Phoenix Suns in top tier among 2022-23 NBA season power rankings without Kevin Durant trade
The Kevin Durant trade talks are officially over after the Brooklyn Nets announced Tuesday he rescinded his trade request to the Suns or Miami Heat when free agency began on June 30.
After the Suns incrementally became distant suitors during negotiations with Brooklyn, and the stalemate between Nets and other teams that eventually kept Durant there, many media outlets still have Phoenix near the top of their recent offseason power rankings.
Training camp is about one month away for NBA teams. So, team power rankings will begin popping up more toward the preseason in early October and throughout the 2022-23 regular season.
Phoenix is coming off a franchise-best and the league's most 64 regular season wins. They'll run it back with their top trio in starting center Deandre Ayton on a max deal, All-Stars Devin Booker and their aging point guard Chris Paul. Other key players including Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Mikal Bridges and Sixth Man of the Year finalist Cam Johnson, who were widely speculated to be part of the Durant trade talks, will likely stand pat.
Now that the Suns' disastrous Game 7 playoff loss to Dallas is in the rearview, here's what various pundits anticipate for Phoenix competing in the loaded Western Conference and the whole league.
NBA.com: Suns ranked No. 2
John Schuhmann writes: "The end to last season was absolutely brutal. But does that outweigh what the Suns did through their first 93 games? Perhaps they can look to the 2013-14 Spurs – who were led by a 37-year-old from Wake Forest and suffered an even more painful ending the season prior – for inspiration."
The Athletic: Suns ranked No. 3
Zach Harper writes: "The Phoenix Suns did not get better this offseason, but it’s fair to wonder how much they even need to get better. Yes, the end of the postseason was a disaster. Was that Chris Paul collapsing? Was it a rift between Deandre Ayton and the organization? Was that the Suns coming back down to earth (realistic in basketball, very dangerous in science)? Bringing back Ayton by matching the Indiana offer sheet was a good move, and hopefully, they can put water under the bridge. Losing McGee sucks, but they retained Bismack Biyombo and they’ll get Dario Šarić back. The Suns need to hope a healthy playoff appearance in 2023 looks more like what we saw in their 2021 finals run. They’re still a great matchup to face the defending champion Warriors."
Suns schedule: Warriors, Mavericks, Nets, Lakers among intriguing games in 2022-23
Sports Illustrated: Suns ranked No. 3
Brett Siegel writes: "While there was talk of the Phoenix Suns possibly moving Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and others this offseason for Kevin Durant, the Suns ended up re-signing Ayton to a four-year, $130 million-plus contract and they also extended Devin Booker on a four-year supermax contract extension. The Suns have seemed to put an end to all the drama that surrounded them entering the offseason and with the team core that just won a franchise record 64 games, Phoenix once again has their sights set on winning a championship."
Related: Kevin Durant trade updates: 2023 NBA title odds shift
ESPN: Suns ranked No. 5
Andrew Lopez writes: "What happens when Deandre Ayton returns to camp? The big man signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers during free agency, but that deal was quickly matched by the Suns. Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds last season and has averaged a double-double in each of his four seasons in the league. Now, he gets the chance to continue building with the Suns, who are coming off a league-best 64 wins."
Bringing retro back: Suns to bring back iconic sunburst uniforms from 1992-93
Fansided: Suns ranked No. 4
Christopher Kline writes: "The Suns won 65 games last season before flaming out in spectacular fashion in Game 7 of the second round. A disappointing finish and turmoil in the locker room left a lot of unanswered questions heading into the offseason, but former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton is back on a max contract and the Suns still figure to have one of, if not the best regular season team in the NBA. The question now is whether Chris Paul and Devin Booker can get over the hump come playoffs time."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns in 2022-23 NBA power rankings' top tier without Durant trade
