Since the Phoenix Suns’ heartbreaking defeat in the 2021 NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, it has been nothing but change as they still seek that elusive first championship. Not only are they under new ownership, but the roster turnover has meant the side looks completely unrecognizable from what it did in 2021. Three years later all but one player has gone. But where are they now?
Phoenix Suns NBA Finals Team: Where Are They Now?
Head Coach: Monty Williams
Monty Williams is largely credited with bringing a culture change to a Suns team that had endured 10 seasons without playoff basketball. His impact on the team became evident in the 2020 bubble, in which the side went 8-0, barely missing the postseason.
However, it was the following season in which the Suns excelled, as they made it to the NBA Finals. Despite losing to the Bucks in six, it felt like the beginning of something special for the franchise. After their finals run, the Suns had two consecutive second-round exits, including an embarrassing Game 7 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in 2022. Williams would lose his job after a 2023 series loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Having initially wanted to take a year off, Williams was appointed the head coach of the Detroit Pistons last season. He signed a record-breaking six-year, $78.5m contract. It went disastrously for him, as he oversaw the joint-largest losing streak in NBA history, at 28 games. After ending with a 14-68 record, Williams was fired and will be owed $65m for the rest of his contract.
PG: Chris Paul
Like Williams, Chris Paul played a huge part in shifting the culture within the Suns. After he had propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to a playoff team, he was traded to the Suns with the same aim in mind.
Paul played a huge role in leading a young and inexperienced team through their first playoff run and eventual finals berth. He was part of the team that fell in the next two playoff runs, though. In 2023, he was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of the deal that brought Bradley Beal to Phoenix. Paul’s stay in Washington was short-lived as he was traded to the Golden State Warriors for Jordan Poole a few days later.
Most likely his last shot at winning a title, the season ended in despair as the Warriors were eliminated in the play-in tournament. After being waived by the Warriors in the 2024 offseason, the legendary point guard signed a 1-year, $11m contract to play for the San Antonio Spurs. He will get to play under Gregg Popovich and form what could be a deadly partnership with Victor Wembanyama.
SG: Devin Booker
The one constant in years of change is star Devin Booker. He has delivered for the Suns since they drafted him in 2015 and is on a path to becoming the greatest player in franchise history. His talent and potential have not gone unnoticed amongst the top stars in the league. Since 2021, he has attracted the likes of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to play with him, as well as earning high praise from his peers. He also played an admirable role for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
His first-ever playoff experience resulted in a finals appearance. With 601 points he broke the record of most points in a first NBA playoffs run, held by Rick Barry. This season he has the opportunity to cement his Suns legacy even further by becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He will be hoping this achievement comes with a first NBA title at the end of it. A ring would almost certainly skyrocket him to the top of the list of Suns greats.
Devin Booker’s first NBA Playoffs:
27.3 PPG
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 21, 2021
SF: Mikal Bridges
Traded on draft night in 2018, Mikal Bridges soon became a beloved member of the Suns. He was a crucial member of the NBA Finals team, and his growth saw him become one of the best defensive wings in the league.
While Bridges is an excellent defender and has come on leaps and bounds offensively, his most impressive attribute is his availability. To this day, he has yet to miss a game in his NBA or college career through injury. This makes him one of the most reliable players in the sport.
In February 2023, he was the main return to the Brooklyn Nets in the Kevin Durant trade. The Nets insisted on including Bridges in the deal, despite the Suns’ reluctance. It was a bittersweet moment for Suns fans, as they had to say goodbye to such a popular figure. Bridges excelled in Brooklyn, averaging 26.1 points for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. He remained with the Nets for another season before a trade to crosstown rivals New York Knicks. Bridges will now play alongside his Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, in what should be a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.
PF: Jae Crowder
Alongside Paul, Jae Crowder was another player who provided a much-needed veteran presence in a team full of inexperience. Having been to the finals the season before, he was the only player on the roster to know what to expect.
He was a crucial component in a strong defensive side, adding a threat from deep when needed. In the finals, he averaged 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. Before the 2022-23 season, the Suns and Crowder mutually agreed for him to sit out until they found him a trade. This meant he did not play for most of the campaign before he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the trade for Kevin Durant. The Nets reworked the trade into a four-team deal, sending him to the Bucks for five second-round draft picks. This is where he stayed for the rest of the season and last season. Currently, he is still a free agent.
