Grading the Phoenix Suns Offseason, Plus Gauging the Future Roster Around Devin Booker
Today unlocked on Phoenix Suns. Just about every move is done. So what grade would we give a very surprising, very exciting Suns off season? Let’s go. You are Locked On Suns, your daily Phoenix Suns podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back in to locked on Phoenix Suns. I’m Brendan Clean, a staff writer at a announcing and a credentialed Suns media member. Thank you for making Locked on Suns first listen here on this Wednesday. Don’t forget Locked on Suns free and available on all platforms including YouTube. Click that follow subscribe button. Do what thousands of other Suns fans have already done. Become an everydayer. Get locked on to the Phoenix Suns right here each and every day. We’re going to get to the future a little bit. what this off season told us about that and one potential future son that just became available out of absolutely nowhere. We’re going to start with grades though. Joining me to do it as always from the wonderful West Valley, my fellow Sunscredential media member. How are we feeling, Ben Garcia? Doing well, man. We are marching along until the summer league comes along. And you know, just a quick teaser, I am stoked for summer league. It’s going to be a fun time. We got some guys in there that are worth watching. So, keeping the content rolling in like a major way, at least until the end of that. And then, listen, after that, just a a short time away till the regular season begins kind of
pretty much half the Suns roster is about to be in Vegas for summer league, it feels like, as things stand now. So, I can’t wait to start getting into those questions about who they
see a little bit of how they want to play and all that. So, yeah, it should be fun. But, uh, let’s just quickly say that the we’re not officially declaring the end of of the summer. Like, I I think you and I are not at 0% likelihood for any of the veterans to be traded outside of Booker. Like, that could still happen. The Nick Richards domino is likely to fall at some point once the other centers like DeAndre Aton and and some of these other guys get wherever they’re going. and maybe, you know, see where the roster spots land. There might be another guy signed, you know, but we know what this team basically is going to look like. Um, on that note, real quick, Taius Jones officially gone to Orlando. What do you think of him getting $7 million?
Dude, that was kind of wild that he got more money than he did last year. I That was my first thought was this guy got more than a vet minimum. Like I get Orlando bringing him in because his talents I still think Taius Jones can be a good basketball player in a different system. That’s something that fits him better. Orlando’s got a lot of length defensive team. They could probably use his shooting off the bench and maybe a playmaking ability, but good for Taius. I mean, he did get that raise that he was trying to get technically just uh probably less than he thought, but we’ll see in the future beyond this, but he also got less than his brother, which I’m sure he was not expecting either. Um, but yeah, so he’s gone and and that pretty much brings us to now. I mean, Gillespie back, Brooks, Green, and Malawatch in for Durant, Nigel Hayes, Davis for one of these wing roster spots in the depth chart, and then the Mark Williams trade on draft night. That’s that’s the whole deal here. Rasheed Fleming and Kobe Brea in the second round, of course, too. And and and that brings us to now. So, Ben, I’ll let you start us off. We’re going to each grade this off season and and kind of tie a bow on it that way. What do you give the Suns for the business they’ve done the past few weeks?
