The Phoenix Suns spent their offseason strengthening the roster, and one of their biggest Pacific Division rivals spent theirs striking out.
Phoenix added Miles Bridges, kept its own key free agents in place, and brought in Luke Kennard’s shooting. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors were left chasing names that never landed. They were widely seen as a possible destination for LeBron James, only to miss out on the league’s all-time leading scorer, who is now headed to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Golden State’s backup plan didn’t work out either. The Warriors reportedly turned to international standout and former NBA lottery pick Mario Hezonja, but he chose the Cleveland Cavaliers instead.
That wasn’t the end of the frustration. The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported that the Warriors had a chance to pursue former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, “but couldn’t build an organizational consensus that Brown would be the right player to carry the Warriors beyond the Curry era.”
Brown was eventually acquired by the Sixers and became the key piece that helped lure James to what is expected to be his final NBA stop.
After all of that, Golden State re-signed veteran forward Draymond Green and is now staring at a far less certain future.
The Warriors’ path looks even murkier after this offseason’s misses. Stephen Curry is entering his age-38 season, and he played only 43 games last year because of injuries, which was a career low outside the 2019-20 season when he appeared in just five games.
With Curry nearing the end of the road, the window that defined the Warriors’ dynasty may be closing fast. The Suns may have already added another blow to that run by knocking Golden State out of the play-in tournament in 2026.
For now, the Warriors are banking on Jimmy Butler returning from a torn ACL in 2026-27. Even so, the Pacific Division picture is starting to look much cleaner for Phoenix. The Suns and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the teams to beat, especially with the Los Angeles Clippers and Warriors both trending in the wrong direction.
Phoenix finished eight games behind the Lakers in the division last season, but with its own upgrades and a pair of rivals losing ground, a run at the division crown is suddenly in reach.
In Other News...
Mark Cuban Just Raised A Bigger Mavericks Power Question
The Suns have spent plenty of time living with the consequences of trading away draft capital, so the front offices next challenge is less about splash and more about patience. Even with so many future picks already out the door, Phoenix is leaning into a long-term draft approach, hoping it can keep finding useful players late in the first round, in the second round and among undrafted free agents.
That makes the broader league conversation around team-building feel especially relevant in Phoenix, where every bit of personnel value matters. As Mark Cuban has talked about his limited role in Mavericks basketball operations, it is another reminder that ownership structure and front-office belief can shape how a franchise navigates the margins, and the Suns are clearly trying to make their margin work count. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Have A Surprising New Favorite In Their All Star Debate
The Suns All-Star conversation for 2026-27 has a different feel than it did a year ago, with Jalen Green emerging as the name to watch in a way that would have sounded surprising not long ago. Phoenix still has Devin Booker in the mix, of course, and Bookers profile gives him a chance in almost any season, but the early lean points toward Green because of the kind of offense he can bring and the attention that comes with it.
Dillon Brooks also sits in the background of the debate after a career year, giving Phoenix another player with a case if the season breaks right. Still, All-Star selections often reward the loudest scorers and the most recognizable styles, which is why this feels less like a pure team success discussion and more like a popularity contest with real basketball stakes attached. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Be Headed For A Suns Center Mistake All Over Again
The Lakers are carrying a full roster, but the need at center still hangs over everything they do, and that has pushed them toward familiar names like Drew Eubanks and Mason Plumlee. Both bring NBA mileage and both would fit the kind of low-cost, stopgap search a team in their cap situation has to make, but neither looks like the sort of answer that changes the conversation for a contender.
For Suns fans, the bigger takeaway is the echo of a mistake they know well. Phoenix has already seen what happens when a team leans on a center solution that looks safer on paper than it plays in practice, and the Lakers are now flirting with the same kind of gamble after last seasons Deandre Ayton move did not deliver the payoff they wanted. [Read more 🡒]