Running it back in the Western Conference is a daunting task, especially with the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Russell Westbrook and a bevy of proven players this offseason. With that said, the Phoenix Suns are still the favorites to repeat as Western Conference champions.
The Suns went from being the 13th seed in the West in March of 2020 to going 8-0 in the NBA bubble four months later. A year later, they won the West. Fortunately for head coach Monty Williams, he has the luxury of the majority of his rotation returning for next season.
Chris Paul re-upped with Phoenix on a partially guaranteed four-year, $120 million deal. Cameron Payne and Frank Kaminsky re-signed with the Suns while they added veteran shot blocker JaVale McGee and point guard Elfrid Payton on one-year deals. All the while, the likes of many homegrown Suns players are just getting started. The Lakers aren't in the same position.
Devin Booker was a man possessed in the NBA postseason. He continues to grow into a more dominant scorer and shooter by the day. Deandre Ayton is a force in the paint and hits the boards at a high level.
A “three-and-d” skill set already in his arsenal, Mikal Bridges has grown into one of the best perimeter shooters and defenders, yes, but also someone who chimes in at a plausible rate in the scoring department.
Cameron Johnson is an athletic frontcourt scorer capable of stretching the floor. Jae Crowder is a physical defender and proven outside shooter. While 36, Paul remains one of the best midrange shooters and floor generals in the NBA with an ability to significantly hinder his defensive assignment. Payne showcased an ability to be a reliable ball-handler last season and is a smooth shooter from distance.
Landry Shamet, who was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, is a career 39.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc. Maybe second-year center and former number 10 overall draft selection Jalen Smith has an encouraging second season as a reliable backup center?
The Suns have depth, offensively versatility, a healthy mix of veterans and youth and a head coach going into year three of running the show. If Paul, who has dealt with many injuries late in seasons in recent memory, encounters a hiccup, the Suns have the depth and budding stars to make up for his absence.
Furthermore, the two hallmarks for the Suns last season were shooting and defense. Offensively, they were second in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.0 percent) and seventh in three-point shooting percentage (37.8 percent). Defensively, they were fifth in opponent three-point shooting percentage (35.4 percent) and seventh in opponent points per game (109.5). These positive traits are sustainable.
The Suns aren't going anywhere. As for their competition in the West, it shouldn't be as fierce as years past primarily due to significant injuries in the conference. The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets will be without one of their stars and offensive focal points for the bulk of the 2021-22 NBA season due to ACL injuries (Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray).
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers' future is in a holding pattern due to the precarious future of their superstar point guard, Damian Lillard, while the Utah Jazz keep hitting a second-round wall.
Now, the Golden State Warriors are getting healthier and deeper, the Memphis Grizzlies could climb up the conference given their gritty core and the Lakers should be improved.
Regarding the latter, though, the Lakers have 10 players who are 32 or older. Plus, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are coming off injury-riddled seasons. There's also the element of how the two stars will fare with Westbrook handling the rock.
Concerning the Warriors, Klay Thompson has missed back-to-back seasons due to injury while Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have piled up a handful of injuries of late. Health is a legitimate question for head coach Steve Kerr's rotation.
The Suns essentially investing max-level money in a 36-year-old signals that they're of the mindset that they can get back to the NBA Finals next season, where they blew a 2-0 series lead to the Milwaukee Bucks in gut-wrenching fashion.
Booker, Ayton, Bridges and Johnson will continue to grow more productive and impactful. Paul's pedigree as a veteran, two-way lead guard and someone with a wealth of postseason experience surely played a role in the aforementioned players' growth.
Every contender in the West has question marks attached to their potential success with the Suns being no exception. However, their question mark is one that they're built to get around and got around in the playoffs last season, that being Paul's health. They have continuity, a roster that complements itself well and loose ends that don't necessarily concern age or depth.
The Phoenix Suns have their work cut out for them to return to the NBA Finals, as any team has in the West over the last decade. At the same time, they're the most well-equipped team to win the conference… more than the Lakers.
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