Well, yeah, and you know, maybe something again comes down the line, but the foundation is built. The for the most part, the seven to eight guys are going to be playing every night are probably already here. I’m integrated a little bit to where as as ecstatic as I am about what the Suns have done to transform this roster, it kind of went through I was kind of in no man’s land where when the Suns at first traded off Kevin Durant, I was very much adamant that it was a bad deal. They didn’t get a lot back, but they were able to make me eat my words a little bit and flip some picks around and put players in the right positions to succeed potentially and do really well in the draft. I can’t give them an A or an A+ because like they didn’t land a bigname guy. They’re not overall gonna put themselves over the top to be a finals team or a contender in the Western Conference. But what they did was is potentially make Phoenix Suns basketball more enjoyable to watch and give themselves an identity. So with that being said, I think this team is a solid I think what they’ve done over the offseason, it is a solid B-grade. Like I would go, if we’re going percentages here, like an 85%. I don’t want to give them an A because mostly what they put together is based off of my thought that I believe it will work and they didn’t get back some sort of like allstar player, but also this roster is nothing to sneeze at. This is not a B minus or a Sne or a C job where like they got their guy in the draft and they were able to get players back for KD and turn those into Rashier Fleming. And it kind of makes me see my I’m kind of buying in to this idea that this is the Suns roster more than I would have maybe two weeks ago. So that’s where I would land a solid B. Man, what about you? All right, I feel that. I will say here’s how I look at it. The best thing that I can say, and I guess that sounds like I can’t say a lot of good things, but but the the thing that they nailed is the roster feels cohesive. It feels like it’s building in a direction where all of the moves are resetting in a new direction that can play off of each other. and and a lot of the things that the Suns told us they were going to do at the outset of the summer was, you know, physical big, you know, when you’re playing them, there’s a tenacity to roster spots 1 through 15. They did that and I think that’s really impressive to pivot from one entire type of identity that really traces all the way back to Monty Williams and James Jones to a new look type of team in a couple of weeks. like that’s that’s really impressive and it shouldn’t go overlooked and nailing that at a big picture is is really important. On a more like movebymove level, I think that the biggest moves to me still feel very incomplete. And so while I like the maneuvering up to 31 and 41 to get especially Fleming and you know I would say you know getting Malawatch you do get credit for that of course but some of that is up to how the draft board falls. So I you know that that doesn’t feel like a big move that they made right like that that kind of just happened and they took advantage and that’s great. So, the big moves are Mark Williams and Jaylen Green. Like that to me, those are the two things that that this hinges on, right? Like getting 10 was great. We kind of thought that was happening. I mentioned Malawatch. Okay. Dylan Brooks, he’ll play. He’ll be a positive part of the team, but that’s not really what this was all about. Like the swings that they made are that they can turn Jaylen Green into something either to stay here long term or to become a trade chip and that trading two first round picks for Mark Williams that he is a healthy playable center for this year and potentially beyond. And I can’t fully come down on one side or the other of those yet. So because they are such risks, Ben, like those two moves in particular feel so unsettled and very uh you know high risk, high chance of failing and high chance of you know the reward is great. I’m going to go with the C plus. I I I’m going to knock them a little bit because the big stuff outweighs the small stuff and the big stuff I’m very uncertain about still. That’s where that’s where I’ll go with it.
Yeah, I guess I would push back a little bit when it turns for me. Like the Suns I feel like learned their lesson of instead of just putting talent on the floor, have an identity, know what you’re going to do well, understand what you’re not going to do well, and be able to be that team that, again, we talked about every night, you feel like you played them. And I feel like the Suns have done that where if this team doesn’t work out, I completely see the plan and the vision. What what what was what it was for the past couple years was our plan is we’re just going to be more talented than you. we’re just gonna score more than you. And what we’ve learned over the past couple seasons is that’s not sustainable. So, I give them credit for flipping that on its head, putting a team together that you can see and you’re like, “Oh, I see the vision.” Sure, Mark Williams might get injured, but then you have Malawatch, maybe, who knows, maybe they do end up bringing back Nick Richards. Sure. But for the most part, they brought guys in who are mostly healthy, play games, and I think are going to play well together. Whereas in years past, it’s completely different because it was just we’re just more talented than you. And that’s where I think you learn from your mistakes. You didn’t go big game hunting. And I don’t think the risks were that crazy, especially for Mark Williams. So that’s what I would say to that man. I think that Well, so here’s the thing. I we yeah, we don’t have to debate how big of a risk those trades were. I mean, it’s not going and giving up the farm for Kevin Durant in 2023, but you gave stuff up. If it doesn’t work, that sucks. You’re losing two first round picks, even if they’re bad ones. That was their swing. And if you whiff on that swing, that’s bad. But the the thing I why I focus on those two guys too is you and I seem to agree that they’ve embraced a new roster building style and a clear way of playing that and a and a way of getting personnel that all fits a new mold. I think Green and Williams are the two guys that fit that the worst. You think Williams is
