2024 NBA Playoffs - West 1st Round: #3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #6 Phoenix Suns (MIN SWEEPS 4-0)

[Chuck Everett]

Great job Wolves. Beal is the biggest fraud in the league.

[Mamba Mentality]

Great job Wolves. Beal is the biggest fraud in the league.

Tobias Harris would like to have a word.

[Soonercrazy84]

Sick of hearing it....nobody wants KD back in OKC not even for a bag of chips.

Sent from my moto g power (2021) using Tapatalk

[Chuck Everett]

Frankenstein basketball for the loss.

[doogie_hauser]

If anything else, I think Doc Rivers should lose his title of worst ever NBA Championship coach to Frankie 'No Steps' Vogel.

Vogel is a shocker and will be rightfully fired as soon as possible.

[Charlesareed]

If anything else, I think Doc Rivers should lose his title of worst ever NBA Championship coach to Frankie 'No Steps' Vogel.

Vogel is a shocker and will be rightfully fired as soon as possible.

No coach will win with that roster not pat not pop not Phil not aurbac not coach k no coach at all they are a very bad team they cant defend a chair and couldn’t score when needed most

[FarBeyondDriven]

Even if the swaps convert (they may or may not) that doesn't mean that the Suns don't have a first round pick.

There's kind of a big difference between "you don't have a first round pick for the next 6 years" and "you've got 3 first round picks in the next 6 years, including one in two months - and the other first picks could potentially be lower".

I was curious so I looked it up:

Here is where all those picks will be going, and if it’s a swap, what picks the Suns could have
2024-Least favorable of Suns, Grizzlies, or Wizards
2025-Nets (Unprotected)
2026-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Magic
2027-Nets (Unprotected)
2028-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Nets
2029-Nets (Unprotected)
2030-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Grizzlies

Exactly, so in summary

The suns:
- have their own pick in 2024
- might have a lower first-round pick in 26, 28, 30
- don't have a pick three years (25, 27,29)

If they wanted to they could trade two first rounders this off-season.

I'm not arguing their in a good situation, but they have 4 first round picks over the next 7 drafts, not zero.

it's annoying how rampant the false narrative of them having no first rounders is on here and elsewhere. The 2024 draft doesn't have the typical high-end talents you usually find at the top of most draft classes. But, it is extremely deep. If the Suns want they can stay at 22 and add a ready to contribute 3 and D wing like; da Silva, Watkins, McCullars. Or a point guard like; Kolek, Mitchell. Or a big like; Ware or Bona. Or, they can remedy their "no 2nd round picks" issue over the next several years by trading out of the first for a boatload of 2nd rounders and STILL get a contributing role player in the 2nd because it's such a deep class.

The hard part about building a team is finding stars. The Suns have two. The easiest part is finding role players and luckily for the Suns, late firsts and second round picks are loaded with them.

Does anyone really think that the Suns won't make the playoffs next year after adding talent, getting a new coach and improving chemistry? The picks they'll be sending out in 2025 is likely going to be in the 20s. Oh no!! The future picks might be an issue but the Suns were happy to mortgage a little of their far future for the chance to make the playoffs every year for a few seasons.

That said, the Beal move is mind-bogglingly stupid. The best they can hope for is he's motivated and can provide some positives on the court while they're stuck with him. Maybe sending him to the bench might get him the touches and provide the most impact? They have to salvage something out of this.

[doogie_hauser]

If anything else, I think Doc Rivers should lose his title of worst ever NBA Championship coach to Frankie 'No Steps' Vogel.

Vogel is a shocker and will be rightfully fired as soon as possible.

No coach will win with that roster not pat not pop not Phil not aurbac not coach k no coach at all they are a very bad team they cant defend a chair and couldn’t score when needed most

Maybe not, but a sweep with that talent assembled is absolutely embarrassing, and far worse then any of Doc's so called previous playoff coaching failures (which I think in hindsight, he did a damn good job at Philly, all things considered)

We saw glimpses of Durant getting back to his best/peak form in February/March, and yet Vogel seemingly wasn't able to keep that prime KD form sustainable.

Would be intrigued to see if Budenholzer is willing to coach these Suns.

