Empire of the Suns

<p>Will the Phoenix Suns trade for Jimmy Butler? Is it a good idea? What else can they do before the NBA trade deadline. We answer our listeners' questions.</p>

<p>It sure looks like the Phoenix Suns took another tiny step toward landing Jimmy Butler. What do we make of a 1-for-3 draft pick trade with the Utah Jazz?</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns traded for Nick Richards, but it appears the rest of the NBA sees their busy phone lines as a desperate team trying to fix things by staying the course.</p>

<p>Jimmy Butler apparently wants the Suns. Phoenix apparently is interested in Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal doesn't appear entirely pleased after being benched. Buckle up, because it's conspiracy theory time!</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns have failed to defend due to a handful of reasons of late. We run through the numbers of what's made them one of the worst teams in the league over the last several weeks.</p>

<p>Devin Booker is hurt just as Bradley Beal returned. Defensive lapses against the Pacers showed the Phoenix Suns are who they thought they are, regardless of who's healthy or who's head coach.</p>

<p>Jimmy Butler trade rumors are live thanks to reporting from Shams Charania and our John Gambadoro. What do we make of a potential Heat and Suns trade? We know Butler likes to make a scene on his way out of his past stops.</p>

<p>We aren't making grand proclamations about the Phoenix Suns' losing streak! Or is this a shocker? They need to avoid losing stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as much as possible the rest of the way.</p>

<p>Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have gotten dinged up, and the Phoenix Suns have come down to earth after a red-hot start. How worried are we?</p>

<p>Kevin Durant has been clutch. The Phoenix Suns' defense has been top-10 good. And that combination has Phoenix eeking out games despite some inconsistencies.</p>

<p>Mike Budenholzer's Phoenix Suns have shown their depth and promising efforts even through rough patches over their first four games. Ryan Dunn's stock is up, while Jusuf Nurkic's is down.</p>

<p>With the Empire of the Suns duo hosting Arizona Sports at Night, Kellan and Kevin take advantage to touch on the Phoenix Suns' preseason and their title chances with a look at the NBA as a whole. Finally, we make our 2024-25 season predictions for MVP, title winner and more.</p>

<p>We know it's the preseason, but the Phoenix Suns' spacing on offense and contributions from its two draft picks Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are hard not to notice.</p>

<p>Bradley Beal admitted he struggled last year. He's just trying to have fun. We give our Phoenix Suns media day reactions and touch on the change in the Western Conference contenders stemming from the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.</p>

<p>We're back after an offseason hiatus. Kellan and Kevin remember Al McCoy being larger than life before looking ahead to Phoenix Suns media day.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns waived Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell in a move that saves $10s of millions in taxes. Was it related to the Suns' confidence in their two quite unique rookies?</p>

<p>Why does the Tyus Jones signing only bring more questions for the Phoenix Suns? Plus, we take in what Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have done for USA Basketball in wins over Serbia and South Sudan.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns didn't do anything groundbreaking but added two reliable veterans at point guard and center: Monte Morris and Mason Plumlee.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns' 2024 NBA Draft is complete with a couple of trades to add Oso Ighodaro out of Marquette, and the team even followed by signing Jalen Bridges on a two-way deal. Plus, an NBA free-agency preview.</p>

<p>Ryan Dunn went 58th overall to the Phoenix Suns, who piled up picks from the Denver Nuggets in the process. While the Virginia wing is perhaps one of the best defenders in the 2024 NBA Draft class, his offensive holes leave concerns about his upside.</p>

<p>We run down each of our top players in the 2024 NBA Draft who should be in range of options for the Phoenix Suns with their No. 22 overall selection.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns will have plenty of experienced, ready-to-go prospects available to them in the 2024 NBA Draft. But if they stay at No. 22, high-ceiling prospects could also be there. Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman are joined by draft guru Damon Allred to cover a laundry list of prospects and how they might fit in Phoenix.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns working out Bronny James before the NBA Draft doesn't have much to do with that LeBron fella. Plus, a look at the new G League team's situation and an NBA Finals preview.</p>

<p>Mike Budenholzer held his introductory press conference, and we go deep on what having a "point guard" means for the Phoenix Suns.</p>

