The Phoenix Suns will look to go on a deeper playoff run during the 2024-25 season. Despite winning 49 games during the team's 2023-24 campaign, Phoenix was only able to secure the No. 6 seed in a competitive Western Conference.
The Suns swiftly exited the 2024 playoffs, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round sweep. While nearly racking up 50 wins and earning a playoff spot isn't a terrible year by any means, it was relatively disappointing given the expectations for Phoenix entering the season. Kevin Durant was beginning his first full year with the organization following a Feb.
2023 trade, forming an imposing duo next to Devin Booker. The Suns also made a blockbuster move during the 2023 offseason, landing Bradley Beal in a deal with the Washington Wizards. However, the team's lack of depth was exposed as the star trio dealt with several injuries throughout the year.
Phoenix's offseason started with a coaching change, hiring former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer after firing Frank Vogel. Budenholzer is coming off an impressive run with the Bucks, owning a 69.3 win percentage during his five seasons with the organization and winning a championship in 2021.
The Suns weren't able to hand out any large contracts during the summer after they entered free agency in the second luxury tax apron (h/t ESPN's Bobby Marks ). Instead, Phoenix focused on making small upgrades and bolstering the team's depth. General manager James Jones re-signed veteran swingman Royce O'Neale as well as 24-year-old forward Bol Bol.
The Suns should have some more stability at point guard after adding Monte Morris in free agency. Phoenix also locked up Grayson Allen following his tremendous first season with the organization, handing him a four-year extension worth $70 million on April 15. Here's a closer look at the Suns' 2024-25 schedule as they attempt to return to the playoffs with a new supporting cast surrounding their star trio.
2024-25 Suns Schedule Details Season Opener: at Los Angeles Clippers, Oct. 23, 10 p.m.
ET Championship Odds: +2400 (bet $100 to win $2,400), per FanDuel Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com . Top Matchups Minnesota Timberwolves Although the Timberwolves unceremoniously defeated the Suns in the playoffs, Phoenix could be looking for some revenge during its 2024-25 campaign.
The Suns won all three regular-season contests against Minnesota last season, including a victory in Game 82 that helped the team avoid falling into the play-in tournament. Durant may also have an added incentive to take down the Timberwolves after he was involved in some playful trash talk with Anthony Edwards during the playoffs. ANT CHIRPING AT KD AFTER 3RD Q TAKEOVER šš¤ pic.
twitter.com/7S68XB743l While Phoenix has the offensive firepower to match Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, it'll be intriguing to see how the defense holds up in the first year under Budenholzer. Minnesota scored at least 120 points in three contests during its four-game sweep of the Suns in 2024.
If Jusuf NurkicĢ and free-agent acquisition Mason Plumlee are able to keep Rudy Gobert off the glass, the Suns might be able to earn some redemption and set the stage for another potential postseason matchup between the two teams. Dallas Mavericks If the Suns are searching for a true test during the regular season, they should look no further than the reigning Western Conference champions. The Dallas Mavericks are coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals, led by the star duo of Luka DoncĢicĢ and Kyrie Irving.
The rosters for both teams look vastly different compared to their hard-fought 2022 second-round playoff series, in which Phoenix was eliminated after winning a franchise-record 64 games in the regular season. However, the individual battles between Booker and DoncĢicĢ are always thrilling. Durant and Irving should also rise to the occasion, as the two were previously teammates on the Brooklyn Nets.
Both teams feature multiple elite perimeter scorers, while the Mavericks were able to make it through the West due to the defensive performances from role players such as Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington.
The Suns could utilize their own specialist on defense against Dallas next season, Ryan Dunn. Phoenix selected the Virginia product in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft after he averaged 1.3 steals and 2.
3 blocks per game during his final season with the Cavaliers. If Dunn is able to carve out a role in Budenholzer's rotation as a rookie, the 6'6" forward could spend some time guarding DoncĢicĢ next season. Season Forecast The Suns' performance in the 2024-25 season will come down to two major factors, health and depth.
Beal was only able to suit up in 53 games during his first season with the team due to ankle and hamstring issues. He hasn't appeared in more than 60 games since the 2018-19 season, and his durability may not get much better at 31 years old. While Phoenix made several moves to improve its depth in free agency, will it be enough to propel the team to the top half of the Western Conference playoff picture? Questions still linger over the Suns entering the regular season, although Booker and Durant should be able to keep the team in the postseason race throughout the year.
While he averaged a career-high 6.9 assists each night last season, Booker should be able to mainly focus on scoring during his 2024-25 campaign after he operated as a point guard for much of the past year. As for Durant, he hasn't showed many signs of slowing down at 35 years old.
He averaged over 27 points per game for the third straight season last year, shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from behind the arc.
Budenholzer was fired at his last stop due to an early playoff exit, although Milwaukee was always a strong regular-season team under his watch. In fact, the Bucks earned the No. 1 seed in the East during three of his five years with the organization.
While the Suns may not finish with the best record in the West, they should avoid falling into the play-in tournament and improve upon their record last season if all three stars are able to remain relatively healthy. Record Prediction: 51-31.
