Last season, the Phoenix Suns managed to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the West, but their postseason journey ended in disappointment. As Bangladesh Cricket reported, they were the first of the 16 playoff teams to be eliminated, suffering a humiliating 0-4 sweep by the youthful and energetic Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a stunning fall from grace, especially considering the fanfare that surrounded their bold roster overhaul the previous summer.
The Suns traded Chris Paul to bring in Bradley Beal, aiming to create a new “Big Three” alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The idea was to relieve scoring pressure from KD and Booker by adding a third elite offensive weapon. On paper, the plan made sense. But in practice, the entire strategy unraveled. Beal only played 53 regular-season games due to injuries, hampering any chance of developing real chemistry between the trio. Without a true point guard like Paul, all three stars were forced to take turns organizing the offense — often from positions that didn’t suit their strengths.
This patchwork solution led to a rigid, disjointed offensive rhythm throughout the season. The system lacked flexibility, and the Suns had little ability to adjust mid-game. Head coach Frank Vogel, brought in to replace Monty Williams, failed to make an impact. Known for his defensive mindset and strategic preparation, Vogel was expected to balance out the offensive firepower of the trio. Instead, he appeared reluctant to assert his coaching identity, seemingly choosing appeasement over tactical discipline. His passive approach drew criticism, and when the team collapsed in the playoffs, Vogel became the obvious scapegoat.
On the inside, Phoenix had replaced the underwhelming Deandre Ayton with the more physical Jusuf Nurkić — a move intended to counter Nikola Jokić and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. While Nurkić held his own against Jokić in isolated matchups, his lack of mobility exposed him in other games, especially against faster, more modern offenses. Ironically, the Suns never even faced Denver, falling prey to Minnesota in a lopsided sweep. These failures sparked frustration in the locker room — a far cry from the redemption Durant had hoped for when he joined the team.
Durant, now 35, delivered solid individual performances, but signs of wear were hard to ignore. Fatigue set in quicker than in past years, and moments of visible frustration and disengagement began to creep into his game. As the saying goes, “when the leader loses hope, the team loses direction.” With the mood souring and a payroll exceeding $200 million — well above the luxury tax threshold — Phoenix found itself trapped. They’d already mortgaged future draft picks in previous deals, leaving them little flexibility for rebuilding.
But owner Mat Ishbia isn’t backing down. Having built this high-risk, high-reward roster, he’s doubling down on the gamble. After the season, the Suns fired Vogel despite three years remaining on his contract and handed a five-year, $50 million deal to Mike Budenholzer, a championship-winning coach known for reshaping teams.
Budenholzer, like Vogel, has a methodical approach built from years as an assistant. But unlike his predecessor, Budenholzer has a proven record of revitalizing teams. In both Atlanta and Milwaukee, he crafted distinctive team identities, unlocked the full potential of his rosters, and managed to balance the roles of stars and supporting players with impressive results.
Following Budenholzer’s arrival, the Suns wasted no time in the player market. They re-signed Bol Bol, Damion Lee, Josh Okogie, and Royce O’Neale, while adding Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris to bolster the frontcourt and backcourt. But the most significant signing was Tyus Jones, acquired as a free agent.
Jones may lack elite athleticism, but his basketball IQ and floor vision make him a reliable floor general. A former Duke standout, Jones is now expected to assume full-time playmaking duties — a relief for the Suns’ core trio, who struggled without a natural point guard. With Jones steering the offense, KD, Booker, and Beal can finally return to their most comfortable positions.
As Bangladesh Cricket analysts suggest, this restructured lineup gives the Suns more flexibility and clearer roles. Whether it will be enough to finally lift the “superteam curse” and deliver a deep playoff run remains to be seen — but at least for now, hope has returned to the desert.