NBA Analyst calls Suns the 'biggest embarrassment in the NBA'

Perkins on his podcast about the Suns:

“One could argue, or one could say that the Phoenix Suns have been the biggest embarrassment in the NBA over the last three to four years. Where they were, what four or five years ago. NBA Finals, culture, Monty Williams, CP3, just got dominated by Giannis. To all of a sudden, you trade your number one pick in Deandre Ayton, who you took in that draft.

“Where is KD at now? He’s not even in Phoenix anymore. All of a sudden, you acquire Bradley Beal, who is making a whole lot of f—ing money with no trade clause. You run through two championship coaches, two, Frank Vogel wasn’t good enough. Mike Budenholzer wasn’t good enough. All of a sudden, now you’re here.”

While Perkins NBA analysis is typically hyperbolic, it’s hard to disagree with his sentiment. Phoenix had two All-NBA caliber players in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant and recorded only one playoff series win. The trade sent out Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges, who are both premier role players/fringe All-Stars on two different contenders.

The Durant and Bradley Beal trade was a short-sighted move that have left the franchise in a long-term problem. No money, no help for Booker and question marks all around the organization.

In the past decades of the NBA Finals, it would be hard to find a Finals team that has had this massive of a shift in the negative direction. Despite trading Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks get Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. The Miami Heat lost Jimmy Butler, but still have plenty of cap flexibility with young talent and are still primed as a trade destination.

Phoenix’s talent pool is bone dry and cap flexibility is like a straightjacket. As Perkins and even Suns owner Mat Ishbia phrased it at last year’s end-of-season press conference, the franchise has been embarrassing for the past year or so.