Phoenix Suns Ranked as Third-Tier NBA Team

PHOENIX — Have the Phoenix Suns improved in the offseason?

The Suns underwent no major changes, largely due to their position in the second tier of the luxury tax and the fact that Phoenix’s stars remained in the Valley, along with a few key players.

Still, a few names came and went as the Suns looked to bolster their lineup for the 2024-25 season.

The Athletic recently ranked the NBA teams into tiers after much of the offseason was over and discussed whether they’ve made progress in recent months.

Phoenix ended up in Tier 3, a category simply referred to as playoff teams.

In fact, the Suns were ranked 12th in the standings.

Level 1 (title candidates): Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets

Level 2 (on the brink of disagreement): New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks

Level 3: (Playoff Teams): Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers

Zach Harper on whether the Suns have improved in the offseason:

“I think the Suns are a little bit better. Mason Plumlee should be an upgrade over Drew Eubanks. Monte Morris is a better fit for their backcourt needs than Eric Gordon,” Harper said.

“Ultimately, it will come down to how this team performs under new coach Mike Budenholzer. Will the stars be healthier and take more responsibility in their championship-building endeavors? Can they get Bradley Beal to care in that way? Will Kevin Durant, who turns 36 in September, physically be able to handle whatever is asked of him?

“The Suns have a lot of talent, but there are still so many questions.”

Harper hit the nail on the head: the Suns are still one of the most talented teams in the league, but the pieces of the puzzle still need to fall into place before their championship aspirations become a reality.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia believes continuity will help Phoenix enter next season – You can read more about it here.