Phoenix Suns News: $13,400,000 Penalty Overshadows NBA Trade Excitement for Kevin Durant & Co

After a dismal start to the 2023-24 season, the Phoenix Suns are having a resurgent second half of the season. Since the Christmas Day games, they have been one of the hottest teams in the league, securing victory in 17 out of 23 games played during that period. The Suns current occupy the 5th spot in the Western Conference standings, with 31 wins from 52 games.

The Suns further strengthened their roster on the deadline day, adding the likes of Royce O’Neale from the Brooklyn Nets and David Roody from the Memphis Grizzlies. These trade deadline moves have delighted Bradley Beal. Following the Suns’ 129-115 victory over the Jazz, Beal expressed his excitement about teaming up with Royce O’Neale. He said, “I’m excited. I’ve been a fan of Royce from afar. We have a lot of mutual friends. He just fits the mold of what we’re building and we’re excited to have him for this push.”

However, in order to acquire O’Neale and Roody, the Suns had to part ways with some key contributors, like Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, Jordan Goodwin and Keita Bates-Diop, on the trade deadline. Suns’ HC Frank Vogel thanked the old guard, but also claimed that he’s “really excited about the guys we have coming in.”

But having said that, their roster upgrades have come at a cost, around $13.4 million to be specific. Currently, the Suns are one of nine teams that ESPN estimates would be in the second apron from the 2024-25 season. However, while all other teams either maintained or decreased their payroll, the Suns increased theirs by $13.4 million. The franchise management is taking a calculated risk of winning the NBA title this season. But will that pay off?

Can the Suns win the 2024 NBA title?

The Suns are among a handful of teams with a realistic shot at clinching the 2024 NBA championship. With star players like Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker, they pose a significant challenge to even the strongest contenders in the league. Moreover, the addition of O’Neale and Roody could prove to be crucial in the postseason. O’Neale’s excellent 3-and-D capabilities would add another dimension to their defense as well as their offense.

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However, the Suns’ strengths are also their weaknesses. Due to the massive contracts of their ‘big three’, the Suns lack quality bench options. The lack of quality bench options could come back and haunt the Suns in the postseason, where the depth of the bench becomes crucial. But only time will tell whether the Suns can overcome this glaring weakness or not. Can the Suns win the 2024 NBA title? Let us know in the comments below!

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