikely to completely blow this thing up. They were in the finals last year and had the best record in the league this year, after years of sucking.

That said, they've got a big issue - current Booker is clearly not a championship-caliber #1 option, and old Chris Paul certainly isn't one either.

Reading the tea leaves with the Ayton drama, he's gone. I'd package him in a sign and trade for a veteran scorer. Maybe he(with picks/ other players) could fetch a Siakam type borderline all-star(best case)? Knicks would love to trade for him, how would Julius Randle and Obi Toppin look in a Suns uniform(worst case)?

As much as he's helped elevate the Sun's trajectory, if some team surprises them with a decent offer for Paul they've got to consider it. Age is undefeated.

Julius Randle and a S-n-T Mitchell Robinson would be the Knicks offer I think. Better fit for both sides. But Phoenix could probably do better. Ayton is young and a game hanger on both ends.

[spanishninja]

I'd hate to be a suns fan lol

what's the worst that can happen? we already have experience as fans on 19-win teams.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

19 win teams are honestly easier to stomach than teams who you expect to win it all and they choke.

well, we have experience in that too.

[ruffian253]

Not a big Suns fan, but the Suns will be fine and will still be a high level treadmill team irregardless what they do with DA, but, they will have to figure out a succession plan now for CP3 which is mkre critical as an older Payne isn't that guy. If anything, I think James has proven over these last two years that he, and Sarver, are willing and going to make moves to make this team better.

[spanishninja]

Bad loss for the Suns, but Phoenix will be unlikely to completely blow this thing up. They were in the finals last year and had the best record in the league this year, after years of sucking.

That said, they've got a big issue - current Booker is clearly not a championship-caliber #1 option, and old Chris Paul certainly isn't one either.

Reading the tea leaves with the Ayton drama, he's gone. I'd package him in a sign and trade for a veteran scorer. Maybe he(with picks/ other players) could fetch a Siakam type borderline all-star(best case)? Knicks would love to trade for him, how would Julius Randle and Obi Toppin look in a Suns uniform(worst case)?

As much as he's helped elevate the Sun's trajectory, if some team surprises them with a decent offer for Paul they've got to consider it. Age is undefeated.

If anybody takes Paul's contract, it would likely be at the trade deadline as a dump.

[spanishninja]

i think phx is a high level treadmill team.

i have doubts about this team post-cp3.
cp3 has been stamped and verified - he tires out at the end of the season. this was his very best year for a ring.
when cp3 goes, and age hits FAST, that is half of phx's top clutch duo.
when cp3 goes, so goes ayton. ayton get's spoon fed. no cp3, no ayton.

when cp3 goes, phx drops back to just a little better than what they were pre-cp3

FO has work to do to be proactive. i don't think ayton is a max player(FO doesn't think so either), but HE might think he is.
on the bright side for phx, gsw is standing at cliff'sedge. lebron and the lakers are done. clips are done. utah is done. the west is turning into what the east was

Yeah if CP was talking retirement or had fallen off a cliff, I’d agree. But he’s not and has not, and high level treadmill teams are the ones that randomly win championships, like the 2004 Pistons, 2011 Mavs, and last year’s Bucks. Again, you gotta take the chances when you get them. Once CP leaves though, this could go bad quickly.

cp3 came to the edge of a new cliff,,,,,a few days ago when he turned 37, and dallas may have shown the league how to play chris

he started sucking within hours of turning 37. I can't explain it other than a Cinderella type scenario where his powers expired right at midnight May 6.

[Coach Carter]

Small window, now closed.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

I would say, "blow it up," but Dallas already took care of it.

[TeamTragic]

Not a big Suns fan, but the Suns will be fine and will still be a high level treadmill team irregardless what they do with DA, but, they will have to figure out a succession plan now for CP3 which is mkre critical as an older Payne isn't that guy. If anything, I think James has proven over these last two years that he, and Sarver, are willing and going to make moves to make this team better.

I don't know if you are aware but JJ has not made this team a better playoff contender.

If anything he put all his eggs in the Payne basket and we can all agree that he probably should have pursued more help for CP3.

No one said it would be easy but I view the current year SUNS as last years Jazz. Interesting that this year the Jazz regressed.

Pretty much the same situation now with DA/Monty and the Jazz with Mitchell/Gobert.

Even more interesting the Mavericks beat the Jazz in the first and the SUNS a.k.a Jazz 2.0 in the second round.

This is not a coincidence. When you play two teams back to back with pretty much the same DNA.

[spanishninja]

Small window, now closed.

and if that's all for us, I can't say I haven't loved 95% of everything since the bubble. being in the finals isn't anything to scoff at, especially for a first playoff run. If we can stay at the 4-6 seed in the coming years and show real development by whichever players stick around, it will still be a decent product to watch. I hope we keep Bridges, Cam Johnson and Booker though. I know Book flamed out royally this playoffs but he is still beloved in Phoenix.

[pj0tr]

Small window, now closed.

and if that's all for us, I can't say I haven't loved 95% of everything since the bubble. being in the finals isn't anything to scoff at, especially for a first playoff run. If we can stay at the 4-6 seed in the coming years and show real development by whichever players stick around, it will still be a decent product to watch. I hope we keep Bridges, Cam Johnson and Booker though. I know Book flamed out royally this playoffs but he is still beloved in Phoenix.

This team will be lucky to be a 6-7 seed next year.

Dallas, Golden State, LA Clippers, Memphis, Denver are all clearly better.

Then you have a healthy Lakers with LeBron + AD, healthy Minnesota, healthy Pelicans with Zion.

Lol - Phoenix will be lucky to make it out of the first round next year, if they even get in the playoffs.

[Hoopstar23]

Watch on YouTube

[Ill News]

I think the Suns' window as legit contenders just closed. CP3's not getting younger, the Ayton contract situation looks troubling, and the league is gonna be way better next year with the Nets, Clippers, Lakers rising from the ashes, and new contenders like the Celtics, Grizzlies, Mavs, and Nuggets popping up.

I really feel for Suns fans, but this 2-year window was it. You were a really good team that probably benefited from injuries to other contenders last season, and the title race is wiiiiide open this year. To lose in such humiliating fashion, especially as the favorites heading into the playoffs, has got to hurt.

[_NoMas]

I mentioned this a few months ago, but the reason I didn’t have the Suns winning it all was the lack of a true megastar to takeover in the playoffs (Booker is not at the Giannis, Jokic, Luka level). You saw the value of having one of those megastars in this series…