The Phoenix Suns have officially moved on from the star-studded experiment built around Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, leaving Booker as the lone holdover from the short-lived trio.
What changed:
- Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets, with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks coming to Phoenix.
- Beal accepted a buyout and quickly signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Phoenix hired former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as its new head coach.
Booker’s perspective: Speaking with local radio hosts Burns & Gambo, the All-Star guard said the last two seasons were “the toughest of my career.” He described the 2023-24 roster as lacking a unified objective: “I don’t think there was any hatred among the guys. Everyone was just on a different plan.”
Where the Suns stand now: Without Durant and Beal, Phoenix is pivoting away from high-priced veterans, entrusting first-time head coach Ott and centering the franchise on Booker’s leadership. The scaled-back approach provides the club with a single marquee voice and a clearer direction, though expectations for immediate success remain uncertain.
The breakup of the so-called Big Three officially ends a chapter that never delivered a championship and seldom made a deep postseason push. For now, Booker carries the franchise’s hopes into an offseason defined by transition.
Source: Hoops Wire
