SportSpyder - The Latest Phoenix Suns News

10 October 2024

• [Last Word on Sports] - Devin Booker No Longer Top SG According to NBA GM Survey
  According to the recent , is the second-best SG in the NBA. sits at the top, with 33% of the vote, while Booker trails him with 23%. Last season, Booker topped the list with of the vote, but a disappointing season for the Phoenix Suns, coupled with a breakout year for Edwards, has seen him fall. Devin Booker No Longer Top SG According to NBA GM Survey Booker Falls to Number Two Although the were swept at the hands of Edwards and the in the first round, Booker still had an excellent individual season. He missed 14 games through injury but averaged in 68 games played. This was the sixth-highest in the NBA, tied with his teammate , earning him All-NBA Third Team honours. Not only did he enjoy great scoring success, but he also took on the extra responsibility as a point guard. Sharing the role with , Booker averaged a career-high 6.9 assists per game. With the signings of point guards and , that number will almost certainly reduce this year. However, it does open the door for more scoring opportunities and an even higher points average. Booker also gained plenty of respect in the basketball world following his outings at the Paris Olympics with . Many questioned Steve Kerr's move to make him a starter, but he became one of the most important players on the roster, and they won gold. His head coach named him the of the group. His willingness to facilitate and defend while providing clutch buckets went a long way in the team’s success. Edwards also had a strong Olympics campaign, averaging off the bench. Edwards’ Leap While Booker had a great season, Edwards produced just as impressive a campaign and had the team success to back it up. The shift in opinion from GMs is likely due to the sensational rise of Edwards rather than any underperformance of Booker. In fact, during the regular season, Booker eclipsed Edwards in all stats except rebounds and steals. Edwards averaged 25.9 points and 5.1 assists over 79 games. Booker was also more efficient from the field, with a 49.2 FG% compared to 46.1% from Edwards. The Timberwolves star was named to the All-NBA Second Team. However, Edwards was a crucial leader as the Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals, with plenty of stock placed in team achievements and postseason success. The 23-year-old outperformed Booker in the opening round as his side swept the Suns. Throughout the , Edwards averaged 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists as they navigated through the Suns and former champions , before eventually falling to eventual NBA finalists in five games. Edwards’ ranking as the best shooting guard is a huge climb from last season’s survey. Booker led the way by a considerable distance, with , primarily a point guard, in second. Edwards came tied third with just 7% of the votes alongside and . Despite his lack of votes in this category, he was voted the likeliest to have a breakout season, with 23% ahead of . He had more than a breakout season, establishing himself as a household name and one of the best players in the NBA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3iIpflFH3g&pp=ygUaYW50aG9ueSBlZHdhcmRzIGhpZ2hsaWdodHM%3D The post appeared first on .
• [Sports Illustrated] - Mailbag: How Can Phoenix Suns Contend For Championship?
  The Suns are less than 2 weeks away from the regular season starting.
• [Last Word on Sports] - What The Pistons Recent Preseason Game Means for the Regular Season
  The were back on the court Tuesday night, facing the Phoenix Suns in a game with a unique backdrop. Played at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Suns guard and team governor Mat Ishbia made their return to Michigan. For Booker, this game held extra significance. was a serious contender when deciding on a college, but he ultimately chose Kentucky— and the rest, as they say, is history. On the court, the Pistons couldn’t carry over the momentum from their Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, falling to the Suns 105-97. led Phoenix with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while paced the Pistons with 17. Despite the loss, the Pistons showed flashes of promise. What can we take away from this performance and what does this mean going forward? Let’s dive in. What The Pistons Recent Preseason Game Means for the Regular Season Ivey's Confidence Shines Again After shining in Sunday’s win, followed up with another strong outing. He scored 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. Heading into this season, there were about how Ivey would adjust alongside , but so far this preseason, he’s proving those doubts wrong. Ivey’s confidence is on full display, particularly in his mid-range game and his willingness to shoot from deep without hesitation. His ability to drive the lane and create chaos in transition makes him the player Pistons fans hoped for when they drafted him in 2022. Ivey's preseason quality play so far could lead to a breakout year in the regular season. Cade Cunningham’s Offensive Struggles While preseason performances shouldn’t always be overanalyzed, Cunningham’s early struggles are worth noting. On Tuesday night, Cunningham managed just three points on 1-of-6 shooting. Across two preseason games, he’s missed 13 of his 19 shot attempts. That said, once the regular season begins, these early shooting woes are