A year of continuity and the hiring of offensive-minded head coach Mike Budenholzer were supposed to elevate them into true title contenders. Instead, Phoenix has stumbled to a 28-33 record, dropping 11 of its last 14 games, and now sits 3.5 games out of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
A Season Spiraling Out of Control
What began as a promising 8-1 starthas unraveled into a streaky, inconsistent campaign marked by injuries, poor defensive execution, and an overall lack of chemistry. The Suns’ offensive rating has dipped from 116.8 last season to 113.8, despite shifting away from Frank Vogel’s defense-first approach.
Meanwhile, their defensive rating has plummeted from 13th in the league to 25th. The team’s overall net rating of -1.9 reflects their mediocrity on both ends of the floor.
Sunday’s humiliating 116-98 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was emblematic of the Suns’ struggles. Durant, Booker, and Beal combined for 14 of the team’s 22 turnovers, leading to 40 points for Minnesota.
The Suns appeared disinterested in the final quarter, drawing boos from the home crowd.
“We embarrassed the fans and we embarrassed ourselves,” Durant admitted. “I want us to be better.”
Durant’s Future in Phoenix: A Summer of Change?
The Suns’ downward trajectory has significantly impacted their championship outlook. After entering the season with +3500 title odds, Phoenix’s chances have cratered to +50000.
With Bradley Beal’s massive contract — including a no-trade clause — hampering roster flexibility and Devin Booker remaining the face of the franchise, Durant has emerged as the most viable trade piece for the offseason.
Trade rumors have swirled around the 36-year-old star since early February, with reports suggesting the Suns nearly sent him back to the Golden State Warriors before he vetoed the move.
Durant was initially blindsided by the discussions but has since acknowledged the business side of the NBA.
“That’s part of being in high demand,” he said. “My body language, how I speak after the games, how I’m looking on the bench, that stuff will be magnified.”
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Durant and the Suns are expected to work together on a potential trade this summer, should the team fail to turn its season around.
“I would expect four to six contending teams to have some serious involvement with Durant,”
Charania reported.
Phoenix remains 3.5 games behind the final Play-In spot, but their inconsistent play suggests a postseason berth is unlikely. If the Suns miss the playoffs, Durant’s departure could be imminent.
As Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant put it,
“The West is tough, you have teams like the Suns in the 11th seed. Definitely not an 11th seed, definitely not a team most would think is a cakewalk if you see them in the playoffs.”
However, unless Phoenix finds a way to string together wins, their season — and potentially Durant’s time in the desert — may be over before April.
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