I don’t know what the hell Mark Williams is, man. Like we can’t just pretend like he makes sense in this because he’s not even really anything right now. He’s big. Okay. Well, great. I mean, so is DeAndre Aton. We wouldn’t say DeAndre Aton fit this this new identity of physicality and intensity and force. I’m not saying those two guys are the same. All I’m saying is being big. I’m not just going to give you credit that you’re uh crazy tenacious elite defending center just because you happen to be 71. M
defense is the biggest weakness for him right now. His offensive game is way ahead of his defense from what everybody in Charlotte seems to say and and you know national analysts that I’ve tried to pick up on. And the same thing is obviously true for Jaylen Green where he he he was on a good defense last year but they were better when he was off the court and he hasn’t really seemed to embrace whatever the the longlasting version of himself is going to be to be the best version of himself in the NBA. and and that goes for both of those guys. So to me, if they if they do click into place with what this identity is, it’s gonna go up from a C++. But I don’t I don’t I can’t say that right now. And I’m I bet you if you gave the Suns Truth Serum, I don’t think that they’re sure that those two guys are 100% likely to to click to click in here either. I mean, we know they tried to trade trade Jaylen Green
100%. You’re there’s a reason why when we talked about when I named all the assets that the Suns got back or they moved around, I left out Jaylen Green because I’m still highly skeptical of the fit of him and Devin Booker. 100%. Mark Williams, I still just the thing that I think is the is the biggest worry is his looming extension that he could get. I think he actually get it right now, but it’ll probably wait until next season clearly. But he’s a 15-10 guy, 60% field goal percentage. I think for me it’s mostly about the uh yeah, sure the defensive side as well, but him staying healthy and again getting bigger and upgrading what the Suns have
the whole thing. He’s a he has to be a really good defender to make he’s not going to go go out there shooting threes and posting up and dunking on dudes. He’s going to have to be an amazing defender to meet his potential. Yeah, the aggressiveness I think is something that I think Suns fans will be interested in when it comes to Mark Williams offensively, but I also think like you had mentioned the risk. I think it was worth it to me to be able to take a calculated risk to bring him in and uh uh just give up two first round picks, a 29th overall pick, who you ended up getting the guy you wanted anyways, moving around with second round picks, and then a late first round pick later on, which sure maybe you could use to get assets later, but I like his lob threat ability, big dude. Sure, he’s got to be better defensively. Offensively, he has to play games as well, but I can’t give you much argument when it comes to the Jaylen Green thing. That one, the fit, is still headscratching, and I wonder how that one’s going to work. But because of what the Suns the hand they were dealt in changing things around, I’m going to be a little bit more kinder than them than you will be. And hopefully people
Fair enough.
That That’s a easy point to a good point to make is that they weren’t exactly working with a lot. And so if if you’re looking at it from that standpoint, maybe I am being too harsh. Either way, we’re only a couple uh notches away from each other. B C plus
and a little bit is like what you got. A B is like what you got in class and a C is probably more what I got.
Kind of true. I definitely wouldn’t say I got A’s. I’ll tell you that.
Let’s get to what the Suns are building toward. Is it these guys all turn into star role players around Deon Booker or are we going to be back to trade talk before long? Next. First, today’s show brought to you by Monarch Money. Do you ever look at your bank account and wonder where did it all go? Where did it all go? Whether you’re growing your savings or planning a big purchase, Monarch Money puts you in the driver’s seat. It’s like having your own personal CFO, giving you full visibility and control over all your finances. Monarch Money, more than just a budgeting app. It’s complete financial command center. Track all your accounts, investments, and spending in one place. So, in addition to managing your money, you’re also building wealth. Told you before, look, like we all have some kind of way of tracking this stuff. Like there is a number on your balance when you open the bank app, but are you actually planning toward goals? Are you actually thinking about where to put your money to make more of it or how to save towards something you want to buy and each of the categories of where you’re maybe overspending or whether you could maybe spend some more? Well, that’s what Monarch Money does. So, take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use the code locked on NBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That’s monarchmoney.com code lockdown NBA for half off your first year. All right, let’s keep it rolling, Ben. So, we got a question on X. We’ll use some of the ones that you guys sent in throughout the week, I would say. Um, appreciate everyone who did that and I’m sure there will be even more by the time we’re done recording here. But at BD Hamer sent a pretty good one that I think fits into what we were just doing with the grade