Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, the Western Conference playoff picture is starting to take shape-and for the Phoenix Suns, things are looking up. Sitting at 31-21 and currently seventh in the West, the Suns are right in the thick of the race.
Just one game separates them from the Timberwolves, Lakers, and Rockets, and they’re only two games back of the third-seeded Nuggets. There’s real opportunity here, and the deadline moves-or lack thereof-across the conference may have opened the door even wider.
Let’s start with the best news for Phoenix: none of the teams ahead of them made a major splash to separate themselves. That’s a win in itself.
The Thunder added Jared McCain, a promising young guard, but he’s more of a depth piece than someone who shifts the balance this season. San Antonio opted to stand pat, confident in a roster that already has the tools to contend.
Denver made a small move, sending Hunter Tyson and a second-rounder to Brooklyn-mostly a financial play to free up a potential buyout spot. Nothing seismic there.
Houston stayed quiet too. There’s always a chance they dip into the buyout market for a point guard, but as of now, they’re rolling with what they’ve got.
The Lakers made one minor move, swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. Kennard brings some much-needed shooting to a team that’s been starved for spacing, but the defensive issues only get worse with him in the mix.
That’s a trade-off the Lakers are willing to make, but it doesn’t exactly turn them into a juggernaut.
And then there’s the Timberwolves. They were active, reportedly exploring a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo that never materialized.
Instead, they landed Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago after moving Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham in separate deals. Dosunmu’s a solid guard who can help plug a hole, but whether he’s the right fit or enough to push Minnesota over the top is still up for debate.
Of all the teams ahead of Phoenix, this was the only move that could potentially shift the balance-but even that feels more like a tweak than a transformation.
Now, let’s talk about the Suns’ own deadline activity. Phoenix sent Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to Milwaukee in exchange for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony.
This was a cap move more than anything-getting under the luxury tax was the goal here. Neither Coffey nor Anthony is expected to crack the rotation right away.
In fact, there’s a chance Anthony doesn’t even stick around. But with the Suns’ injury history, having a couple of extra bodies who can step in if needed isn’t the worst thing.
Elsewhere in the West, the Warriors-currently in eighth-finally moved on from Jonathan Kuminga. After what felt like a dozen trade requests, Kuminga was packaged with Buddy Hield and sent to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis.
On paper, Porzingis gives Golden State the size they’ve been lacking, but the injury concerns are real. If he’s healthy, he raises their ceiling.
If not, the Warriors may have just shuffled the deck chairs.
The Clippers made the most surprising pivot of the deadline. Despite a red-hot 17-4 stretch, they chose to be sellers.
James Harden was traded to Cleveland for Darius Garland, a talented but injury-prone guard who hasn’t seen much court time this season. It’s a forward-thinking move-Garland is younger and could be a long-term piece-but in the short term, it makes the Clippers worse.
They also moved Ivica Zubac to Indiana for Bennedict Mathurin and two first-round picks. Again, a savvy long-term play, but it doesn’t help them now.
Still, with Kawhi Leonard healthy, the Clippers are a team no one wants to see in a single-elimination play-in game.
Tenth-place Portland made a minor move, acquiring Vit Krejci for Duop Reath, but otherwise stayed quiet. And below that, the field thins out quickly.
Memphis sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah, signaling a full-on rebuild. Meanwhile, the Jazz find themselves in a tricky spot.
They’ve got talent, but they owe a first-round pick to the Thunder if it falls outside the top eight. That creates a real dilemma: push for the play-in or tank to keep the pick?
All of this adds up to a pretty favorable outlook for the Suns. No one behind them made a leap.
No one ahead of them pulled away. And with the roster mostly intact and the core healthy, Phoenix is positioned to climb the standings if they can keep their foot on the gas.
At worst, they’re hosting a play-in game. At best? A top-six finish is absolutely in play-and if the matchups break right, they could be looking at a real shot to make noise in the postseason.