Phoenix Suns: Improvement will make 2019-20 a success

The Phoenix Suns underwent some serious changes this summer and got markedly better. Will it translate to wins?

There are two truths about the Phoenix Suns’ 2019 offseason.

The roster is considerably improved. Ricky Rubio‘s addition fills a hole that the Suns have sloppily tried to fill for half a decade, Aron Baynes is a good backup big who can start if needed and Dario Saric is a quality big.

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Adding shooters and playmakers around Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton is definitely a good move. Re-signing Kelly Oubre was huge as well.

At the same time, opportunity cost will plague this franchise for years to come. Trading down from Jarrett Culver, a multidimensional wing who could’ve become a great complement for Booker and Ayton, to two defensively challenged 4s (Saric and Cameron Johnson) does not seem like the right move.

Ty Jerome will be a fine rotation guard at the next level, but better players were available at the 24th pick.

How the Suns handled the Rubio signing was straight-up irresponsible. They didn’t realize how much money they had to sign the 10-year vet and ended up having to use De’Anthony Melton as a sweetener in order for the Grizzlies to absorb Josh Jackson‘s cap hit. Melton is exactly who you’d want on this team and he’s gone because the Suns forced the issue.

None of that may effectively matter if this roster takes the proper steps forward.

No longer forcing Booker to handle playmaking duties is probably best. He’s a scorer at heart and a very good one. Baynes is exactly the type of guy to teach Ayton how to be a rim protector; the Australian behemoth has stuck around in a faster NBA due to his advanced positioning and body control.

As much fun as it is to try and project the roster around these two, the success of the team really depends on them. The Suns knew this (as they should have) and brought in the players who can best complement them.

Ayton is a vastly improved defender from the first time he stepped on an NBA court. He was already an advanced scorer and playmaker for his age prior to that; if he can become a capable rim protector this season, he instantly becomes one of the best bigs in the league.

Booker just has to pick his spots. He’s no longer living in an anarchy where he can take shots whenever he pleases. The offense has a structure, and it revolves around him being an intellectual scorer.

Rubio, Saric, Oubre, Baynes, Mikal Bridges, Cam and Tyler Johnson is a nice supporting cast. They’ll keep the team from cratering. But the ceiling of the team is dependent on the top two turning their talent into winning.

Though the West is remarkably tough, the Suns can still make noise. They won’t be a doormat like in years past. Teams can’t overlook them as an automatic win anymore. That matters and they can definitely eclipse 30 wins if the aforementioned criteria are met.

If tangible progress comes from the top two, then the rest of the team will benefit automatically.