[GopherIt!]

defeated the actor and the clown. onto the joker

[iggymcfrack]

I was curious so I looked it up:

Here is where all those picks will be going, and if it’s a swap, what picks the Suns could have
2024-Least favorable of Suns, Grizzlies, or Wizards
2025-Nets (Unprotected)
2026-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Magic
2027-Nets (Unprotected)
2028-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Nets
2029-Nets (Unprotected)
2030-Least favorable of Suns, Wizards, or Grizzlies

Exactly, so in summary

The suns:
- have their own pick in 2024
- might have a lower first-round pick in 26, 28, 30
- don't have a pick three years (25, 27,29)

If they wanted to they could trade two first rounders this off-season.

I'm not arguing their in a good situation, but they have 4 first round picks over the next 7 drafts, not zero.

it's annoying how rampant the false narrative of them having no first rounders is on here and elsewhere. The 2024 draft doesn't have the typical high-end talents you usually find at the top of most draft classes. But, it is extremely deep. If the Suns want they can stay at 22 and add a ready to contribute 3 and D wing like; da Silva, Watkins, McCullars. Or a point guard like; Kolek, Mitchell. Or a big like; Ware or Bona. Or, they can remedy their "no 2nd round picks" issue over the next several years by trading out of the first for a boatload of 2nd rounders and STILL get a contributing role player in the 2nd because it's such a deep class.

The hard part about building a team is finding stars. The Suns have two. The easiest part is finding role players and luckily for the Suns, late firsts and second round picks are loaded with them.

Does anyone really think that the Suns won't make the playoffs next year after adding talent, getting a new coach and improving chemistry? The picks they'll be sending out in 2025 is likely going to be in the 20s. Oh no!! The future picks might be an issue but the Suns were happy to mortgage a little of their far future for the chance to make the playoffs every year for a few seasons.

That said, the Beal move is mind-bogglingly stupid. The best they can hope for is he's motivated and can provide some positives on the court while they're stuck with him. Maybe sending him to the bench might get him the touches and provide the most impact? They have to salvage something out of this.

I don’t think the Suns are making the playoffs next year. They got incredibly lucky this year on health and still just snuck into the playoffs. Durant played 75 games after averaging 49 the last 9 seasons. What are the chances he repeats that at age 36? Almost zero. Nurkic played 76, the second highest of his career off of 4 seasons where he’d averaged 38.

And now if they just re-sign everyone from last year, they’re going to be $100MM over the cap. So what, they’re going to pay the biggest tax bill of all-time and hamstring their team to the point they start losing draft picks for being over the second apron just to keep Royce O’Neal at $18MM/year and get a better seed in the play-in tournament? No way.

Next year’s team is likely to have worse health, worse talent, age-related decline, and if they fire Vogel, probably a worse coach too. If I’m one of the tippy top coaching candidates in the off-season, I’m staying miles away from this dumpster fire. For 2024, I’m taking all the teams that finished ahead of them over them, plus the Lakers, Kings, Warriors, Rockets, and Grizzlies. They might need multiple teams to suffer injuries just to make the play-in tournament.

Plus don’t kid yourself, if the season starts bad, KD’s going to be looking for a way out. Why push yourself to play 65 games and fight for the last play-in spot when you can just milk your injuries instead, put in a little less effort on D, and convince the front office that it’s just not working. He can just hand pick some contenders that he wants to be moved to and take the easy way out again. Honestly, I don’t see the Suns making the playoffs again until Beal is off the books.

[Crunch 99]

The brash young, new billionaire owner of the Phoenix Suns face planted and should be eating humble pie.

[hauntedcomputer]

By the time the Suns actually rebuild and get bad, you would guess the Wizards will be on their way up.

Then you would guess wrong. Overanalyzing picks even two years in the future often turns out wildly hilarious, much less six years. At any rate, why can't both be bad? And even then, how many picks turn into actual players?

There are many paths out of the wilderness, though. Draft picks is the one that seems to inspire the most delusional hope.

[life_saver]

This was 2 years ago..funny how things change in such a quick span

Read on Twitter

?t=j4v3DEGPD_mBsfO3uWWH8g&s=19

[FarBeyondDriven]

Exactly, so in summary

The suns:
- have their own pick in 2024
- might have a lower first-round pick in 26, 28, 30
- don't have a pick three years (25, 27,29)

If they wanted to they could trade two first rounders this off-season.

