The NBA arms race has begun this offseason, and the calendar hasn’t even turned to July yet.
The Phoenix Suns shocked the league this month by trading Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and draft compensation for three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal. It’s a risky move. It leaves them without depth and a floor general, but it could pay off.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers may have the league’s best superstar duo in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but they don’t really have a Big 3.
Still, Nick Wright believes their three best players — James, Davis and Austin Reaves — are better than the Suns’ trio of Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker (h/t Lakers Daily).
.@getnickwright's Top 5 Trios (if Dame is traded to Miami):
1. Nuggets: Jokić, Murray, Gordon
2. Heat: Jimmy, Dame, Bam
3. Bucks: Giannis, Jrue, Middleton
4. Lakers: LeBron, AD, Reaves
5. Suns: Booker, KD, BealAgree? pic.twitter.com/1WxkkFIWeR
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 26, 2023
The two big questions about the Suns’ new trio of stars are how they will mesh offensively and if they will bring anything to the table on the defensive end.
James, Davis and Reaves, however, seemed to fit together very well this offseason, as all three can play on or off the ball effectively. In addition, Davis is simply a monster defensively and on the boards, which helps make up for the defensive deficiencies of Reaves and especially James.