C: Deandre Ayton
A former number one overall pick, Deandre Ayton’s Suns’ journey did not go as he had hoped. After an impressive first playoff run, in which he averaged 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds, the expectation was that he would kick on and become the star they thought was drafted. However, this was not the case.
It did not help that he was drafted ahead of Luka Doncic, with more pressure on Ayton’s shoulders given how the Slovenian’s career has played out so far. In 2022, the Suns matched an offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers to keep him. While Ayton would stay for another season after that, it was clear that the relationship between himself, the front office, and the coaching staff was irredeemable. Even after Williams was fired as head coach and replaced by Frank Vogel, Ayton’s time on the Suns was running out. In the 2023 offseason, the center was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the big trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks. The Suns received Jusuf Nurkic in return.
Ayton’s career has not kicked on in Portland, however. He missed 27 games through injury and was inconsistent during the time he was on the court. Heading into his second season with the franchise, his future is unclear.
G: Cameron Payne
After joining the Suns in the bubble, Cameron Payne was a vital member of the Suns up until his departure in 2023. He started twice in the Western Conference Finals against the LA Clippers with Chris Paul out. He led the Suns to two wins to put them 2-0 up, including a 29-point outing in game two.
Injuries reduced his playing time over the next two seasons, but he was still a top-level backup to Paul. However, before the 2023-24 season, he was traded to the Spurs before being waived. He joined the Bucks on a one-year deal for the campaign. He was dealt once more before the trade deadline, moving to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Patrick Beverley. After entering free agency in the offseason, Payne signed for the Knicks. He will play alongside former Suns teammate Bridges.
F: Cameron Johnson
Cameron Johnson was another valued member of the finals team. Throughout the playoffs, he averaged 8.2 points. During the regular season, his numbers kept improving, and he came third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting the following campaign. Johnson was moved into a starter role at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, but meniscus surgery meant he played just 17 games before being traded for Durant.
In 83 games for the Nets, Johnson has averaged 14.3 points. He signed a four-year, $108m deal to stay with the franchise in 2023. As Brooklyn prepares to go through a rebuild, he stands to be a core piece.
F: Torrey Craig
Torrey Craig was a trade deadline acquisition on the Suns’ way to the NBA Finals. He arrived from the Bucks, which meant he was eligible to receive a ring no matter the outcome, though he declined the opportunity after the Suns lost. Craig played an impactful role, averaging 10.1 minutes per game throughout the finals.
The Indiana Pacers signed him during 2021 free agency, but he was later traded back to the Suns before the deadline. He stayed for another season before joining the Chicago Bulls on a two-year deal, where he remains.
F: Dario Saric
Dario Saric’s 2020-21 season ended in heart-breaking fashion in more ways than one. His finals run came to a premature end in game two, as he tore his ACL. He was a big miss as the Suns struggled for depth behind Ayton in their eventual defeat.
Saric would not return to action until the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He played 37 games before being traded to the Thunder. He enjoyed a solid year with the Warriors last season, averaging 8.0 points per game. In the offseason, he signed a deal with the Denver Nuggets.
G: Jevon Carter
Jevon Carter played 60 games in the 2020-21 regular season, averaging 4.1 points in 12 minutes per game. However, his playing time in the playoffs was very sporadic. He did not appear in any of the finals games.
This signaled the end of his time in Phoenix, as he was traded on draft night to the Nets in exchange for Landry Shamet. He was waived by Brooklyn in February 2022, allowing him to sign with the Bucks shortly after. In the 2023 off-season, Carter signed a three-year contract with the Bulls.
F/C: Frank Kaminsky
Affectionately referred to as ‘Frank the Tank’ by NBA fans, Frank Kaminsky was a popular figure in the Suns’ fanbase. He ended up playing a much bigger role than anticipated due to the injury to Saric. He played an important role, especially with Ayton getting into foul trouble against Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Kaminsky struggled and was a clear downgrade from Saric.
After re-signing with the Suns, he was waived in April 2022 having missed most of the season through injury. He then signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Hawks, before being traded to the Houston Rockets. Last season, he was with Serbian side Partizan Belgrade, playing 57 games.
F: Abdel Nader
Abdel Nader played a minor role for the Suns in the NBA finals. After missing time during the regular season and playoffs with a knee injury, he returned in game four of the Western Conference Finals. He was also able to see some minimal playing time against the Bucks. However, he averaged just 4.1 minutes across two games.
Since leaving the Suns in February 2022, Nader has not played in the NBA. Last December, the 31-year-old signed with NBL side South East Melbourne for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
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