2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I thought the east made some ground at some point, or at least was deeper, but the fact that Milwaukee, Philly and NY have started out so poorly is crazy.

I still think it's a toss up who will be the best teams after OKC, but we need Booker back at his best for sure. GS is obviously better than I expected. They are interesting, given they are not all that far removed from winning at title...it's hard to believe they won the finals just two years ago in 2022 (3 NBA championship ago)...but really the main difference is swapping in Hield for Klay, and that feels like an upgrade....and their younger guys have had more time to improve. I thought Wiggins had regressed from that season but there isn't any real reason he should have.

Some teams are really banged up too. Memphis, as usual, is super banged up without Ja, Bane, etc...though Scotty Pippen Jr is playing awesome. The Pelicans are banged up and maybe not that good. It's still so early. I don't think the Spurs are near playoff caliber yet, but they are probably better than last season when they beat us twice in a row. Seems like we are better too though, when healthy. Jokic will carry Denver on his back...and Gordon has been out for them too. Dallas has had the best or 2nd best record after Jan 1st for 2-3 years in a row, so they may come on strong after the new year...not sure why that happens with them. I like Houston as a team, but a lot of their wins are against bad teams. Jabari Smith Jr has been pretty disappointing.

I don't know if it's the fact that the west is really good right now or that no one is THAT good outside of OKC, or if there are some really good teams. I think a lot of teams have really up and down nights. The fact that everyone has a good pt differential except Utah, NO, and Portland makes me think there have been a lot of blowouts against either those 3 teams or EC teams. We haven't really played any bad EC teams I don't think, but have played Utah and Portland once each. There are so many western teams we haven't played yet that it's hard to tell where we stand in relation to teams like GS, Denver, Memphis, Houston, Minnesota, etc. GS does look like a HCA team though. They have been pretty strong all season.

The insane part is that Boston is probably a tier above anyone on the West and will be elite for the next 3-4 seasons and while the Western conference teams are in a dog fight the Celtics have a relatively easy path to the finals barring major injuries.

Philly and Milwaukee just aren't as good as they used to be and NY is still inferior to Boston even after the Mikail and KAT trades.

While I think Boston is/was loaded last year, KP's health is a HUGE factor given Horford is so old. If Horford drops off, which HAS to happen soon, and he's already dropped off soon, they will be thin up front. But with KP, they are elite, given they can play Jrue, Brown, White and Tatum. Jrue has been a lot more healthy in recent years than he was.

However, I think OKC is just as talented. As good as KP is, Chet is much better already. Shai is better than anyone on the Celtics, Jalen Williams is as good as anyone outside of maybe Tatum, and then even though Boston is great defensively with Jrue, White, Tatum, KP, OKC may be better there with Shai, Dort, Caruso and Chet. Isaiah Joe is good too.

Then who have the Cavs. Their backcourt rivals anyone's, and so does their frontcourt. And it's their frontcourt where the defense is strong, with Mobley and Allen, which together, combined, trump KP/Tatum or Horford. Though Chet and Hartenstein, even though he doesn't start is very strong.

i think those 3 teams are above everyone, with maybe GS in a tier by themselves (for now, but it's still early), then a bunch of teams, mostly WC ones. Indy has a lot of potential..and are solid defensively with Turner and Siakam up front, with solid offense with Siakam, Haliburton, Mathurin, and Turner spreading the floor. Any of those guys can have big nights.

I figured they'd be behind NY, Philly and Milwaukee, but obviously they are ahead of those teams. The Nets are somehow fighting hard. Their record isn't good and their roster doesn't seem great, but it feels their schedules have been brutal and they were leading Boston and Cleveland late, and it seems like another really good team or two, but lost those in close games.

Orlando should be better record wise, but lost Banchero which is a huge blow. A couple teams in that tier below GS in the west will rise, it's just a matter of who, but we can only do it healthy.

I don't mind Beal being out today to get healthy because it was extremely unlikely we have a chance against OKC anyway. They will play small, and while I think we are very good small, we still have to play a lumbering C, unless it's Oso there, and they may play all smaller guys...all solid ones to exploit our slower (or rookie) bigs.

I kind of wish we would scratch Booker for this game so he can get right.

[bwgood77]

I kind of wish we would scratch Booker for this game so he can get right.

I was thinking about that earlier...pull a Pop and have all our best players out and maybe our vet Cs...put rest or something. Let the young ones go. Start Jones, Lee, Dunn, Royce and Oso, then let some others like Bol, Morris, and Okogie get minutes...maybe Gillespie and TyTy.

