After Phoenix was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Minnesota, changes were expected. The first move was letting go of Frank Vogel as coach and hiring Mike Budenholzer as his replacement. It was reported by John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the Suns are looking to find a pure point guard to lead the team on the court. The goal is to have a point guard who can play at least 20 minutes per game. This aligns with Budenholzer’s statements at his introductory press conference about the team’s need for a point guard.
In addition to a point guard, the Suns are also looking to add an athletic wing and a backup center, according to the report. However, the challenge lies in their already bloated roster payroll, which is above the second apron. They are facing limitations on the moves they can make due to the salary cap restrictions. With key players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal taking up a significant portion of the salary cap, Phoenix is limited in the funds available to acquire additional players.
Given their financial constraints, the Suns may only be able to sign free agents willing to play for the league minimum. Kyle Lowry is rumored to be their top target, with Kris Dunn also being mentioned as a possible option. Making a trade is another avenue the Suns could explore, but they are limited in their ability to aggregate players in a trade due to being over the second apron. They also cannot add salary in a trade, making it challenging to find suitable deals with their current roster.
Regardless of the obstacles they face, it is likely that the Suns will make moves to acquire a point guard during the offseason. The team is committed to improving and making the necessary changes to be competitive in the upcoming season.