Can the Suns keep up as the West reloads with star power?

It’s hard for the Suns to believe they have a chance in the West without a miraculous trade-deadline move.

I hope you’ve gotten some sleep the past few nights because I haven’t, thanks to the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis headlining the deadline. We’re all in awe and disbelief that the Mavericks would part with their franchise superstar so early in his career.

But when it comes to the Phoenix Suns, where do they stand?

I was anxious after Luka was dealt to the Lakers, knowing they’d be good for another 10 years, even when it seemed like things were slowing down with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as their two best players. Sure, they’re superstars, but in my opinion, not enough to carry a team to the NBA Finals. Now, with LeBron and Luka, the Lakers will still need help to make a Finals push since they lack a true center and need more wing depth. But as we’ve learned, facing Luka in the playoffs is never ideal, no matter who’s around him.

Still in shock from the trade all through Sunday, there was another splash in the trade market: De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Keeping their young core intact and adding a clutch-time player like Fox next to Victor Wembanyama is terrifying, accelerating their trajectory toward becoming a playoff team. And one you don’t want to face in the postseason. It might take time to gel, but when Wemby hits primetime in the first round of the playoffs, who knows what his ceiling is?

That’s now two star players on teams above and below the Suns in the standings as of Sunday night — the Lakers in the 5th seed and the Spurs in the 12th — with the Spurs having a legit chance of jumping the Suns in the standings.

Now, with the Mavericks adding Davis to their lineup — where he can finally play the power forward position he’s always preferred — next to Daniel Gafford, they’re still a scary team and possibly the second-best in the Western Conference if healthy. I didn’t say it, Sir Charles did.

That is now three teams not including the Oklahoma City Thunder I would fear facing in the first round of the playoffs.

Do the Suns have any chance of keeping up with other teams before the trade deadline is done? Even if they somehow convince the Miami Heat to deal Jimmy Butler, is that enough?

Jimmy wants to be in Phoenix but will the Heat make the deal in exchange for Bradley Beal?

---

You can listen to our latest podcast episode in the player embedded below, and to make sure you don’t miss a single one moving forward, subscribe to theSuns JAM Session podcast feed on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.