Kevin Durant playing for the Phoenix Suns in 2023. Photo by Quinn Harris via Getty Images
The 2024 NBA Playoffs witnessed its first sweep on Sunday night, when the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Phoenix Suns in four games to advance to the second round. With that, shakeups are expected to occur within the Suns organization, according to reports.
And one of those changes could be the firing of coach Frank Vogel. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Suns are considering serious changes following the embarrassment of a first-round sweep. The series loss comes as the ‘Big Three’ of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal hardly produced.
“This is the third highest paid team in the NBA,” Charania said. “They have a luxury tax player threshold of almost $260 million. They had championship aspirations…And to get swept in the first round, that’s not how this season was supposed to go. Sources tell me the Suns will consider a coaching change, at the very least adjustments to Frank Vogel’s coaching staff.”
Vogel to Blame?
Whether or not the Suns’ playoff struggles were the fault of Frank Vogel is up for debate. But the reality is that in these situations, someone must be the scapegoat, and it is usually the head coach.
The Suns hired Vogel on June 6, 2023, so he has only coached the team for the 2023-24 season. He is inked to a five-year, $31 million contract, so it is unknown whether or not the Suns would break that after just one year.
Phoenix went 49-33 under his tenure, which was good enough to finish at sixth place in a highly competitive Western Conference. But there were always questions regarding the chemistry of the aforementioned ‘Big Three’ and how well they meshed on the court.
“Look at the big three. It all revolves on Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal,” Charania continued. Those three guys never really gelled, and you can look at injuries. Bradley Beal was in and out of the lineup. They acquired him in that big trade last year, and he didn’t fully excel at that point composition.”
Failed Big Three?
The Suns acquired Bradley Beal in a blockbuster deal last offseason in order to compliment Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, creating a formidable big three. But that big three was more formidable on paper than on the court. They hardly played together, and in games that they did, the Suns were 25-20 including the playoffs.
A part of the problem, according to Charania, was that Beal was envisioned to fit in better with the two. However, his point composition was not what was expected. Apparently, Durant was frustrated that his role had to change due to Beal’s presence, with Durant being relegated to the corner more.
“The Suns envisioned [Beal] being a table setter for Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but he never emerged as that full force guy,” said Charania. “And I’m told Kevin Durant had real issues with the offense, the way it was ran…And so that the offensive side is something that the Suns if they’re bringing this whole team back, they’re gonna have to address it.”
The Suns will have a lot of questions to address come the offseason, from the players to the coach. Reports indicate that those changes will start at the top, with Frank Vogel. But the reality is that the issue stems deeper than the coach, and if the ‘big three’ is flawed, it may require huge shakeups.