[dremill24]

Does Okogie get minutes when Allen/Beal/Durant are back at this point?

[Bogyo]

Does Okogie get minutes when Allen/Beal/Durant are back at this point?

I don't think so. He always had these hotter shooting streaks, but then never could sustain. While Beal and Durant would need less playing time, Allen needs significanlty more as he is a much better baller overall than Okogie. And if we want the "Okogie-type" out there Dunn is a better solution, as he is bigger - and that is what this team needs. More size, more athleticism, more rebounds, more interior D, and Dunn is legit 4 inches taller as well.
If Josh keeps this up he could be a legit trade bait for another big, but I think thats about it.

[Revived]

There’s a guy on reddit who claims he has a family member that works for the Suns in a somewhat high position on the administrative side. He’s been right on breaking news in the past and bringing rumors that became true well before Shams or Woj reported it and such. I remember this poster made a post last season that it’s a well known “secret” that ever since the KD trade, Booker has been smoking weed more than ever before and that it’s changed his entire demeanor and attitude, not just towards basketball but even life overall. I’m obviously paraphrasing here as I can’t remember exactly what the guy had wrote but the gist of it was that Booker basically has a carefree and “I don’t give a s**t” and “It’s not my problem” type of attitude around the building and Suns facility.

KD is obviously known by everyone for being a major pothead and he’s been gone public about how often he uses it as well. He’s been a big advocate for it.

For the record, I have zero issue with people smoking weed. I don’t smoke myself but I’ve actually voted for it to be legalized and such. However I don’t think doing a ton of it is a very good idea and I do wonder how much of a role that plays in Booker’s career and life.

I do think ever since spending one full offseason as teammates with KD (2023 summer), Booker’s attitude and mentality has completely changed. He truly doesn’t give a *****. I follow both Book and KD on instagram and they were basically with each other for all if not most of the offseason that summer based on their IG stories. They’ve never posted hanging out with each other that much in years prior when they obviously weren’t teammates.

The Olympics this summer was that first time that I actually felt Booker looked driven and motivated in a very long time.

[Revived]

If this continues, I’d call OKC and at least test the market on listening to what they’d offer for Booker.

Or perhaps Houston with them having some nice young players for a rebuild plus all our picks.

[Bogyo]

OKC is too smart for that. Houston I could see - and probably they could be convinced to take KD instead of Booker as they have FVV and Brooks as older guys already with Steven Adams coming back from injury, so they could sell the "win now" bs to their fans, etc...

If they want Booker then its a much harder conversation, as that would be the first step for us for a FULL rebuild, and we'd only get pennies on the dollar for KD - and probably wouldn't trade Beal, or also get pennies on the dollar for him and his albatross contract.
I also happen to think that some of their core players are trash(y), just gotten good press, and been the "good guy on a bad team" or "someone has to score in every NBA game" type dudes, or chuckers, or just general azzholes. So no, I do not want poor mans Steve Francis, I do not want 5'10 on a good day and can't shoot 31year old PG who is overpaid, and I do not want fakethug, can't shoot overpaid lunatic wings who are said to be 6'5. Pretty much the 3 dudes they have been wanting to trade for a year now.
I would love something around Sengun, Sheppard one or two (depending on other stuff in the package) of Smith / Tate / Thomson / Whitmore and a ton picks.
Then who would want KD where he wants to play as well, and what can we get for him that makes sense for our " 2025-26 core" of then something like Sheppard/Beal/Dunn/Smith?/Sengun / starters, with a bench of Monte / Whitmore / Grayson / Royce / Nurk + (big questionmarks) whatever we get for KD and whatever picks we'll have. (and I assumed Tyus leaves in the offseason)

[sunsbg]

I wonder if Giannis becomes available if Booker + whatever picks we own are a competitive offer. No idea if that's possible under the CBA limitations. I know Book is the franchise face and many fans are attached to him, but GA is a completely different animal. Just imagine a lineup of Jones, Beal, KD, Giannis, Nurk. A lot more size and balance.

[King4Day]

With how the Suns looked pre-KD injury, there's 0 chance we consider moving him until/if the summer.

Bucks would want to pair Book with Giannis. Trading for him wouldn't make sense pairing him with Lillard.

If we were to move him, no doubt Houston would be the team that would want him. I would rake them over the coals for everything they have in that case.

[sunsbg]

Pairing Book with Lillard doesn't make sense indeed. Like pairing him with Beal...

We are paying Booker and Beal the same Bucks pay to Giannis and Lillard both performing better and they are still struggling in the East.

