After Another Catastrophic End To Season, Devin Booker Holds Suns’ Big-3 & Coach Vogel Accountable: ‘Can’t Be Unprepared’

The sun won’t be shining brightly in Phoenix for some time. The talented backcourt of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal ended their haphazard season with a series sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns, despite having 3 players capable enough to bolster a franchise, never got into the winning bracket throughout the 4 games. The young guns left Phoenix in the dust with their quick step on offense and a foundational defense on the other side of the floor.

So, as the Suns packed their bags for an early off-season, Devin Booker addressed the fine details of the game that the franchise needs to work through. “Defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding,” Booker initiated a spree of statistical lopsidedness from the games, diverting his team away from garnering extra possessions. With that, he claims “communication trumps all,” while citing that the roster failed to maintain chemistry as well. Ultimately, Booker expects that “everybody is feeling the same type of hurt,” while putting Kevin Durant, Beal, and head coach Frank Vogel on the spot. “If we’re the leaders of the team, we can’t be out there unprepared,” he summarizes his expectations for the coming season.

In the 2023–24 season, despite having the entire off-season to work through chemistry building and cohesion, the Suns’ failed to bring the roster together under the same umbrella. It seemed like the team never knew the script, as they failed to be on the same page as its backcourt for the majority of the season. Moreover, as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker responded to the call of tough games, Beal’s absence prevented the Suns from truly harmonizing their Big 3.

What changes can Devin Booker and the company see in the near future?

Considering his Phoenix Suns began to be the “best team” in the league, Mat Ishiba now has a year of experience spearheading an NBA franchise – having a talented backcourt is not enough. Now, a probability arises that the Suns, realizing the lack of potential on the major chunk of the roster, could work towards cutting up from their projected salary of $200+ million alongside $100+ million in luxury tax.

Moreover, with their recent loss, the Suns have now faced three consecutive playoff exits; that too on their home court. Monty Williams’ firing from last year did not change much in the team’s chances. In fact, it resulted in a rather lower performance, as Williams took the team to the Finals in 2021, posted a franchise record season the next year, and a second-round entry in the third.

While it hints at a coaching change, there is a slight chance that Isihiba would let Vogel mount a re-run with the team. However, James Jones, who helped the Suns forge a top-heavy team, could see the exit door. Currently, the Suns, despite their talents, remain one of the 10 teams to never win a title. With that and the loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves is going to haunt them for quite some time. What else should Ishiba orchestrate to help craft a contending roster?