The Phoenix Suns made a splash this week, reportedly acquiring former All-Star guard Brad Beal from the Washington Wizards. That now gives them a big three of Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. Immediately, their odds to win the NBA Championship shot up at both traditional betting sites as well as the best bitcoin sportsbooks. They’re now at +650 to win it all, which is not far behind the champion Denver Nuggets, who are a +450.
While many assume that the Suns are going to be a contender, they could be a mirage. Here are three reasons why the team won’t win it all next season.
There’s No Bench
As we’ve seen with teams like the Denver Nuggets this season (in a good way) and the Los Angeles Lakers last season (in a bad way), you can’t win without a good bench. The idea that a few stars can carry a team to the end just isn’t working these days. Take a look back to the Brooklyn Nets Big Three and the Suns last season when they had a different trio with Chris Paul, Durant, and Booker. Yes, Beal is an upgrade but who else is going to play with this squad?
There’s no question that they’ll attract some players at the veteran minimum. Maybe guys like Seth Curry and Cory Joseph come over. Maybe Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren stick around to try and make a bigger impact (they didn’t last season). Maybe Stanley Johnson? It’s hard to really say if that’s enough. This team needs to round out a bench – especially since Beal and Durant have been banged up a lot recently. Absent that, this Big Three doesn’t look like they have enough support.
Deandre Ayton Is a Drag
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s entirely possible that a coaching change lights a fire under Suns center Deandre Ayton but there are people that are skeptical. Yes, he did average 18.0 and 10.0 last season but the concern is about his passion and desire. Over the last couple of seasons, he has looked like he’s checked out at times and played without a competitive will. He was absolutely abused by Nikola Jokic in the second round of the playoffs and while Jokic is incredible, it’s not the first time that Ayton has looked lackadaisical.
Until further notice, Ayton is a drag on this team. We’ll see if Frank Vogel can rekindle the spark.
Durant, Beal Might Be Past Their Prime
There’s no question that Booker is in his prime and Durant and Beal are among the league’s best at their position, but it does feel like they are past their prime. For starters, Durant is going to be 35 years old this season. There aren’t really signs of him slowing down in terms of production on the court but getting out has become a bit of a concern. He played just 46 games last season, 55 two years ago and 35 in 2020-21. As for Beal, he’s averaged just 23.2 points per game in each of the last two seasons. Part of it is likely that he was tired of playing for a Washington Wizards team that was going nowhere, but keep in mind that he’s soon to be 30 years old. And he hasn’t played more than 60 games in a season in four straight campaigns.
Beyond health and just possible decline, there are also fit concerns. Who plays point guard? How will the three of them work out the roles? Are they going to be strong defensively? Can they stay healthy?
If any of those isn’t a positive answer, the Suns aren’t likely a championship contender. While the move looks good on paper, there are too many question marks to really bank on them to win it all at this point.
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