there, Ben, which he asked more of a long-term question, but what is their plan for the roster construction going forward? Will they eventually look to get a co-star next to Book or just have a roster full of competent players surrounding him in the next phase? And I think it’s a really good time to ask that question because we’re getting toward the end of the Beal saga. I would imagine at some point they can move Grayson and Royce when they want to. You know, we did we discussed yesterday whether it was worth it to go crazy trying to do that now. And I think we both agree it’s not, but they can at some point. And they’ll be back to a reasonable level of maneuverability before too long. Probably starting next summer. I think Ben, you could say they’ll at least have more many more options if they want them, but we’re also really excited about these young dudes. So, what would you, if you were trying to read Brian Gregory’s mind and look into the crystal ball a little bit just right now, July 1st, 2025, we don’t know anything really. We haven’t even seen these guys play. What do you think their vision is uh as far as the future goes between those two kind of directions? Forget Brian Gregory’s crystal ball. I’m looking into Matt Ishbas after that call with uh with Rich Paul. But I think it would be inauthentic of me to say that even though in the last segment I said that hey they kind of switched up their thinking. I think Matt Ishbia didn’t become as successful as he did not pivoting at least a little bit. But I don’t think he’s ever going to change his identity of who he is and that is big game big star hunting. As much as I want the Suns to be a draft and develop team and maybe strategically find a star player, I would be hesitant to say that that’s what they’re going to do this season. If we want to talk long term, I think you hit the nail on the head in the last segment. I think they’re banging on Jaylen Jaylen uh Jaylen Green. I almost said Jaylen Smith. Jaylen Green while a little while ago banging on him too. Yeah,
I can’t the first day that guys that guy’s name has came my mouth in the past couple years, but I think they’re banking on Jaylen Green having a good season and no one looking that it’s probably on a team that’s may or may not be in the playoffs. They sell him off. They move off of Bradley Beiel next year, open up a lot of cap space potentially or at least bring assets back for Bradley Beal and use those assets flip in another trade. But I think the Suns are looking at just naming names, a Trey Young, a Luca Donic, someone else to pair with Booker for the foreseeable future. And I don’t think Booker would stay here if he didn’t think that that’s what the Suns were doing. As much as I want the Suns to emulate the OKC line of thinking of get SGA and get a bunch of superstar role players, that is a lot easier said than done. So I I would hope that to be honest what they’re doing now.
That’s just their model right now. But Jaylen Williams and Chad Homegrren are are already either already or very soon going to also be stars like, you know, they’re not exactly sitting there with, you know, a bunch of
random scrap heap guys either. Obviously, they were lucky enough to build through the draft and the Suns, you know, bot botched that potential the minute that they traded for Kevin Durant. Like that that’s over. But
I wish that I disagreed with you, but I’ll I’ll put it a little bit differently just to give some more context because um one thing that I think you would have to point out here to look and imagine what the Suns are thinking, we understand based on the reporting around the Kevin Durant trade that the Suns didn’t actually push that hard to get their 2027 first round pick. Now, maybe that’s just spin. Obviously, if they could have had gotten it, they would have loved to have it. But it doesn’t sound like that was make or break for them that they had to have that pick in order to do business with the Rockets. They were fine with Dylan Brooks and Jaylen Green and obviously the 5 seconds and everything else. And that tells me they don’t expect that pick to be anywhere near even number 10 in an ideal world. like they’re expecting to be back being a good team by the time that that pick conveys and especially by 2029. Although Book will be, you know, probably on the tail end of his prime by then and who knows what anything will look like. So, I don’t think the Suns are looking at this as patient and I don’t think they can. But the other part of it too just from a more practical standpoint and like my opinion Ben as exciting as I find you know Malawatch to be for instance even Fleming to be Ryan Dunn to be I don’t look at any of the players including Jaylen Green including Mark Williams and the guys I just named who I think could even realistically become that just by the type of players that they are. I would say honestly the most likely is probably Jaylen Green as crazy as that might sound just because he does stuff that stars do. None of the rest of these guys really do that. So, and he is the worst fit next to book. So, like I that that tells me something too, which is I’m not I like this roster right now for a reset season and to bring you back to respectability and establish an identity and a and a culture and all the things we’re talking about. I do think that there’s a ceiling on what a lot of these guys are going to be and that ceiling is not number two co-star on a on a deep playoff team next to Devin Booker. That that’s just the reality. Can I can I just ask a follow-up question to that because I think it does go forward. Um, which player not named Jaylen Green since you and I both think he might get sold off next year, do you think has the potential to be Jaylen Williams? Like the mo the most that not the potential but the most likely to become that guy even though you’re saying that they probably won’t.
