30 Days, 30 Teams - Suns, putting things right, rebuilding around Booker

12:10am, 9 October 2025

After being replaced by Durant, the team experienced several consecutive failed seasons. The original finals team struggled to even enter the play-offs.

Paying the most expensive luxury tax, the results are unsatisfactory.

Taiyang paid expensive tuition.

Last season the team’s defensive efficiency was 27 in the league, its rebounding efficiency was 25 in the league, and its proud offensive efficiency was only ranked 13 in the league. Only its three-point shooting rate was unsatisfactory, ranking third in the league.

In the end, the team missed the play-offs due to continuous core injuries, which was shocking.

The Suns learned from the pain in the new season and decided to rebuild around Booker.

Sending away Kevin Durant is the most important step.

The frustrated Bill was laid off.

In terms of signings, the Suns began to pursue practicality and youth.

The team quickly became younger.

Green joins as a partner for Booker in the team's back line. Whether he can fulfill his talent will be better than when he was with the Rockets. This is what the Suns like about him.

The addition of Dillon Brooks has greatly strengthened the team's defensive strength on the wings. He can bring the tough defense the Suns need most.

Ma Wei was traded to the Suns just after the trade dispute with the Lakers last season. It seems that the Hornets are not optimistic about his health problems.

But for the Suns' interior level, which was last season last season, it will definitely be an improvement.

The draft is also where the Suns focus on strengthening.

No. 10 pick Maluac and second-round pick Fleming are both likely to get a lot of playing time in the new season.

Coupled with Dunn last season, Iguodaro is an important rotation for the team, and may even enter the starting lineup directly.

Rejuvenation is one of the most important principles for the Suns this season.

The Suns will reshape their tactics around Booker.

Booker is undoubtedly the team's first core, and his scoring organization can help the team.

Whether his organization can make further progress this season is also worthy of attention.

The new coach Ott places great emphasis on defense, and he may focus on building players on the defensive end.

The team also faces a lot:

1. Whether Booker's transformation can be successful. He sent 7.1 assists last season, but he is still not a traditional point guard. His development direction is more towards a combo guard.

2. Defensive system construction

Whether the new coach can change the defensive level at the bottom of the league last season is the biggest highlight of the team.

Brooks and Dunn are both important defensive puzzle pieces.

3. The center position is weak

Mawei is suffering from injuries, Richards has proved that he can only be an ordinary substitute, and the young draft is still immature, and the Suns center has a huge problem.

4. Whether Green can fulfill his talent

Green's performance in the playoffs was extremely poor. He has a similar style to Booker. It is worth pondering whether the two backcourt partners can have a chemical reaction.

5. The team is too young