Tag: super teams

The Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant are definitely a super-team but Devin Booker doesn’t seem to think so

Devin Booker doesn’t think the Suns are a super-team, but he’s wrong.

Kevin Durant might be the best basketball player on the planet when he’s healthy. There’s no doubt whatsoever that he’s at least in the top 5.

So, of course, it’s natural for people to think the Phoenix Suns are a super team. They added that sort of talent to a combination of two guards who, not only made the All-Star game last season but also both made an All-NBA team.

They also have a former No. 1 pick in Deandre Ayton who has become one of the best defensive centers in the NBA. This team is absolutely stacked. There’s no way around it.

Devin Booker doesn’t think so, though. He even offered up an explanation as to why. Here’s what he had to say when asked whether the Suns were a super-team.

“Well, we only had one All-Star this year, that was KD.”

Book, my guy. Come on. This is already funny, but it gets even funnier because you know he’s dead serious. He continued.

“I just don’t do all the titles and stuff. That’s for you guys and everybody else. I know we have really talented people — I think enough to get where we’re trying to go and finish what we’re trying to do. That’s my main focus.”

That’s a perfectly buttoned-up answer to what was a very simple, but also very good, question.

The thing here is people always frown upon the super-team. It’s like stacking the deck against everyone else. People always prefer the narrative of a “home grown” squad against a team that was assembled together like Nick Fury assembled the Avengers. That’s why people loved Kevin Durant’s 2011 Oklahoma City Thunder and hated LeBron James’ Miami Heat.

And I get it, man. The story is cozy. But, hey, man. A super-team is a super-team whether it was drafted or traded for or acquired through free agency. Everyone has the same goal — winning championships and getting paid.

As for Booker and the Suns, I know a super-team when I see one and this is definitely one. Not on the 2017 Warriors level, but definitely somewhere between that 2008 Celtics and 2010 Miami Heat level.

And that’s OK! The Suns did everything within the rules. They’ll have a good shot to win a title because of it.

Embrace that, Book. Don’t shy away from it. Being a super-team is a great thing. Make the most of it.

The NBA’s super team era took a break, but now it’s back with a vengeance in the Phoenix Suns

The Superteam era is alive and well, contrary to popular belief

Welcome to Layup Lines, our basketball newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon

Howdy, folks. Welcome back to Layup Lines. It’s Sykes, once again, ushering you into the weekend. Let’s talk about super teams.

Because the NBA has been so competitive this season with so many teams bunched up into the middle, folks were quick to declare that the “Superteam era” — so to speak — of the NBA was over.

What folks meant by that was that teams could no longer see stacking three and four All-Star players together as a winning formula. Instead, the best organizational building strategy was to have a team of one or two stars, stack up some depth behind them and play your way to 50+ wins.

So much for that, right?

The Phoenix Suns were a team that lived by that strategy. Behind Devin Booker and Chris Paul, they had a rotation that could go nine or 10 players deep at any moment if need be. Depth was the name of the game for them.

On Thursday, the Suns took all of that depth and traded it in for one Kevin Durant. Thus, another “Superteam” is in our midst.

While the strategy of compiling depth is one that we’ve seen work throughout NBA history, the truth of the matter is when teams are given the choice they’ll take the star player over the depth every single time.

The ceiling of the team gets so much higher just by having one star — let alone 3. If a team ever gets a chance to trade for a star, they’re absolutely doing it no matter what it comes with. That’s why the Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving despite everything that he comes with these days.

So, no. The Superteam era never ended. As long as teams have that same mindset, it’s never over.

Now, we’re looking at a new one in Phoenix, so that’s not changing anytime soon.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of Phoenix and Kyrie Irving, there seems to be a legitimate chance that Irving winds up on the Suns with Kevin Durant this summer.

He’s going to be a free agent this offseason and the Suns could manufacture the cap space needed to sign him outright. It’d take some maneuvering, as my colleague Bryan Kalbrosky writes, but it’s possible.

Phoenix won’t have the cap space to sign Irving, but there is a real shot that they could make it work in a sign-and-trade involving former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton — who potentially had beef with Suns head coach Monty Williams.

The center nearly left the Suns when he agreed to an offer sheet with the Pacers last offseason, and according to Tim MacMahon, the big man is a rumored target for Dallas (via ESPN).

The KD-Kyrie era might not be over just yet. Hold on to your horses, folks.

One to Watch

(All odds via Tipico.)

Clippers (-1.5, -120) vs. Bucks (+100), O/U 226.5, 10:30 PM ET

Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been on an absolute tear over his last 9 games for the Bucks. They’ve won every single one, including a one-point win over the Clippers. He’s scoring 37.9 points per game on just over 60% shooting from the floor in that span. Take the Bucks outright tonight. Giannis is making an MVP push.

Shootaround

— Nia Long spoke out about how the Celtics handled her and Ime Udoka’s private business in the public eye. It was gross.

— Mikal Bridges deserved better from the Suns.

— Going winless for Wembanyama season is in full effect.

— Here are the reshuffled NBA title favorites after the trade deadline.

Enjoy the weekend, family!