Hanifan's Offseason Outlook: Evaluating the Phoenix Suns' 2025 offseason

Heat Suns — (Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)

For our second annual offseason outlook series, Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! We have already completed the Eastern Conference, so we will proceed in alphabetical order with the West before capping it all off with the Miami Heat. Today, we will be evaluating the Phoenix Suns’ offseason.

Past Previews:

Sept. 1: Atlanta Hawks
Sept. 2: Boston Ce l tics
Sept. 3: Brooklyn Nets
Sept. 4: Charlotte Hornets
Sept. 5: Chicago Bulls
Sept. 6: Cleveland Cavaliers
Sept. 7: Detroit Pistons
Sept. 8: Indiana Pacers
Sept. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
Sept. 10: New York Knicks
Sept. 11: Orlando Magic
Sept. 12: Philadelphia 76ers
Sept. 13: Toronto Raptors
Sept. 14: Washington Wizards
Sept. 15: Dallas Mavericks
Sept. 16: Denver Nuggets
Sept. 17: Golden State Warriors
Sept. 18: Houston Rockets
Sept. 19: Los Angeles Clippers
Sept. 20: Los Angeles Lakers
Sept. 21: Memphis Grizzlies
Sept. 22: Minnesota Timberwolves
Sept. 23: New Orleans Pelicans
Sept. 24: Oklahoma City Thunder

Evaluating the Phoenix Suns’ 2025 offseason:

Additions: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Jared Butler, Damion Baugh,

Subtractions: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Tyus Jones, Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, Damion Lee, Bol Bol, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee

Re-signed: Devin Booker

Draft: Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall), Rasheer Fleming (No. 31), Koby Brea (No. 41)

Hanifan’s outlook: The Suns, coming off a disastrous 36-win campaign, had one of the busiest offseasons in the NBA.

They didn’t make the playoffs under first-year head coach Mike Budenholzer with one of the league’s highest payrolls and didn’t own their own first-round pick. Changes needed to be made.

Phoenix hired both general manager Brian Gregory (for James Jones) and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to replace Budenholzer.

After rumors surfaced about the Suns shopping Kevin Durant at the deadline, the league’s worst-kept secret was that his time in Phoenix was over. The Suns ultimately traded him for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick and five second-round picks. They could’ve done much worse, even though I think Green’s fit next to Booker is … well, questionable.

Phoenix also cut ties with Bradley Beal, buying out his two-year deal and stretching his remaining $96 million over the next five years ($19.4 million per year), putting the Suns directly at the $23.2 million max of dead money they can have on their books.

As a result, the Suns ducked $18.1 million below the second apron and $6.3 million below the first apron.

It came at a cost of long-term flexibility, but it needed to be done because this team was nowhere near competing. Beal’s contract was untradable — literally. You can’t hamstring your cap sheet and not compete in any circumstance, let alone in today’s NBA, where every dollar matters.

This team won’t be good. I don’t know how I feel about the Booker extension unless they’re able to turn around this ship in 2-3 years max — maybe sooner. It’ll look better in due time, but that’s still a lot of money for a team that’s not competing.

I was very high on both Maluach and Fleming pre-draft. I liked buying low on Mark Williams, shoring up their frontcourt with two incredibly lengthy vertical spacers (who are both good shot-blockers). Fleming is a physical freak, fitting the prototypical 3-and-D wing mold. Though I understand the questions about whether his shot will translate (I’m a believer).

You could argue that Brea was the best pure shooter in the class. He’s two seasons removed from leading the entire NCAA in 3-point percentage. That doesn’t happen by accident. There’s a role for him somewhere in the NBA, even if he’s a one-trick pony.