Fans of the Phoenix Suns would be massively disappointed with their beloved team’s showing in the 2024 playoffs. Despite possessing three of the biggest offensive threats in the league, the Suns were swept by a well-marshal Minnesota Timberwolves team in the first-round. The Suns’ performance in the postseason was a far cry from their preseason ambitions of an NBA title. As a result, Suns’ management decided to fire HC Frank Vogel.

The Phoenix Suns have courted several candidates for their vacant head coaching position. However, it’s former Milwaukee Bucks HC, Mike Budenholzer, that has become the early frontrunner for the position. And if recent reports are to be believed, then it seems that Coach Bud is set to become the next head coach of Phoenix. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Suns and Coach Bud have decided on a salary package worth $10 million per season. However, he further added that “the Suns will essentially be paying $16M for their head coach since Frank Vogel is still owed roughly $6M per season.”

The Phoenix Suns’ move to hire a veteran HC like Mike Budenholzer further goes on to show that owner Mat Ishbia is fully committed to the Kevin Durant experiment. However, ESPN analyst JJ Redick has already declared the ‘KD experiment’ as a failure. During the latest episode of Old Man and the Three podcast, Redick called the Suns’ struggles “shocking,” before going on to point out that the big three had a +/- rating of -51 when they were all on the court in their first-round matchup.

Due to their poor performance in the playoffs, many have suggested that the Kevin Durant era in Phoenix would be short lived. But is that an over-reaction to one bad postseason or will JJ Redick’s prophecy come true?

Are the Phoenix Suns doomed?

Even the most optimistic Phoenix Suns fans would say that the 2023-24 season has been a huge letdown. Preseason odds had the Suns as one of the favorites for the title. However, the Suns capitulated in the playoffs. Now, rumors have begun to circulate that the Suns might look to trade Kevin Durant in order to get back decent role players and much-needed draft capital.

While no concrete proof of that happening has emerged, it surely would be a logical step for a franchise that doesn’t have a first-round draft pick till 2031. Furthermore, the Phoenix Suns’ payroll isn’t looking good either. They will have to pay approximately $150 million in salaries to just the “big three.” As a result, the Suns would have the highest payroll for the 2024-25 season, totaling to $205,893,181.

This amount would easily put the Phoenix Suns over the second apron, which comes with its fair share of disadvantages. If a team falls over the second apron, they wouldn’t be allowed to aggregate contracts in trades. Furthermore, they would be barred from using any pre-existing trade exceptions. With limited maneuverability this offseason, the Suns best option would be to give this team another opportunity and hope that they come good. But that too seems to be wishful thinking.