Did the Phoenix Suns find the missing piece to the puzzle of becoming a contending team by acquiring All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder?
In a pre-draft trade, the Suns’ ship Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, and a 2022 first-round pick to the Thunder.
The now-former Thunder lead guard is coming off an All-Star season. Along with the veteran leadership he’s known for, Paul produced consistently on the court. He also assisted in the ascension of second-year guard Shai Gildeous-Alexander. There were games when the team played good basketball for three quarters, and then the 10-time all-star would take over in the fourth quarter and close contests. Scouts viewed the Thunder as a team in a rebuild; instead, Oklahoma City became a playoff team as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. In one season, Chris Paul earned the respect of the Oklahoma City fans.
Translate that leadership to Phoenix, and you have a perfect match.
Outside of center Aron Baynes, no player on this Suns roster, last season was over 28 years old. They were a young talented squad that struggled to come together as a unit throughout the regular season. They showed flashes of potential, yet never consistently.
The NBA bubble arrived in late July, and tall of a sudden, the Suns looked like the most cohesive team in the tournament. Winning all eight regular-season matchups in Orlando was a step in the right direction for the franchise. Head Coach Monte Williams is also a key component.
With shooting guard Devin Booker scoring the ball and center Deandre Ayton improving his game, the Suns’ squad is poised to compete. Paul will help these players master their intelligence on the court. Phoenix has the opportunity to improve into a perennial playoff contender for years to come now, with Paul leading the way. The future appears to be bright in the desert.