Ryan Dunn,
I agree. Okay, I agree. I just want I was just curious because like and I don’t think that that is going to happen either, but I just if that that would be the ideal world like if one of these guys did step in to be a number two co-star, which again wishful thinking,
then you could kind of build the roster a little bit around those guys. But
well, I’m glad you’re coming back down to earth a little bit on Ryan Dunn because we’ve we’ve had some kind of insane conversations about him in the past.
Uh but I’m not backing down just yet. I’m I’m bringing I’m actually bringing you on slowly.
Gotcha. you’re you’re meeting me where I’m at and then you’re going to convince me back over time. Okay. Uh but like just you know I I don’t even mean that to be like any any kind of crazy insult to be honest with you. I it’s just like what player that looks like Rashir Fleming is a star that doesn’t really happen that like he’s a really high level role player. That’s kind of the mold that you’re bringing him in to be common malw watch like okay maybe he become like I guess if he shoots then you know all all bets are off but like I’ll believe that when I see it. It’s it’s one in a million that guys like that can actually shoot threes at a high level. So,
you know, it he’s probably like a poor man’s Rudy Gobear and that’s a very good thing to have, but Rudy Gobear is not going to be the number two on a title. Like that’s just kind of you go down the list. That’s what it is. So, I think we are on the same page.
Bradley
and you just got to wait. And what about Bradley Beal? That’s going to be the number two co-star. He’s gonna he’s going to figure it out this year. But, you know, we have no clue who or what that will be. And I don’t think it’ll be anytime in the immediate near future. But I would think they’ll probably, hey, let’s get another vet next summer, right? Like, can you turn Beal into a different vet? Can you turn Jaylen Green into a different vet? Dylan Brooks into a different vet. And then that’s one step closer back to where they want to be. And then you keep going from there. Let’s close on the news of the day. A little bit opposite of how we typically do things, but he is not a Suns player, so we left him for the end. Damen Lillard available very shockingly from the Milwaukee Bucks waved and stretched on the Beal special. Could he actually be somebody the Suns pursue? Next, closing out the show, Damen Lillard. Two years almost exactly the amount of money that Bradley Beal had left on his contract. Ben, obviously those two dudes were neck andneck for a long time. Almost the exact same story, holding it out with their bad teams to get monster contracts. And now they both could be awaiting similar fates at the end of those deals. Although of course the difference being Dame had a ruptured Achilles when or was it an Achilles? Yeah, it was when this all came down. And so the Bucks went out and got Miles Turner. And in order to do that, they waved and stretched Damen Lillard for 22 million a year. Basically, the amount that we’ve been talking about with Beal. So, he’s not going to play next season. We know that. Where where do you think this goes? And do you think the Suns could actually factor in here when it’s all said and done? that
I think if I’m getting ahead again in the head of Matt Ishbia, it would be something that he would kick the tires on. But the question then is because you said in our text message, you were like, I don’t know if this guy’s going to get if this guy even wants to sign a deal right now. Maybe he just waits till next year. Personally, I would probably strike while the iron is hot and see if I get a two-year deal with someone and just guarantee money like that because I feel like once you’re not on the court, you’re going to lose money. But I don’t know if I I don’t know if this guy’s gonna
Nobody knows how his his recovery is gonna go. Exactly. I mean I I mean I don’t know. I guess it’s the eye of the beholder. But you you could just as easily make the case this is striking while the iron is very cold. I mean he just blew his
Yeah. But yes, but but when you’re not in the public eye for another 12 months, people are just going to assume you’re worse, which after an injury, all this other stuff or like you’re washed. So, I would think maybe he would try to get a deal somewhere else. But obviously, like if he doesn’t sign a deal next year or this year and he signs one next year, is he a vet minimum guy? And that’s what I’m operating off of that. The Suns are probably only going to give him a vet minimum. I think about again the fit with Booker, the the defensive deficiencies that both guys kind of have. Yeah,
it would be really cool and I joked about it on social media, but I think the wise decision would be to stay away from Damen Lillard. Although I would have my worries that Matt Ishbia might be interested in bringing him in because I can fix him. I’m the guy that can fix him. So, that’s where I land on it. I I just don’t think it’s a good fit. And I wouldn’t want to spend more than a vet minimum on the guy because although his numbers have been good, you got to kind of just watch the games. He hasn’t I don’t think he’s necessarily been the same player as he was as he was in Portland when he was the guy.