I'm not arguing their in a good situation, but they have 4 first round picks over the next 7 drafts, not zero.

it's annoying how rampant the false narrative of them having no first rounders is on here and elsewhere. The 2024 draft doesn't have the typical high-end talents you usually find at the top of most draft classes. But, it is extremely deep. If the Suns want they can stay at 22 and add a ready to contribute 3 and D wing like; da Silva, Watkins, McCullars. Or a point guard like; Kolek, Mitchell. Or a big like; Ware or Bona. Or, they can remedy their "no 2nd round picks" issue over the next several years by trading out of the first for a boatload of 2nd rounders and STILL get a contributing role player in the 2nd because it's such a deep class.

The hard part about building a team is finding stars. The Suns have two. The easiest part is finding role players and luckily for the Suns, late firsts and second round picks are loaded with them.

Does anyone really think that the Suns won't make the playoffs next year after adding talent, getting a new coach and improving chemistry? The picks they'll be sending out in 2025 is likely going to be in the 20s. Oh no!! The future picks might be an issue but the Suns were happy to mortgage a little of their far future for the chance to make the playoffs every year for a few seasons.

That said, the Beal move is mind-bogglingly stupid. The best they can hope for is he's motivated and can provide some positives on the court while they're stuck with him. Maybe sending him to the bench might get him the touches and provide the most impact? They have to salvage something out of this.

I don’t think the Suns are making the playoffs next year. They got incredibly lucky this year on health and still just snuck into the playoffs. Durant played 75 games after averaging 49 the last 9 seasons. What are the chances he repeats that at age 36? Almost zero. Nurkic played 76, the second highest of his career off of 4 seasons where he’d averaged 38.

And now if they just re-sign everyone from last year, they’re going to be $100MM over the cap. So what, they’re going to pay the biggest tax bill of all-time and hamstring their team to the point they start losing draft picks for being over the second apron just to keep Royce O’Neal at $18MM/year and get a better seed in the play-in tournament? No way.

Next year’s team is likely to have worse health, worse talent, age-related decline, and if they fire Vogel, probably a worse coach too. If I’m one of the tippy top coaching candidates in the off-season, I’m staying miles away from this dumpster fire. For 2024, I’m taking all the teams that finished ahead of them over them, plus the Lakers, Kings, Warriors, Rockets, and Grizzlies. They might need multiple teams to suffer injuries just to make the play-in tournament.

Plus don’t kid yourself, if the season starts bad, KD’s going to be looking for a way out. Why push yourself to play 65 games and fight for the last play-in spot when you can just milk your injuries instead, put in a little less effort on D, and convince the front office that it’s just not working. He can just hand pick some contenders that he wants to be moved to and take the easy way out again. Honestly, I don’t see the Suns making the playoffs again until Beal is off the books.

The Suns aren't the only team in turmoil. Who knows what the Warriors and Lakers will look like? Or whether the Grizzlies can get healthy. Or whether the Kings can keep Monk or lose him for nothing. There's potentially going to be a mass exodus of players out of the Conference.

The only players still under contract and that matter are their starting five of Beal, Booker, Allen, KD and Nurkic and role players Little and Roddy. There are much worse starting fives than that. They can let everyone else go or they can do a sign and trade to swap with another team's castoff. They have the #22 pick but maybe they can trade back with the Celtics who have #30, #41, and #48 since they seem maxed out and don't have room for all those players. Whether they stay at #22 and take a 3 and D wing like da Silva or trade back and take 2-3 role players like him, they'll be adding talent through the draft and it's a very deep FA class so they shouldn't have any issues filling out the bench.

Yes health is absolutely a factor but if they can stay healthy and get coached better and develop some chemistry I see no reason why they can't make the playoffs like this year.

[Shaka_Zulu]

If anything else, I think Doc Rivers should lose his title of worst ever NBA Championship coach to Frankie 'No Steps' Vogel.

Vogel is a shocker and will be rightfully fired as soon as possible.

