Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Phoenix Suns

[ElectricMayhem]

A season of dominance, a postseason of potential snuffed out in a Game 7 thrashing. We shall now cut them open and see what's inside...

Here is the data from last year's Post-Mortems:
Post-Mortem Results I: GM Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results II: Coaching Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results III: Performance Compared to Expectations
Post-Mortem Results IV: Rising/Treadmill/Waning

Team Name: Phoenix Suns
[Record at Time of Death: 64-18 (.780)
GM: James Jones (2018-)
Coach: Monty Williams (2019-)

Offensive Rating: 5th
Defensive Rating: 3rd
Rebound %: 13th
Turnover %: 4th

GM: Change or keep?
Coach: Change or keep?
Relative to expectations, how did they fare this year?
Rising, falling, or treadmill?
If you were in charge, what would you do this offseason?

Notes:
Players under contract next year:
Devin Booker ($34m)
Chris Paul ($28m)
Mikal Bridges ($20m)
Jae Crowder ($10m)
Dario Saric ($10m)
Landry Shamet ($10m)
Cam Payne ($6m)
Cam Johnson ($6m)
Torrey Craig ($5m)

Team Options:

Player Options:

Free Agents:
Deandre Ayton
JaVale McGee
Aaron Holiday
Elfrid Payton
Bismack Biyombo
Ish Wainright
Gabriel Lundberg

Dead Money:

Previous Post-Mortems:
30. Orlando Magic
29. Detroit Pistons
28. Houston Rockets
27. Indiana Pacers
26. Oklahoma City Thunder
25. Washington Wizards
24. New York Knicks
23. Portland Trailblazers
22. Sacramento Kings
21. Los Angeles Lakers
20. Charlotte Hornets
19. San Antonio Spurs
18. Cleveland Cavaliers
17. Los Angeles Clippers
16. Brooklyn Nets
15. Atlanta Hawks
14. Chicago Bulls
13. Denver Nuggets
12. Toronto Raptors
11. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Utah Jazz
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Phoenix Suns

[TheRaptor!]

They didn’t just lose a game

They lost their right to talk ish for the next 10 years.

Read on Twitter

[srhcan]

Need a big wing who is good both offensively and defensively. Trade Ayton for OG

[FuriousRiles]

This should be a post-murder not a post-mortem

[schnakenpopanz]

tough decision to make on ayton. this is a loose - losse situation

[Rapaz]

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

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Chris Paul has lost the most 2-0 leads in NBA history.

he's the doc rivers of players lol

[sunsbum]

2 rounds of Reggie Miller calling Suns games has me ready for the off-season TBH.

[Memories]

This is the kind of loss where the franchise needs to blow everything up to rid away that stink. Or else they will end up as a treadmill for the next several years.

You don’t come back from this loss by running it back. That’s a franchise killing loss if I’ve ever seen one.

[hugepatsfan]

Keep Ayton. Get ownership to commit to one year in the tax. You make one all-in run with Cp3 and then re-evaluate if you should buy him out after next season when his contract is only half guaranteed. Or maybe make a second run at it. But you have to make one more all-in push.

[ElectricMayhem]

The Suns have some big questions after a loss like this.

They supposedly have a 3-year window with Chris Paul, but he seemingly aged before our very eyes this series. Can he be counted on for a whole season any season from here on out? Assuming you have to try to win with him, what do you do? Do you pay Ayton when you already have so much money locked in to Paul, Booker, and Bridges? If you let him walk, how do you replace his production during this 3-year window? Do you get a point guard who can eat up minutes in the season to keep CP3 fresh for the postseason? Is it just over and you find a team to move Paul to? I did not expect a loss here, especially in this fashion.

[Marvin Martian]

Blow everything up. This team got lucky constantly facing teams at half strength in the playoffs. How will this team compete when CP3 is your 2nd best player at 37? Better to sell now, then treadmill with Booker Ayton and Bridges for the next 5 years

[JordansBulls]

When you think about it how did Phoenix win last year vs LA in Booker's first ever playoff series vs Lebron and dominated him as well in that series?

How do you dominate 3 home games in the playoffs and in the 4th get blown out at home? I mean I understand you can lose a tight game in game 7 but get blown out like that.

[Ein Sof]

Fold the team.

[prejt]

[SkyBill40]

I KNEW ElectricMayhem would be super quick on posting this.

[GeorgeSears]

They have an uncertain future ahead of them. They don't have an heir apparent to CP3. That's probably not a regular season issue, but it will be an issue in the post-season again.

Also, they absolutely have to resign Ayton. He's their most valuable player on offense and defense. The question becomes, how much is he worth?

[Statlanta]

Change
Keep
Below Expectations
Falling
Resign Ayton, get Dario off the books.

[El Alonzo scowl]

Could've made this two hours ago lol

[SkyBill40]

Could've made this two hours ago lol

Should've.