PHOENIX SUNS

ESPN panel’s hot and cold predictions paint unclear picture of Suns

Aug 20, 2024, 9:42 AM

Kevin Durant at Fanatics Fest...

Kevin Durant speaks onstage during the Fanatics Fest NYC 2024 at Jacob Javits Center on August 17, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)

(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)

If we’re to call the Phoenix Suns a superteam, it is about the roster construction more than the expectations.

The expectations aren’t exactly super high.

Still, Phoenix would not surprise anyone if it finished 2024-25 as a top-10 team or even a top-five team because of its three stars. It would not surprise us, either, if there is stumbling and bumbling like last time around. The low floor and high ceiling again cropped up when ESPN put together an NBA panel that was polled about the 2024-25 season’s yearly awards and more.

A lot of the discussion around the Suns starts with Kevin Durant. He got a single point and ranked 10th in the voting as most likely to win MVP.

But Durant was also among the mentioned players as the most likely star to request a trade, behind New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Chicago’s Zach LaVine and Atlanta’s Trae Young. Durant was tied with Miami’s Jimmy Butler with two points in the voting.

It’s hard to shed that reputation.

Another crazy juxtaposition: The Suns received the fourth-most votes among teams to make a leap from last season, behind the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Memphis (Ja Morant is back) and San Antonio (Victor Wembanyama’s improvement) make sense, while there remains faith in Golden State figuring things out in the post-Klay Thompson era.

If you believe in first-year Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, then it makes sense to believe in Phoenix. He received at least a vote as a coach of the year candidate.

But the Suns also were tied for the eighth-most points when the ESPN panel was asked which teams are expected to see the most turmoil.

Leading the list of teams expected to hit choppy waters are the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. Then comes the Hawks, Bulls, Nuggets, Bucks, Heat and Warriors. Again, all of them are teams with star players and, thus, high expectations.

Here’s the list of the ESPN panelists’ categories that mentioned the Suns:

Who will win NBA MVP?

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
9. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
10. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Who will win NBA Coach of the Year?

1. Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks
2. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
4. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
5. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers
7. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
8. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
9. Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
10. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic

Others receiving votes: Ty Lue, LA Clippers, Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix Suns, Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings, Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves, Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors, Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks

Which teams will make a major leap?

1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Phoenix Suns
T5. Milwaukee Bucks
T5. Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Shorthanded Suns hit wall offensively in loss to Nuggets

It was a steep uphill climb for the shorthanded Phoenix Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.

20 hours ago

Bol Bol...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Bol Bol throws wild behind-the-back pass, sets up Damion Lee 3-pointer

Bol Bol took advantage of early minutes against the Nuggets by throwing a wild behind-the-back pass for an assist and following it up with a dunk.

22 hours ago

Tom Izzo...

Associated Press

Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight’s Big Ten record with Mat Ishbia on hand for championship reunion

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight's Big Ten record for wins with Suns owner Mat Ishbia among the former champions attending for their team reunion.

1 day ago

Suns' Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal questionable against the Denver Nuggets....

Arizona Sports

Suns rule Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal out for Saturday’s game vs. Nuggets

The Suns listed Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as questionable for Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets.

1 day ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns avoid disaster, secure OT win via Booker and Allen heroics

We are better off not reviewing where the Phoenix Suns' 135-127 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz lands on the spectrum between nearly disastrous loss and spirit-lifting win.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots in front of Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler during the f...

Lance Hartzler

Devin Booker drops season-high 47, Grayson Allen hits buzzer-beater in win over Jazz

Devin Booker dropped a season-high 47, and Grayson Allen hit a pair of clutch 3s en route to a win over the Utah Jazz Friday night.

2 days ago

ESPN panel’s hot and cold predictions paint unclear picture of Suns