Apart from the Suns, all other 29 teams are in the playoffs, the Play-In or the draft lottery and the team have taken swift action by firing head coach Mike Budenholzer.
With the highest payroll in league history, Phoenix finished the season with a 45-37 record and struggled through most of 2024-25.
So, coach Bud was the first one out the door.
“Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed,” the team said in a statement.
Budenholzer is the first domino to fall. Many NBA insiders, including Shams Charania, think there is much more to come and that only Devin Booker OR Kevin Durant will remain in Phoenix.
“From a grand perspective, it’s about Devin Booker and where [he stands] in all this,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday. “From my understanding, he remains a foundation of everything they’re doing in Phoenix, everything else, though, has been up for discussion with the Suns except for Devin Booker.”
Shams says he’s expecting multiple roster changes, including KD out.
“I’m told the Suns and Durant, as well as his business partner Rich Kleiman, will be working together on his next trade home,” Charania said.
Apparently, KD and his management will be watching the postseason very closely.
“A lot of that will [be determined] by the playoffs and which team feels like they are a Kevin Durant away from winning a championship,” Charania said.
Shams added, “For the team with the highest payroll in the NBA, it’s clear that the ownership there, Mat Ishbia, he’s put all his resources, all his money into this group. But now, moving forward, they have major decisions to make.”
