Subscribe
Follow Us
The Phoenix Suns have struck the first blockbuster of the 2020 NBA offseason.
Phoenix is in a principled agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder on a deal that will send Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick (with protections) in exchange for Chris Paul and Abdel Nader.
Paul's move from OKC to Phoenix could mark a seismic shift in the Western Conference, especially with the Houston Rockets experiencing internal turmoil.
The Suns now pair Paul with two of the best young stars in the NBA in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Phoenix also has a legitimate 3-and-D wing in Mikal Bridges, the No. 10 pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft, and potentially nearly $20 million in projected cap space depending on when this trade is consummated.
Needless to say, the Suns are primed to make a massive leap next year.
Paul had a drastic impact on OKC's young roster last season. Phoenix is hoping he has a similar impact on their roster.
Here are three predictions for CP3 in his first year with the Suns.
1. 17 points, 10 assists per game
There is reason to believe Paul will be a legitimate double-double candidate in Phoenix.
In the past, it was hardly a surprise to see Paul tally double figures in both points and assists. However, he has not averaged a double-double since the 2015-16 season, when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
But the Suns have the perfect roster to complement Paul's scoring ability and court vision. Booker will not have to be nearly the distributor he has had to be in the past couple years, and defenses will have to respect Paul's perimeter shooting and shot-creating ability, both of which are superior to what Rubio provided last year.
This should allow Booker to fully maximize his potential as an off-ball threat who can score coming off screens and execute a number of one-dribble pull-up jumpers. Booker's pure scoring ability makes things pretty easy for Paul as the orchestrator of the offense.
The Paul-Ayton pick-and-roll duo will also lead to scoring opportunities. Paul's ability to finish through contact at the rim will force defenders to make tough decisions on screens, while Ayton is capable of diving to the rim or popping for jump hooks or mid-range jumpers.
Plus, the Suns could easily add some more floor-spacing options, whether by drafting a wing with the No. 10 overall pick or using cap space in an attempt to sign someone like Danilo Gallinari or Davis Bertans, among other stretch bigs.
Phoenix should have a diverse group of scorers on the floor at any given time. That makes Paul a legit double-double candidate for the first time in five years.
2. Top 10 in defensive rating
Perhaps one of the most underrated aspects in terms of Phoenix's 2019-20 season was the fact they ranked toward the middle of the pack in defensive rating.
The Suns ranked 29th in that category during the 2018-19 campaign, but jumped all the way to 17th last season.
Expect another big leap on that end of the floor with Paul in the defensive backcourt.
Paul is a gritty and competitive defender. He plays physical with opposing guards, and he has quick hands that can rip players attempting to get into the paint.
Article Continues Below
The competitiveness is especially notable. Paul is likely to inspire a good deal more effort from Phoenix's youngsters on the defensive end of the floor, which bodes especially well for someone like Booker.
Throw in the fact Bridges can guard multiple positions at a high level and the Suns can add another wing in the draft, and you have a very capable defensive team.
Continued strides on the defensive end of the floor will unlock Phoenix's full potential. Considering the personal they figure to have next year, it is reasonable to expect the Suns will rank in the top 10 in defensive rating.
3. 50+ wins
So, the Suns will have plenty of scoring options. They could see more year-over-year improvement on the defensive end of the floor.
What kind of result can fans expect?
It might not be a stretch to suggest this Phoenix team can win over 50 games, even in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Remember, the Suns went undefeated in Orlando, narrowly missing out on the play-in tournament for the eighth and final seed in the West.
Phoenix won 15 more games this past year than it did during the 2018-19 campaign, despite the fact the Suns played nine fewer regular-season games and also lost Ayton early in the year due to suspension.
The sky would seem to be the limit for this Suns team with Paul joining the fold.
Paul makes everyone around him better. Booker is already a star, but could reach new heights with Paul leading the ship. Ayton quietly averaged over 18 points and 11 boards last year, but he could also just now be discovering the full extent of his potential.
Granted, the Suns have to account for the loss of Oubre, who was a budding wing star last year and a viable scoring option. However, they should have their share of options in the draft, whether it be someone like Devin Vassell, Saddiq Bey or Aaron Nesmith. Perhaps even a defensive-minded guy like Isaac Okoro to bolster that end of the floor.
But Phoenix has the roster complexion and future resources to be one of the best teams in the West. It should result in the team's first 50-win season since 2009-10, when the Suns made it all the way to the conference finals.
This might seem like a high bar to set for a team that has not made the playoffs in over a decade. But Paul is a proven winner, and the Suns are as talented as any group in the NBA.