[Iceman36]

There’s a guy on reddit who claims he has a family member that works for the Suns in a somewhat high position on the administrative side. He’s been right on breaking news in the past and bringing rumors that became true well before Shams or Woj reported it and such. I remember this poster made a post last season that it’s a well known “secret” that ever since the KD trade, Booker has been smoking weed more than ever before and that it’s changed his entire demeanor and attitude, not just towards basketball but even life overall. I’m obviously paraphrasing here as I can’t remember exactly what the guy had wrote but the gist of it was that Booker basically has a carefree and “I don’t give a s**t” and “It’s not my problem” type of attitude around the building and Suns facility.

KD is obviously known by everyone for being a major pothead and he’s been gone public about how often he uses it as well. He’s been a big advocate for it.

For the record, I have zero issue with people smoking weed. I don’t smoke myself but I’ve actually voted for it to be legalized and such. However I don’t think doing a ton of it is a very good idea and I do wonder how much of a role that plays in Booker’s career and life.

I do think ever since spending one full offseason as teammates with KD (2023 summer), Booker’s attitude and mentality has completely changed. He truly doesn’t give a *****. I follow both Book and KD on instagram and they were basically with each other for all if not most of the offseason that summer based on their IG stories. They’ve never posted hanging out with each other that much in years prior when they obviously weren’t teammates.

The Olympics this summer was that first time that I actually felt Booker looked driven and motivated in a very long time.

Where the hell is the -1 button, when you need one?

[Saberestar]

There’s a guy on reddit who claims he has a family member that works for the Suns in a somewhat high position on the administrative side. He’s been right on breaking news in the past and bringing rumors that became true well before Shams or Woj reported it and such. I remember this poster made a post last season that it’s a well known “secret” that ever since the KD trade, Booker has been smoking weed more than ever before and that it’s changed his entire demeanor and attitude, not just towards basketball but even life overall. I’m obviously paraphrasing here as I can’t remember exactly what the guy had wrote but the gist of it was that Booker basically has a carefree and “I don’t give a s**t” and “It’s not my problem” type of attitude around the building and Suns facility.

KD is obviously known by everyone for being a major pothead and he’s been gone public about how often he uses it as well. He’s been a big advocate for it.

For the record, I have zero issue with people smoking weed. I don’t smoke myself but I’ve actually voted for it to be legalized and such. However I don’t think doing a ton of it is a very good idea and I do wonder how much of a role that plays in Booker’s career and life.

I do think ever since spending one full offseason as teammates with KD (2023 summer), Booker’s attitude and mentality has completely changed. He truly doesn’t give a *****. I follow both Book and KD on instagram and they were basically with each other for all if not most of the offseason that summer based on their IG stories. They’ve never posted hanging out with each other that much in years prior when they obviously weren’t teammates.

The Olympics this summer was that first time that I actually felt Booker looked driven and motivated in a very long time.

Link to that story?

[bwgood77]

I wonder if Giannis becomes available if Booker + whatever picks we own are a competitive offer. No idea if that's possible under the CBA limitations. I know Book is the franchise face and many fans are attached to him, but GA is a completely different animal. Just imagine a lineup of Jones, Beal, KD, Giannis, Nurk. A lot more size and balance.

That would be crazy if we could get Giannis, but they may want to do something.

I don't think there is any way we will trade Book but if we did, I seriously doubt teams like OKC, Houston, etc would want him. Possibly Houston because their coach is desperate to compete, but I don't know what we could get. Probably Green or Smith and a bunch of picks.

I think a team like Charlotte, really desperate to be relevant would probably give up a boatload for him. Like Brandon Miller and a ton of picks.

But the problem is we are set to compete now, so if we traded him, it might be wise to trade him and KD for as many picks/players as possible and then just rebuild, which I doubt they would want to do. If those two were gone, Beal might waive his NTC. Not sure how tradable he is but a team way over the cap that can't do anything, like we were when we traded for him, might do it for equal salaries, maybe ones that expire sooner, just to inject more talent.

Giannis seems like one of the only guys in the position that they would want to trade for him. The Knicks might be a team that wouldn't mind, but they traded all their picks. Maybe for OG? I'm sure he's love to play with Bridges again and Towns.

Just not sure where we would get the best package. The Pelicans? Their stars are always injured though.

No way we trade him anyway, so discussing it is probably a moot point anyway. But his value would be at an all time high.

