It has been a forgettable season for the Phoenix Suns, to say the least. The team from Arizona ended its campaign with a disappointing 36-46 record that saw them miss out on the postseason. And who would believe the Suns’ downfall despite having a star-studded lineup featuring the likes of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal? While they’ve been hard hit by injuries throughout the season, when healthy, they haven’t helped their cause either. In addition to having an expensive roster that failed to translate onto the court, the Suns also have a coaching star who is the highest costing in NBA history. However, even that hasn’t helped them overcome the setbacks they’ve faced one after the other this season. So, change seemed inevitable in Arizona, but it has come much sooner than many expected.

The Suns have released a statement announcing that they’ve parted ways with their head coach, Mike Budenholzer. “Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.” The Phoenix Suns stated. This move was a long time coming as Budenholzer reportedly failed to connect with the team’s roster. Moreover, the results were not too reassuring as well. This means Phoenix will have a fourth head coach in four years under new owner Mat Ishbia. It’s true that it has been an underwhelming season for the Suns, but making Budenholzer the scapegoat of this mess feels a bit unfair. The whole operation didn’t ever look like it was going to work. Nevertheless, Budenholzer will take a sigh of relief knowing that the Suns owe him a massive $40 million over four years. Reason? That’s because he inked a five-year deal just last year.

What’s more bizarre is that Mat Ishbia and Co. are now paying three head coaches on their payroll. Phoenix is paying Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and now Mike Budenholzer not to coach their team. That’s something you don’t hear every day, do you? It’s funny how things work. However, ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst anticipated this ahead of the curve. During a recent episode of his podcast, ‘Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective,’ he, along with his guests Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon, discussed the next move for Phoenix. They anticipated that Budenholzer’s firing was going to come sooner or later. But what lies ahead for Phoenix? “I don’t know who you can hire that can fix the situation, but it’s not, they’re not a coach away. It wasn’t Frank Vogel’s fault last year. You know, clearly. They’re still paying Frank. Bring him back.” Windhorst and his guests suggested reflecting on the terrible situation in Arizona. 

The 51-year-old Vogel is currently serving as a coaching consultant for the Dallas Mavericks. This came after his stint at Phoenix when they axed him just after a single season. Under Frank Vogel, the Suns finished the season with a 49-33 record despite being injury-riddled and not having much depth. He was then replaced by Budenholzer over the summer. Windhorst and his guests believe that the current state of this poorly constructed Phoenix roster isn’t a coaching change away from success. So, paying four coaches at once isn’t a great idea. On the contrary, more changes should be implemented, starting with rebuilding their top-heavy roster. And what’s better than letting go of an aging superstar?

A huge off-season awaits for Kevin Durant as his future rests on 4 teams

Transfer rumors have followed the Phoenix Suns throughout the season. From Bradley Beal’s saga to Devin Booker and now Kevin Durant. However, after such a disappointing campaign, Phoenix’s Big Three’s days seem limited. Well, to be honest, the Big Three have yielded no results over the past couple of seasons they’ve shared the floor. With Mike Budenholzer now out of the picture, the franchise’s next big move will be trading a few of their big pieces to build flexibility. Moreover, on top of that list seems to be the Slim Reaper himself, Kevin Durant. The Suns are reportedly looking to ship Durant with just a year remaining on his massive $189 million four-year contract.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Suns are “expected to engage in trade conversations involving Durant.” Phoenix is also expected to trade another player from the Big Three, Bradley Beal. However, his no-trade clause is going to make things far more tricky than Durant’s situation. Durant has been a topic of trade for some time now. Ahead of the deadline, a move to the Warriors was projected, but that two-time champion nixed a reunion with Stephen Curry. Now, according to NBA journalist Evan Sidery, Durant’s future lies in the hands of four teams, and the Warriors are not one of them. “Teams like the Knicks, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Rockets could make aggressive pursuits for Durant this summer if they flame out early.” Sidery wrote on X.

So, this season’s playoffs will play a massive role in deciding Kevin Durant’s future. Durant has been brilliant this season despite his team not faring well. The 36-year-old forward has averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. The Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and the Rockets have all shown interest in him previously, especially the Rockets. So, perhaps they’ll finally pull the trigger and bring the superstar to Houston. It will be interesting to see where Kevin Durant ends up. In the meantime, we can only wait and watch how Phoenix’s front office approaches the offseason.