After a whirlwind 2022-23 season, the Phoenix Suns are hoping to go the place they’ve by no means gone earlier than subsequent season.
They radically remade their roster at midseason after they surprised the NBA by buying and selling for Kevin Durant, and the commerce made them the favorites to succeed in the NBA Finals within the minds of many.
As an alternative, they fell in six video games to the Denver Nuggets within the second spherical of the playoffs.
Head coach Monty Williams was fired shortly afterward and was changed by Frank Vogel, who has a objective of getting middle Deandre Ayton to the All-Star Recreation.
Frank Vogel on Deandre Ayton:
“I believe he will be among the best facilities within the league. He’s proven that at occasions all through his profession. … I’m intent on actually connecting with him and restoring him to an All-Star degree participant.” pic.twitter.com/jsC2wWc34o
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 6, 2023
In 5 seasons with Phoenix, Ayton has been a great participant, and he’s a really robust finisher within the paint, however he has by no means been voted into the league’s midseason traditional.
With the crew critically missing depth and stability following the Durant commerce, there have been whispers that maybe they might look to commerce Ayton this summer season.
No matter what their roster seems to be like this fall, the Suns are probably taking a look at a really quick window of championship rivalry.
Durant will flip 35 years of age in late September, and though he’s nonetheless one of many recreation’s greatest gamers, he has been injury-prone ever since he tore his Achilles within the NBA Finals 4 years in the past.
In the meantime, level guard Chris Paul is 38 years of age, and he merely isn’t anyplace near the scoring menace he was.
Vogel did win a world title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and is named a defensive guru, and thus followers are hoping he’ll rework the defensively challenged Suns right into a squad that constantly will get stops.
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NBA Insider Reveals Frank Vogel’s Contract With Suns