Go for it.
He’ll be he’ll be 36 by the time you sign him.
By the time you play him is what I should say. We don’t know when the contract will be signed.
The next season he’ll play the 26 27 season. He’ll be 36 years old.
And already basically his entire career has been one of the worst defenders in the entire NBA.
Yeah. just because of his size and stature and everything. He hasn’t ticked like you said like you you watch him and you can just feel it’s not the same, right? But he hasn’t really like to in in terms of the stats and everything like it’s not that huge of a difference overall. Nope. And this past season was at least better than his first season in Milwaukee. And he recovered from that weird season in Portland where he had like the torn abdominal muscle and we thought his career was maybe ending. like he he’s gonna have something in him, but then you add a torn Achilles and it’s just like I don’t really know what we’re talking about here with anybody uh signing him, whether that’s the Suns or any other team. Now, if you’re like one offensive piece away from a title, of course, you would have you would have to look at this like I mean I could probably think of teams, we don’t know what the league will look like in a year, but there’s going to be squads that that look at themselves and think, “Okay, that guy will will change our fortunes.” But it’s not going to be the Suns for the reasons we just talked about in my opinion that would be able to convince themselves of that because by next summer when they would need to be signing him most likely they’re going to be dealing with where’s Jaylen Green going and where’s Bradley Beiel going and how can we start to you know turn some of this stuff that’s holding us down in the cap sheet into the next actual winning team around Devin Booker. But that’s way too early in the process in my opinion to bring a 36-year-old dude with maybe one, two, three seasons left on at a at a pretty big risk. Maybe it’s just a minimum contract and then I I guess I could be talked into it, but yeah,
it just doesn’t feel right for where this team’s at now or where they’re going to be in a year. I I I just
I honestly don’t I don’t see why he would even want to come either. Like there’s just going to be better opportunities out there for him.
Well, also let’s kind of talk the X’s and O’s aspect of it. Dame is going to be post Achilles injury. Is he going to be able to see himself as I’m not a starter anymore? I tore my Achilles. I’m no longer a starter. And can he be an effective bench player? Like, does he understand that his role would be changing in the league? I’m not sure he would be able to just do that overnight, which is basically what this would be because he was still a very capable and pretty good starter this year with, you know, numbers wise in terms of the Bucks. But would he be willing to take that back seat maybe even to someone like let’s just say Colin Gillespie is really good next year and he’s the new Suns franchise starting point guard and he just signed a three or $30 million deal. I I don’t I don’t know if Dame I don’t know anything about the guy would be willing to take a backseat to anyone and be a backup and that’s where I believe he would probably be at his point of his career post Achilles tear with his deficiencies on defense probably I mean that would probably be at least like you would have to be approaching that as an option with him right is yeah may maybe that’s all he’s going to be so you know I think like Miami has always been linked to him and and there’s going to be teams that could probably fit him in a little better, but I don’t see it for the Suns. And yeah, I mean that that’s just my personal opinion. I don’t see why he would with $113 million headed his way, he doesn’t really need to to rush into anything, you know, and so I I I would guess he waits until next year to worry about it. But I guess
that kind of sucks, man. For a guy with that was like in all reality, Dame is like if Devin Booker tore his Achilles, finally went to a different team because he felt like he could win somewhere else, but he was loyal. He was a fan favorite by a lot of people in the NBA. He always gave it his all for the most part. Like played a lot of games. I know there was some of those phantom injuries towards in the towards that Brooklyn era or sorry towards that uh Trailblazer era but even like last year he played 73 games this year 58 games like it it does kind of suck because he was never someone that people hated and I do kind of hate to see that this dude’s career might be over like it does remind me if Devin Booker tore his Achilles went to a different team later on in his career gave everything he could to Phoenix like I do feel for the guy so I know this isn’t a son’s topic but I Hope the guy does go somewhere. He’s to Portland what Book is to to to Phoenix. I get what you’re saying. But yeah, I mean I I think you’re right. But at the same time, a small guard age 34 like even without the Achilles, it’s probably going to was going to be some hard hard conversations, right? I mean, he he is declining. So it I hope he has some time in him left that he can at least go out on his own terms and this isn’t actually the end. But you’re right, it it is a a crappy way for it all to
It’s a tough parallel. Good for uh good for Milwaukee though, I guess, to still do right by him. I mean, it’s guaranteed money and they got to he gets to pick where he plays next. It’s not like any of that’s any sort of crime. And then they get Miles Turner out of that. So, I mean, who knows? They they were brave enough to cut their crazy expensive aging guard who didn’t fit great. And the Suns, I guess, don’t even have to worry about making that decision because they don’t have Giannis and they’re not trying to win a championship
because of the stretch and wave provision. Like obviously that money is stretched. So his his contract is broken out a little bit.