<p>Frank Vogel was fired by the Phoenix Suns after a lengthy evaluation process, and it looks like they will quickly pursue a replacement for the job. Former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer is the frontrunner.</p>

<p>Why are the Phoenix Suns still without a resolution to Frank Vogel's job status? Who are coaches on the market if the Suns move on? </p>

<p>Devin Booker and Kevin Durant couldn't pull the smallball Suns past the Timberwolves in Game 4, ending their season with a sweep. Now, head coach Frank Vogel's job is the first thing to watch.</p>

<p>Anthony Edwards went off, the Suns got away from the things that kept them in it and boos were heard in Game three of their series against the Timberwolves.</p>

<p>The Timberwolves scored 31 points off turnovers as the Phoenix Suns fell apart in Game 2 of the first-round series.</p>

<p>Anthony Edwards went wild and the Phoenix Suns lost a lot of the key stats in a Game 1 first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns somehow find themselves in a full playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who they swept in the regular season. Can they continue stopping Anthony Edwards? And are Devin Booker and Kevin Durant able to trend in a positive direction with Bradley Beal already hitting the postseason playing well?</p>

<p>In the final week of the season, it looks like the Phoenix Suns have continued to get worse, whether it's due to basketball things or more. </p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns have shown signs of growth but haven't lost those periods of the bottom falling out. How are we judging them with six games left?</p>

<p>We take a peek at the Western Conference standings after an up-and-down week-plus for the Phoenix Suns. Plus, extended Cats Talk after the Arizona Wildcats tumble out of the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16.</p>

<p>It would appear the Phoenix Suns are that inconsistent team with too many holes to plug for good. We talk expectations, drastic last-minute changes, the Isaiah Thomas signing with a quick episode of Cats Talk to end things.</p>

<p>We run through the top teams in the Western Conference to see if we agree on whether certain teams are good matchups or not against the Phoenix Suns if they were to meet in a playoff series.</p>

<p>Devin Booker is out, but Grayson Allen is going off and Bradley Beal is working the point as the Phoenix Suns strung together a pair of wins after a concerning rough patch.</p>

<p>Bol Bol has forced his way into the Phoenix Suns' rotation. We cover the talent out in the Western Conference to explain why the Suns have to turn it up -- and now.</p>

<p>We go over what the Phoenix Suns need to do to get back into title contender status out of the NBA All-Star break, take questions about the roster and look at the daunting schedule.</p>

<p>Did the Phoenix Suns find an identity in a win against the Sacramento Kings? We also touch on the first looks at Royce O'Neale, the Thaddeus Young reported signing and a G League team coming to Phoenix.</p>

<p>The Suns traded four players and picks to add Royce O'Neale from the Brooklyn Nets and David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies. We react to that and give an NBA-wide peek of deadline day.</p>

<p>Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic had big games in the back half of a long road trip that ended on a positive note before the Phoenix Suns enter the week of the NBA trade deadline. What assets and needs do they have?</p>

<p>We discuss Dave King's lasting legacy, touch on Devin Booker's past struggles to make the NBA All-Star Game even as a reserve and dive into the perplexing fourth-quarter struggles.</p>

<p>Kevin Durant put together a pair of 40-pieces as the Phoenix Suns enter a seven-game road trip on a six-game winning streak.</p>

<p>The Suns burned through a 22-point deficit in eight minutes to beat the Kings thanks to a small-ball lineup. What are we taking from that run and what are we taking from the poor three-plus quarters before it?</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns have been perfectly average. Their roster has mostly underperformed on an individual level. Two losses to the Clippers over their last four games reflected how far they have to go.</p>

<p>Kevin Durant is out against the Los Angeles Clippers, but he gave the Phoenix Suns a two-game stretch alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to give fans a peek at the offensive boost when the Big 3 is healthy.</p>

<p>The Suns ugly loss to the Mavericks on Christmas Night came along with a vague report from Woj about Kevin Durant's frustrations. A win against the Rockets settled the noise, but did it mean much?</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns' loss to the Blazers and a near-loss to the Wizards lead to concern. Can they fix things? Sure. But the team hasn't made progress and is now forced with playing catchup, so long as it can plug the many holes shown over the last week-plus.</p>

<p>The Phoenix Suns' Big Three debuted, but let's not let that loss to Mikal Bridges and the Nets send anyone into panic mode.</p>