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Exit Survey: 3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns

By Luke Duffy

Chris PaulMikal Bridges #25, Devin Booker #1 and Cameron Johnson #23 during the first half of Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 123-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Chris PaulMikal Bridges #25, Devin Booker #1 and Cameron Johnson #23 during the first half of Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 123-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Phoenix Suns
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JUNE 20: Dario Saric #20 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter during game one of the Western Conference Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

3 offseason goals for the Phoenix Suns: 2. Diversify the offensive game

It is hard to be critical of the Suns, given their success over the last two seasons, but when championships are the ultimate goal then they have come up short. We’ve already touched on the need to have Booker take over more, or simply seeing if running some plays through Ayton can bring with it a different kind of success for periods of close games.

But going one step further and finding (or bringing back) a player who can diversify their offensive game could be hugely important for the Suns next season. Make no mistake, the Suns were and will continue to be an excellent offensive team. During the regular season, they ranked fifth in offensive rating (114.2) and ninth in three-point percentage (36.4 percent).

Unsurprisingly, they led the entire league in field goal percentage (48.5 percent), thanks in large part to the mid-range mastery of Paul, and his ability to find teammates for easy looks around the basket. The Suns should continue to lean into this way of scoring, simply copying everybody else and jacking up three-pointers is not the answer.

But it is also clear that, come the postseason, the paint is harder to navigate. Two-point efforts are tougher to create and Paul has an unfortunate history of not hitting the shots in these spaces that he was easily making in November. Enter Dario Saric. Having missed all of this season with an ACL tear, he will be like a new player if he returns to the team.

Defensively he can be a turnstile, but at his best, he shot over 38 percent from deep for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns already have an elite defense (106.8, third in the league during the regular season), so they can absorb some of Saric’s deficiencies on that end (or another player’s) if it means bringing something that bit different offensively when the games really start to matter again.

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