Many people thought the Phoenix Suns had just become the favorites to reach the NBA Finals and possibly win it all when they shocked the league by trading for superstar Kevin Durant at midseason.
Instead, their season came to a shocking end on Thursday when they fell in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets, 125-100.
The contest was seemingly over by the end of the first quarter, and the Suns put up almost no fight after falling behind by 18 after the first 12 minutes.
They could undergo significant changes this offseason, and some have speculated if those changes may include starting center Deandre Ayton.
However, Ayton seems to want to remain in Phoenix, as shared by NBA on ESPN.
Ayton remains committed to the Suns 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7r6z2Zhon5
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 12, 2023
Last summer, it looked very likely that he had played his last game for the Suns.
As a restricted free agent, he signed a huge offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers that was worth $133 million over four years, but the Suns matched it.
However, this is the third straight year they have gotten eliminated from the playoffs in meek fashion, and one has to think they will need to make a bold move or two to get over the hump.
Last season, they led the second round, 2-0, then 3-2, over the Dallas Mavericks, a team that looked inferior on paper, only to lose Game 7 at home by 33 points.
In 2021, Phoenix won the first two games of the NBA Finals, only to see Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks storm back to take the next four and win the world championship.
The Suns may have an outstanding duo in Durant and Devin Booker, but they have a 38-year-old, oft-injured point guard in Chris Paul and almost no depth, and therefore, there is a chance they will look considerably different by October.
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