[bwgood77]

There’s a guy on reddit who claims he has a family member that works for the Suns in a somewhat high position on the administrative side. He’s been right on breaking news in the past and bringing rumors that became true well before Shams or Woj reported it and such. I remember this poster made a post last season that it’s a well known “secret” that ever since the KD trade, Booker has been smoking weed more than ever before and that it’s changed his entire demeanor and attitude, not just towards basketball but even life overall. I’m obviously paraphrasing here as I can’t remember exactly what the guy had wrote but the gist of it was that Booker basically has a carefree and “I don’t give a s**t” and “It’s not my problem” type of attitude around the building and Suns facility.

KD is obviously known by everyone for being a major pothead and he’s been gone public about how often he uses it as well. He’s been a big advocate for it.

For the record, I have zero issue with people smoking weed. I don’t smoke myself but I’ve actually voted for it to be legalized and such. However I don’t think doing a ton of it is a very good idea and I do wonder how much of a role that plays in Booker’s career and life.

I do think ever since spending one full offseason as teammates with KD (2023 summer), Booker’s attitude and mentality has completely changed. He truly doesn’t give a *****. I follow both Book and KD on instagram and they were basically with each other for all if not most of the offseason that summer based on their IG stories. They’ve never posted hanging out with each other that much in years prior when they obviously weren’t teammates.

The Olympics this summer was that first time that I actually felt Booker looked driven and motivated in a very long time.

Link to that story?

I just looked through reddit and can't find anything....it seems if it was mentioned it would be mentioned in this thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1gqxlx4/wth_is_wrong_with_book/

[Revived]

There’s a guy on reddit who claims he has a family member that works for the Suns in a somewhat high position on the administrative side. He’s been right on breaking news in the past and bringing rumors that became true well before Shams or Woj reported it and such. I remember this poster made a post last season that it’s a well known “secret” that ever since the KD trade, Booker has been smoking weed more than ever before and that it’s changed his entire demeanor and attitude, not just towards basketball but even life overall. I’m obviously paraphrasing here as I can’t remember exactly what the guy had wrote but the gist of it was that Booker basically has a carefree and “I don’t give a s**t” and “It’s not my problem” type of attitude around the building and Suns facility.

KD is obviously known by everyone for being a major pothead and he’s been gone public about how often he uses it as well. He’s been a big advocate for it.

For the record, I have zero issue with people smoking weed. I don’t smoke myself but I’ve actually voted for it to be legalized and such. However I don’t think doing a ton of it is a very good idea and I do wonder how much of a role that plays in Booker’s career and life.

I do think ever since spending one full offseason as teammates with KD (2023 summer), Booker’s attitude and mentality has completely changed. He truly doesn’t give a *****. I follow both Book and KD on instagram and they were basically with each other for all if not most of the offseason that summer based on their IG stories. They’ve never posted hanging out with each other that much in years prior when they obviously weren’t teammates.

The Olympics this summer was that first time that I actually felt Booker looked driven and motivated in a very long time.

Link to that story?

I just looked through reddit and can't find anything....it seems if it was mentioned it would be mentioned in this thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/suns/comments/1gqxlx4/wth_is_wrong_with_book/

It was mentioned last year during regular season in a post, not recently. I’ll try to find it.

[Revived]

I’m really hoping KD is back asap and takes pressure off Booker. Booker did win “player of the week” like few weeks ago when we had KD in the lineup and he wasn’t drawing all the attention from the defense.

[bwgood77]

I’m really hoping KD is back asap and takes pressure off Booker. Booker did win “player of the week” like few weeks ago when we had KD in the lineup and he wasn’t drawing all the attention from the defense.

Must have taken a week off from the weed a few weeks ago.

[Revived]

I’m really hoping KD is back asap and takes pressure off Booker. Booker did win “player of the week” like few weeks ago when we had KD in the lineup and he wasn’t drawing all the attention from the defense.

Must have taken a week off from the weed a few weeks ago.

Nice 7/10... And I’m not saying weed is the reason for Booker’s change in his game, imo weed has helped more people than it hasn’t. Mental health, focus etc.

[KdoubleDees23]

KD + Nurkic for Jalen Williams, Hartenstein and 2-3 first round picks

Get it done. Let KD get a chance to win a ring in OKC

SGA
Caruso
KD
Wiggins
Nurkic - Holmgren (When he returns)

Suns

Jones - Beal
Booker
Williams
Dunn
Hartenstein (When he returns)

[handsome salary]

KD and Beal out 5 of only 14 games already. How exciting having the "Big 3" not play together or gel with the rest of the squad and coaching.