Miles Turner and Damen Lord are on the books this year for the Milwaukee Bucks. Would you like to guess what Suns player is going to make more than both of them combined? Well, and Booker, but be Yeah.
Well, but but yeah, but we don’t mention Booker. Booker’s better than both of them. But Bradley Peele is going to make more this year than those two combined on the Milwaukee Bucks. That’s kind of insane, dude. But it is
wild. Just wild.
That’ll wrap us up. Hit follow, hit subscribe if you have not already. We’ll have two more shows for you before the week is over as the final moves come into clarity around the NBA. Enjoy your Wednesday. We’ll catch you next time.
The Phoenix Suns made sweeping changes to their roster in recent weeks, so how do they grade out and what does it mean for the future roster around Devin Booker?
Brendon Kleen and Ben Garcia break down the new-look Suns before debating whether Damian Lillard could make sense in the Valley this season or next.
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21 Comments
I canât wait to see you guys eat your words. You keep saying that youâre excited but that the Suns arenât going to compete. I think this team is going to be better than you think. Iâm calling it now, a 6 seed, and winning a playoff series. Screenshot it.
Brandon a sadist
Might be the worst âHostsâ of any Locked On Pod.These guys have little to no optimism.Our team just got younger.Which is good.We will be able to play more uptempo which will make next season fun to watch.What we donât want to do is fast track these young players.Let them stumble and figure it out.I for one love the direction this team is headed.You guys act like you were gonna get an Anthony Edwardâs or a Luka Doncic in return for a 37 year old Kevin DurantđâŚthese guys are absolutely nuts.
today hi guys
Mark man handled the Suns last year. That is exactly the mentality we need for this team to be fun to watch
l give the suns a A for draft
the suns will be ok might take some time to gel together
The Kool Aid is flowing. The Durant deal was not good. The center falling is nice, but going on about second round picks and minimum pick ups remaking the roster is just copium. Play in is a stretch.
no optimism yall?
was it me or did Ben make some good points today gj
Brendan usually has the best and most ground level takes. Im not in agreement really this time. Like yeah it sucks if mark Willamâs doesnât hit but itâs not a âhuge riskâ its just not lol but I see for the suns those late 20s picks are more valuable compared to other teams considering we donât control own draft capital. Or control our own future. Worst case scenario he gets a serious injury and we canât trade him for anything or extend him. Best case scenario he stays healthy we win a little and we extend him and now heâs trade chip worth multiple first rounders again and we still have the building block in the draft at 10
Dont be so sure this roster is set….there still could be some big moves on the summerâď¸ horizon…
-Brian Gregory
Summer LasVegas onlly benefits the league. Otherwise, its meaningless. Lonely Dame will chose a contender
Luka isnât coming here buddy đ
Today
10:45 brendon you donât know what youâre saying currently, WATCH HIS GAMES YOURSELF
The suns are trying to build ther name back as a destination place and also having great chemistry. Its a great place to go to live (thats why Beal wants to stay) Great to retire, real good fans and also Ishbia got a wake up call. Durant always been a diva to me and we made excuses for him. Hes not a leader. Hes an known role player that has superstar talent behind the superstar. The suns will be a playoff team. They just need a point guard to make them go further.
Dame would be Better than BEAUL
Itâs definitely an A so far considering there options they had they did the best they possibly could
Mark Williams plays with force when he plays. Heavy dunks and high flying ability with emphatic blocks on defense
yaâll are a lil too pessimistic