unlikely to define Cunningham. The former first-overall pick from the 2021 NBA draft is widely expected to have a breakout season, with some even mentioning him as an All-Star candidate. What stands out about Cunningham is his ability to impact the game beyond scoring, as evidenced by his team-leading eight assists on Tuesday. Pistons Show Offensive Flow, Struggle in Second Half vs. Suns Last season, watching the Pistons’ offense was often frustrating, as it mostly revolved around Cunningham controlling the ball while others stood idle. However, under , there’s already a noticeable shift. The new offensive system allows Cunningham to play off-ball more often, with crisper ball movement throughout the team. For Pistons fans, the presence of capable shooters and the potential of the offense—especially once makes his debut—is exciting. The Pistons started strong in the first quarter on Tuesday, shooting 11-of-19 from the field. But in the second quarter, their shooting went cold, dropping to just 28%. When Cunningham sat out the second half, the Suns took advantage with an 18-0 run. Combined with a tough 6-of-20 shooting performance in the third quarter, the deficit became too large to overcome. Despite this rough patch, there are clear signs of potential in what this offense could become. The Last Word Despite the loss to the Suns, there are clear signs of growth and potential within this Pistons team. Jaden Ivey’s continued development, Cade Cunningham’s playmaking, and the early improvements in offensive flow under J.B. Bickerstaff provide reasons for optimism. These are encouraging signs for the regular season. Though preseason struggles should be taken in stride, the foundation for a more dynamic offense is being set. With capable shooters and the eventual addition of Tobias Harris, the Pistons have the tools to be competitive. While challenges remain, Pistons fans can look forward to a season of growth, improvement, and hope for a brighter future. The post appeared first on .
• [Last Word on Sports] - Senior NBA Writer Envisions Lakers Reaching Play-In Tourney
  So, the Los Angeles Lakers will make the play-in this year? So says ESPN's senior NBA writer Brian Windhorst, anyway. Reacting to an NBA GM survey, the Lakers took the top spot, and Windhorst and the panel of NBA Today discussed the survey in length where Windy predicted where the Lakers will end up come playoff time. ESPN's Brian Windhorst Says L.A. Lakers Make Play-In Play-In Birth for the Lakers Again? Brian Windhorst, senior writer for the NBA, gave no pause when asked about the Lakers season, specifically post-season chances. According to one of the NBA's more interesting league-wide surveys, GMs were on which teams are the toughest to predict this season. Of the top four selections, 10% of the GMs voted the , 13% voted the , and the Houston Rockets also garnered 13% of votes. The Lakers take the cake, though, as 17% of NBA GMs think the and , coached by -led team, are the toughest team to predict this year. How about that? Windhorst was having none of this, though—this nonsense, as it were, "I actually think the Lakers are relatively easy to predict. I think they're probably headed to the play-in, which is what they were last year; they've got roughly the same team coming back. We'll see with health, last year with AD and LeBron, they actually had two extremely healthy seasons; I don't think it's possible for them to play more games than they did last year…" ESPN's brightest basketball mind went on to say that the other three teams on the survey list—the Suns, Pelicans, and Rockets—are tougher to predict. , Windhorst's panel counterpart, alternatively agreed with the survey. He brought up Davis and his unpredictable nature as a player, which leaks into the Lakers season. Almost Assuredly a Play-In Team, Probably… Windhorst is most likely correct here. The Lakers will either miss the playoffs (although that is less likely than not) or squeak in and land with a seed between 7 and 10. In the last two seasons, the Lakers made the play-in and, subsequently, the playoffs. However, James and Davis are a year older, and Windhorst played on their outstanding seasons last year regarding health. Is it too much to expect a replica of that this season? Possibly, especially considering AD's history of long-term injuries and ailments. To add to the hypothetical injury subject, the roster barely changed from last season. This was another point hit straight on by Windhorst. Sans and , the Lakers are essentially a mirrored version of last year. They were the only two notable off-season subtractions. No one knows what Los Angeles will get out of D'Angelo Russell this season (if he makes it to the end as a Laker). The same can be said for and . Regardless, the Lakers are a safe bet to make the play-in. Who's to say at this moment what a realistic alternative could be? For the Lakers to have any realistic shot, it comes down to their core's health. If health follows the team from game one to game 82, the play-in should be in the Lakers' sights. After that, who knows? The post appeared first on .
• [Sports Illustrated] - Phoenix Suns Star Projected to Request Trade
  The Phoenix Suns may again have to include a prominent name in trade talks.
• [PHNX] - Monte Morris 2024-25 Suns season preview: Superb backup PG
  On Day 9 of Phoenix Suns 2024-25 Season Previews, Monte Morris is an underrated backup point guard who is due for a bounce-back year.
