Phoenix Suns Are Still Feeling the Effects of Going All-In

The 2020's decade has been up-and-down for the Phoenix Suns, as the organization has experienced highs to the extent of reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, while also going through lows such as striking out on going all-in on a big three in the summer of 2024.

The moves to secure Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal not only left Phoenix asset-strapped, they also placed them firmly in the second apron - something of a mechanical hard-cap to discourage team governors from repeating what the Golden State Warriors did by signing Durant in 2016.

The new CBA was designed to restrain ambitious owners such as Phoenix's Mat Ishbia, with the Suns going through the ebbs and flows of this mechanism. The Suns were forced to exclusively hand out minimum-level contracts after trading for Beal, with the organization striking out on flyers such as Keita Bates-Diop, Yuta Watanabe, and others. 

The conclusion of the 36-win 2024-25 season saw the organization work to escape the second apron while also replenishing the asset chest to some extent, but they are still struggling to completely climb out of that mammoth commitment.

Phoenix did manage to get one of their own draft picks back, while also pushing to land cost-controlled talent such as Jordan Goodwin to maximize what the organization is able to acquire at the moment.

Even with the maneuvering (trading Durant, waiving Beal, etc.) the Suns still stand just $19,456,854 below the second apron, which simply expresses just how challenging it is for franchises (even big market ones) to make it through the process unscathed - with NBA Players Association representatives even going as far to state that teams are making non-basketball decisions to part with players.

This may even be the case for the Suns, as they parted with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale to acquire Miles Bridges. The former Charlotte Hornet has long been coveted by the Suns, but the tax break that moving two players for one provides likely served as the final reason to complete a deal. 

The moral of this story? Ishbia has likely learned from his mistakes, now putting full trust in GM Brian Gregory to navigate a wild-west landscape that the second apron era has opened up. Phoenix will always be aggressive when necessary, and won't shy away from winning basketball games - but the next seismic move will be approached with much more care.