Nah Vogel is defensive specialist that has no coherent offensive scheme, but he is a decent to at times good coach (won a title for a reason). He fails you in offensive system, but the huge issue of Suns is the roster construction, how can you build a team with not a single point guard in rotation (not just starter but non on bench). And top 2 weakest bench in the league.


Glen Rivers is a joke but he too is not the worst coach around in playoffs.



That honour goes to by a huge margin to Jason bumb ass Kidd.

[Iwasawitness]

Exactly, so in summary

The suns:
- have their own pick in 2024
- might have a lower first-round pick in 26, 28, 30
- don't have a pick three years (25, 27,29)

If they wanted to they could trade two first rounders this off-season.

I'm not arguing their in a good situation, but they have 4 first round picks over the next 7 drafts, not zero.

it's annoying how rampant the false narrative of them having no first rounders is on here and elsewhere. The 2024 draft doesn't have the typical high-end talents you usually find at the top of most draft classes. But, it is extremely deep. If the Suns want they can stay at 22 and add a ready to contribute 3 and D wing like; da Silva, Watkins, McCullars. Or a point guard like; Kolek, Mitchell. Or a big like; Ware or Bona. Or, they can remedy their "no 2nd round picks" issue over the next several years by trading out of the first for a boatload of 2nd rounders and STILL get a contributing role player in the 2nd because it's such a deep class.

The hard part about building a team is finding stars. The Suns have two. The easiest part is finding role players and luckily for the Suns, late firsts and second round picks are loaded with them.

Does anyone really think that the Suns won't make the playoffs next year after adding talent, getting a new coach and improving chemistry? The picks they'll be sending out in 2025 is likely going to be in the 20s. Oh no!! The future picks might be an issue but the Suns were happy to mortgage a little of their far future for the chance to make the playoffs every year for a few seasons.

That said, the Beal move is mind-bogglingly stupid. The best they can hope for is he's motivated and can provide some positives on the court while they're stuck with him. Maybe sending him to the bench might get him the touches and provide the most impact? They have to salvage something out of this.

I don’t think the Suns are making the playoffs next year. They got incredibly lucky this year on health and still just snuck into the playoffs. Durant played 75 games after averaging 49 the last 9 seasons. What are the chances he repeats that at age 36? Almost zero. Nurkic played 76, the second highest of his career off of 4 seasons where he’d averaged 38.

And now if they just re-sign everyone from last year, they’re going to be $100MM over the cap. So what, they’re going to pay the biggest tax bill of all-time and hamstring their team to the point they start losing draft picks for being over the second apron just to keep Royce O’Neal at $18MM/year and get a better seed in the play-in tournament? No way.

Next year’s team is likely to have worse health, worse talent, age-related decline, and if they fire Vogel, probably a worse coach too. If I’m one of the tippy top coaching candidates in the off-season, I’m staying miles away from this dumpster fire. For 2024, I’m taking all the teams that finished ahead of them over them, plus the Lakers, Kings, Warriors, Rockets, and Grizzlies. They might need multiple teams to suffer injuries just to make the play-in tournament.

Plus don’t kid yourself, if the season starts bad, KD’s going to be looking for a way out. Why push yourself to play 65 games and fight for the last play-in spot when you can just milk your injuries instead, put in a little less effort on D, and convince the front office that it’s just not working. He can just hand pick some contenders that he wants to be moved to and take the easy way out again. Honestly, I don’t see the Suns making the playoffs again until Beal is off the books.

Aren’t the suns known for having a ridiculously good medical staff though? Can it really be called luck or just another day in the office for them?

[Impuniti]

defeated the actor and the clown. onto the joker

Whose who?

[BigGargamel]

So many people here picked the Suns to win. Why?

pLaYoFf ExPeRiEnCe I guess.

[Jadoogar]

I don't want to hear about Allstar Brad Beal ever again.
I thought the Wizards were absolute clowns for giving him a max contract (with a NTC for some insane reason) but they managed to pawn him off to an even dumber team. You could argue that the cost was so low that there was no downside, but now the suns are severely limited in the amount of changes they can make. Who's going to want Beal at this point (and more importantly, where will Beal agree to go?).

[Iwasawitness]

Apparently the Suns big three were a -51 when they were on the floor together in this game.

A -51. Think about that.