Booker, Durant and Beal were also plagued with injuries (mostly Beal). Together, they only played 41 games, which wasn’t enough time to get a feel of each other on the court.

With the moves the Suns made this summer, many are curious if it’s enough for them to contend in the Western Conference.

We’ll look at the major changes Phoenix made this summer, from the coaches to the players they signed.

The Suns quickly dismissed Frank Vogel after just one season with the team. Even though Vogel led the team to a better record a season before his arrival, the front office wasn’t convinced the fit was right. The Valley finished with a 49-33 record, an improvement from their 45-37 record a season before.

It also didn’t help that the Suns were swept in the first round, despite having three excellent offensive stars. The Arizona-based team searched for a different coach shortly after letting Vogel go, which led them to hire Mike Budenholzer.

Like Vogel, Coach Bud is a champion and a well-respected mind around the league. Ironically, he was coaching the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals, the team that prevented the Suns from winning its first-ever title.

Looking at their coaching record, Vogel has coached more games, 902. Bud, on the other hand, has coached 801 games in his career. But he’s got a better winning percentage of 60.4%, higher than Vogel’s 53.2%. The former Bucks head coach has been consistent with how he has led his teams before. He finished at the top of his team’s division six times, five with Milwaukee and one with the Atlanta Hawks.

Vogel, meanwhile, only experienced such a feat three times.

While many believe in both coaches, Coach Bud takes the edge. He’s a consistent winner and always has a plan when the going gets tough. It’s also impressive that he convinced the Suns’ front office to sign point guards to the team, which is what Vogel tried to do last season. That move alone is a testament to Bud’s willingness to improve the team.

The Suns also signed David Fizdale, a proven coach around the league, and former players Brent Barry and James Posey as part of the coaching staff

The Suns addressed their shortage of point guards from the previous season quickly. On the sixth day of free agency, the team signed Monte Morris to a veteran minimum deal. This was satisfying as fans wanted an experienced point guard to play with the Big 3. Morris previously played for the Washington Wizards as a backup point guard. He only played 27 games as he dealt with injuries, but is an experienced player that will fit well with the others.

The front office followed it up by signing Mason Plumlee to a deal. Plumdog Millionaire played for the LA Clippers last season and appeared in 46 games. He’s past his athletic prime but Plumlee is still an effective big man. The center is also a better backup compared to Drew Eubanks, who left during the summer.