• [TWSN] - The Phoenix Suns Will Trade Devin Booker to the Los Angeles Clippers
  With Paul George’s recent departure from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers find themselves in a crucial position to reassess their roster. A trade for Phoenix S…
• [PHNX Sports] - Monte Morris: Superb Backup PG Due For Bounce-Back Year | Phoenix Suns Season Preview
  On Day 8 of Phoenix Suns 2024-25 Season Previews, Gerald Bourguet takes a look at Josh Okogie’s stellar point-of-attack defense and ability to wreak havoc on...
• [Last Word on Sports] - What the Suns $70 Million Decision Means
  The Phoenix Suns faced tough financial decisions this offseason, particularly as they grapple with the consequences of the new . As a second-apron team with a roster featuring high-priced stars like , , and , the Suns were only armed with veteran minimum contracts to bolster their rotation. Despite these limitations, the Suns managed to add critical depth, including the addition of , and recently made a to However, the key question remains: With a significant investment in Allen, how long can they afford to bring him off the bench? What Grayson Allen's $70 Million Extension Means Grayson Allen’s $70 Million Extension The Suns made headlines by signing Grayson Allen to a raising eyebrows across the league. Although Allen is projected to start the season coming off the bench, the clearly see value in his contributions. His ability to shoot, defend, and bring toughness to the backcourt has earned him this sizable contract. However, this decision comes at a cost. Allen’s extension represents a significant chunk of Phoenix’s limited financial flexibility. As a team pressed against the second apron, every dollar matters. Committing $70 million to Allen means the Suns must carefully manage their roster construction and ensure their core pieces deliver in tandem. Tyus Jones: Underpaid Floor General Among Phoenix’s most impressive offseason moves was Jones for just , a steal in the context of his true value. Jones is a floor general, known for his exceptional ball-handling and. In fact, he led the league in turnover percentage during the 2023-24 season, a skill that addresses a critical Suns weakness. Phoenix third-worst in turnover percentage last season at 16%, an alarming statistic that directly impacted their ability to close out games. Their fourth-quarter of -11.6 was the worst in the NBA. The Suns needed someone to steady the ship, and Jones’ ability to take care of the basketball fills that gap perfectly. Jones is underpaid due to the current financial climate created by the new CBA, which has teams being more cautious with their spending. While some teams might not have offered him what he's truly worth, Phoenix capitalized by adding a starting-caliber point guard at a bargain price. Three Ball-Dominant Guards: Can It Work? By starting Jones, the Suns will roll out a featuring three ball-dominant guards: , , and . While this setup might raise concerns, there is precedent for success. The , led by l, , and successfully deployed a three-guard lineup to push themselves into the playoffs. For the Suns, the key will be sharing responsibilities between the guards, with Jones likely taking on the role of primary facilitator. Beal and Booker are more than capable of scoring off the ball, and Jones’s ability to control the pace of the game and limit turnovers should create the balance needed for this system to thrive. Financial Challenges Under the New CBA Phoenix’s offseason moves were made under the tight restrictions imposed by the new CBA. The second apron how teams can add talent and construct rosters, making every decision critical. In this context, both the signing of Jones and the extension of Allen carry significant weight. Jones was an under-the-radar addition who could become a linchpin in the Suns’ offense. However hefty contract was signed with Allen for a reason. He's been an effective role player on the Suns. Grayson Allen’s Value To The Suns Grayson Allen's contributions to the Suns last season highlight his value as a consistent and efficient role player. With of 13.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game, Allen demonstrated his ability to make an impact, especially from behind the arc. He shot a league-leading much of which came from catch-and-shoot opportunities. Allen thrived in his role, benefiting from the attention that stars like and Booker attracted, allowing him to take open shots, converting them at an elite when defenders were more than six feet away. Additionally, Allen maintained his aggressive nature on the defensive end of the floor, something he has honed since his Duke days. His willingness to get to his spots and knock down crucial shots, combined with his consistency as a perimeter defender, makes him an essential piece in the Suns’ depth chart. With a roster built around a high-powered "Big Three," Allen’s ability to play off their talents while keeping turnovers low and defending effectively makes him a key player for Phoenix moving forward. Given the injury concerns that have plagued the Suns' stars, Allen’s availability and consistency become even more critical as they look to make a deeper playoff run in the upcoming season. Allen could be playing so well off the bench that there will be calls for him to start. The Suns could be forced to make an uncomfortable decision regarding Beal if this coincides with him struggling like he did in 2023-24. The Grayson Allen Decision the Suns Will Have to Make Ultimately, the Suns had to make their decisions based on the limit...
• [Forbes] - Why Is No One Trading For These NBA All-Stars?
  The NBA is a copycat league, and this latest trade from the Phoenix Suns has made these NBA All-Stars borderline untradeable.