Phoenix Suns: 2018-19 NBA season preview
Predictions
The Phoenix Suns aren’t winning 40 games as the idyllic best-case scenario suggests. In fact, getting to 30-35 wins would be a hell of an improvement. Devin Booker will probably take some time to adjust to the hand injury, but the slow start will soon give way to another career year — much like it did last season. The numbers might not improve drastically, but his impact (and hopefully defense) will.
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Okobo initially wins the starting point guard job. Warren’s 3-point shot lives up to the preseason hype, but it only opens the door for him to be traded anyway for a mediocre established point guard (think Goran Dragic or Jeff Teague), or a younger one with upside who can start right away (Terry Rozier would be ideal).
Josh Jackson makes strides in year 2, showing the strong second half to his rookie season was no fluke. Dragan Bender takes promising steps forward under Kokoskov, but not the giant leap needed. Mikal Bridges provides decent defense (for a rookie) and 3-point efficiency, but disappears on offense too often to overtake Jackson, Ariza or Warren in the rotation.
Deandre Ayton cleans up around the basket and flashes jaw-dropping athleticism, but try as he might on defense, that end of the floor remains a work in progress that will take time. Behind big numbers on a losing team, he finishes second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Doncic.
The Suns are once again a pitiful defense, and the adjustment period under a new coach, plus the time it takes to trade for a starting-caliber point guard, limits them in the win-loss column — even if they are more competitive this time around.
The Suns finish 13th in the West with 30 wins, missing the playoffs by a significant margin but showing progress on both ends (mostly the offensive end) of the floor.