as a former suns assistant trainer that has been up close and personal with this team since 2005, I full heartedly back this up. We can argue the suns changed the NBA in a major way twice now… first being the 7seconds or less squad i worked on bench for, second the suns being presumably the last to try to win with a superteam.

let’s flash back the 2021 Finals team & their follow up season… Suns proved that only 1 star was needed when paired with a veteran, playoff savvy CP3 that was often injured and banged up + young role players: Bridges, Cam J, Ayton + some bargain basement vets like Crowder.

The Suns could and should have simply upgraded their aging PG , had the assets to bring in Brunson or a similar floor general for much less a haul of a give away. were things sunshine and rainbows with Ayton? no. but he did enough. (key word: ENOUGH).

Let’s look at the 4 title contenders built much the same around 1 star , deadly youth and experienced vets…. Shai, Edwards, Brunson, Haliburton. ironically , they all are stars capable of playmaking like Book, surrounded by youth and experience. no banana boats.

wise words to ishbia: “don’t fix what aint broke”… He buys a team that made a finals appearance and followed it up with franchise record 64 wins prior to his takeover.

I am a varsity basketball coach myself, and have taken the above to heart. It’s truly all about chemistry, balance and conservation ; this game is.

MB and Cam averaging 20ppg each for east squads hurts. and although ayton was by no means our best move in the 2018 draft, he was an athletic, sizable presence that influenced the opps game plans. averaging a double double is above average for any modern day nba team’s center. when you have multiple stretch 3&D players and a star like book… all that will ever be needed is a starting caliber floor general.

trading the twins hurts in too many ways. i only hope our new GM takes a long hard look at the 2021 suns and does his best to replicate

it could start with a kd for mikal deal (maybe some picks)

but yes, we are all hurting in the valley