Post-Mortem: 2022-23 Phoenix Suns

[ElectricMayhem]

Next year it’s on when Ishbia laces ‘em up again.

Here is the data from previous years' Post-Mortems:
2020-21:

Spoiler:

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

2021-22:
2021-22 Post Mortem Final Summary

Team Name: Phoenix Suns
Record at Time of Death: 45-37 (.549) (2nd Round Loss)
Head of Front Office: James Jones (2018-)
Coach: Monty Williams (2019-)

Offensive Rating: 14th
Defensive Rating: 7th
Rebound %: 7th
Turnover %: 10th

Front Office: 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:
Kevin Durant ($48m)
Devin Booker $36m)
Deandre Ayton ($32m)
Chris Paul $31m (Partially Guaranteed)
Landry Shamet ($10m)
Cameron Payne ($7m) (Partially Guaranteed)

Team Options:
Ish Wainwright ($2m)

Player Options:

Free Agents:
Torrey Craig
T.J. Warren
Bismack Biyombo
Darius Bazley
Damion Lee
Josh Okogie
Jock Landale
Terrence Ross
Saben Lee

Dead Money:

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

[Roger Murdock]

Their depth sucks and that’s usually something a contending team can fix in an offseason

Denver for example last year basically had 3-4 nba rotation guys. Now they have like 9.

Phoenix has 2 studs, and 2 quality starters. Get 3 other legit rotation guys and you in biz

I think they are closer to winning a title than they were 6 months ago but they have a 1-2 year window and it will slam shut hard

[Frank Dux]

it’s going to be pretty damn hard for them to shore up their depth issues. Watching the Lakers the past two offseasons fight for scraps to shore up the roster was depressing.

[Johnny Firpo]

Front Office: Change or keep?

Keep, I guess, I still view the KD trade as an okay gamble.

Coach: Change or keep?

Definitely change, I am sympathetic towards Monty because he is by all accounts an amazing guy, and putting your life back together after a tragedy like that must be near impossible. But the Suns needs a new coach, and probably Monty needs a new team too, maybe a young team that he can build up, because he is such a good player's coach.

Relative to expectations, how did they fare this year?

Definitely fell short, but that's also team construction.

Rising, falling, or treadmill?

I don't want to call a Durant-Booker tandem treadmill for 2023/2024. If that two is healthy, they are still easily a playoff team, and with better depth, a potentially very dangerous one.

If you were in charge, what would you do this offseason?

They need to do a 1 for 2 Ayton trade. Granted, he lost a lot of his value, but I still think the Mavs would be interested, and could possibly offer a Josh Green, Maxi and pick package. That's probably two starters for them, and a guy in Josh Green who in many ways similar to what Cameron Johnson was (Josh has TONS of upside as a role player). Or maybe an Irving S&T for Ayton? I would actually do that too as a Mavs fan, or may even rather do that.

[Ni Da Ye]

Ayton and CP3

for

Kyrie Bertans McGee

As a mavs fan, I would accept this.

[Marvin Martian]

Wish there was an option to fire the owner. He single handedly destroyed the Suns future with the KD trade. They basically have one more year left (if that) before going into a total rebuild.

[Franco]

I have a weird feeling of deja vú right now.

[Hoopstar23]

Ayton for Jordan Poole?

[spanishninja]

I never had high expectations for this season, even before the injuries. My plan after 2022 was to just wait until the playoffs and see what happens. Regular season seemed to last forever this time. Never truly impressed with KD/Booker, it was shaky the whole time even in the best wins. I dont think the depth suddenly got bad though after the trade. It was always bad, but the trade kept us from being able to address it.

[spanishninja]

Ayton for Jordan Poole?

need to send him to an east lottery team, because no contender would want Ayton. We've been talking on the suns boards about Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

[SkyBill40]

Ayton for Jordan Poole?

need to send him to an east lottery team, because no contender would want Ayton. We've been talking on the suns boards about Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

I'd happily take Randle from the Knicks as he'd fix our immediate problems of size at the 4 slot. I was hoping the Suns would be in olay before he signed with the Knicks a few years ago, but it wasn't to be.

I'd be fine with that CHA trade you mentioned. Oubre is what started the "Valley Boyz" thing and his energy and scoring is precisely what we need now that both Bridges and Johnson are gone.

[Johnny Firpo]

Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

Come on, it's not that bad. Pretty sure the Mavs would trade Josh Green and Maxi and a pick for him still (plus salary). That would be two instant starters for the Suns and a guy who has a similar upside to Cam Johnson.

[Johnny Firpo]

Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

Come on, it's not that bad. Pretty sure the Mavs would trade Josh Green and Maxi and a pick for him still (plus salary). That would be two instant starters for the Suns and a guy who has a similar upside to Cam Johnson.

[LoveMyRaps]

Swap Monty for Nurse.

[zimpy27]

Maybe recognise that your big acquisition was injured and you had very little time to build chemistry. On top of that you lost your starting C and PG for the last game..

I'd consider moving CP3 for a more health reliable player. That's all. Reload for next season, which was always the much better chance.

[spanishninja]

Ayton for Jordan Poole?

need to send him to an east lottery team, because no contender would want Ayton. We've been talking on the suns boards about Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

I'd happily take Randle from the Knicks as he'd fix our immediate problems of size at the 4 slot. I was hoping the Suns would be in olay before he signed with the Knicks a few years ago, but it wasn't to be.

I'd be fine with that CHA trade you mentioned. Oubre is what started the "Valley Boyz" thing and his energy and scoring is precisely what we need now that both Bridges and Johnson are gone.

we don't need more players who shrink in the playoffs. randle? we can't really use him.

[makubesu]

Big question is if role players want to join this team. Are there guys willing to take discounts for a chance to play with KD? Or do they see better chances elsewhere.

That and you package every asset you have to try and get a Lakers level rebuild on.

[spanishninja]

Big question is if role players want to join this team. Are there guys willing to take discounts for a chance to play with KD? Or do they see better chances elsewhere.

That and you package every asset you have to try and get a Lakers level rebuild on.

what assets?

[SkyBill40]

need to send him to an east lottery team, because no contender would want Ayton. We've been talking on the suns boards about Ayton/Shamet for Bojan/Wiseman or Ayton/Shamet for Rozier/Oubre/Richards

I'd happily take Randle from the Knicks as he'd fix our immediate problems of size at the 4 slot. I was hoping the Suns would be in olay before he signed with the Knicks a few years ago, but it wasn't to be.

I'd be fine with that CHA trade you mentioned. Oubre is what started the "Valley Boyz" thing and his energy and scoring is precisely what we need now that both Bridges and Johnson are gone.

we don't need more players who shrink in the playoffs. randle? we can't really use him.

He can score and rebound consistently, two things Ayton can't do. He also doesn't shy away from contact but welcomes it. I'd be fine with finding out if a change of scenery and a better supporting cast could be the difference maker, but I know that's not happening. No matter what happens with Ayton, our options are hugely limited based on the cap and our proximity to it.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Knowing what we know now, they were better off keeping the assets they traded KD for. They just needed to give Bridges more run.