What an exciting preseason we’ve seen from the Phoenix Suns so far. There’s no doubt the roster looks more energized. When you remove big names like Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant and replace them with players trying to earn their next payday, you should expect to see more hustle.
It’s just preseason, of course, but it’s refreshing to watch. And it probably gives Suns fans flashbacks to the post-Bubble, pre-Durant years when effort was a defining trait.
Still, I can’t shake a feeling. The 2025–26 Phoenix Suns remind me a lot of the New Orleans Saints.
And that’s not just because they happen to be my two favorite teams.
Both franchises have spent the last few years with talented, aging rosters and a willingness to mortgage the future to keep competing. Now, they seem to be facing the same reality.
The Suns had the most expensive roster in the league last year and gave away first-round picks like candy to assemble it. They traded a boatload of picks and young talent for Kevin Durant (now in Houston), then sent their “Point God” Chris Paul and more picks for the often-injured Bradley Beal (now in L.A.). Deandre Ayton was traded for Jusuf Nurkić (now in Utah) and Grayson Allen.
Since the Durant trade, the Suns have endured a second-round exit, a first-round sweep, and then failed to even make the playoffs in Durant’s third season. In response, the team traded Durant and waived and stretched Beal, who will now earn $20 million per year for five years
not to be on the roster.
If that sounds bad, let’s talk about the Saints.
Since Drew Brees retired in 2021, New Orleans has tried to convince itself it could keep winning with the same core. Head Coach Sean Payton left and eventually joined the Broncos, so the Saints promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. They restructured contract after contract and shipped out young talent — Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Kaiden Ellis, Trey Hendrickson, Alex Anzalone, and more — just to stay afloat.
In the four seasons since Brees retired, the Saints have gone 30–38 with zero playoff appearances. This year, they’re 1–5. Even with the surprise retirement of QB Derek Carr, the Saints still project nearly
double the dead cap money of any other team in 2026 ($87 million, compared to $44 million for the Eagles). All that restructuring and “kick-the-can” accounting caught up fast.
Dead cap money is when you’re still paying for players who aren’t even on your roster anymore. Sound familiar, Suns fans?
Competitive Pieces and Rookie Head Coaches
The Saints still have talented (and expensive) players: Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Demario Davis, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Taysom Hill. Some have set franchise records and made All-Pro teams. But despite fighting hard, they’re sitting at 1–5.
First-time head coach Kellen Moore has them competing every week — just not winning.
The Suns’ early reviews feel eerily similar. Devin Booker remains the franchise cornerstone in his 11th season, joined by defensive stalwart Dillon Brooks, young talents Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, and Khaman Maluach, and the often-injured-but-promising Mark Williams.
Vegas has the Suns’ over/under at 31.5 wins. Preseason articles mention “surprising hustle and effort.” First-year head coach Jordan Ott is already tweaking the team’s alignment, as GM Brian Gregory hinted he would.
It’s a team that wants to compete — but might not have the pieces yet to do it consistently.
Face the Music at the Trade Deadline?
Understandably, there are rumors swirling in New Orleans. Will the Saints move Alvin Kamara, who’s spent his entire historic career with the team? What about Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Pete Werner, or Carl Granderson?
They’ll have to decide by the November 4th deadline. Even if they scrape together a few wins, they’ll still have a losing record. At that point, do they finally accept they can’t compete — and trade valuable players now instead of wasting another year?
The Suns could be facing a similar decision come February 5th, 2026. The Western Conference is loaded. If Phoenix struggles early, will they pivot toward future assets?
Would another team take on the Jalen Green project? Could Nick Richards slot in as a reliable backup center elsewhere? Would someone pay for Grayson Allen’s 3pt shooting? How about a deal for Big Meal Royce O’Neale?
And the question no one even likes to think about: would the Suns ever consider trading Devin Booker if the return was a king’s ransom?
For the record, Alvin Kamara recently said he has
no interest in leaving New Orleans for greener pastures. Devin Booker has said the same about Phoenix — repeatedly.
Bring on the Disagreement!
No worries. Bright Side of the Sun is a safe place for us die-hard fans. We can have debates and disagreements. I can already feel Mr. Positivity himself, @SoSaysJ (Justin from the
Fanning the Flames podcast), sensing a disturbance in The Force. His lawyerly instincts will want to tell me that a few similarities don’t make an identical pattern. Maybe he’s right.
I
want to be wrong about this. I hope Booker elevates Green and they form an elite, efficient backcourt. I hope Brooks and Dunn (
cue the music!) lock down opposing scorers every night. I hope Williams stays healthy and Maluach develops faster than expected. Maybe we even uncover more diamonds from this draft class.
The ride begins in about a week.
But
on the most recent episode of Fanning the Flames, Dan may have already captured what’s coming. I’m paraphrasing, but he said:
“Let’s talk about our terrible basketball team that we’re always trying to convince ourselves is good for some reason.”
Even Paul — usually the middle ground on Suns optimism vs. despair — replied,
“I’m not convincing myself they’re good.” That left Justin alone to defend the dream of contention.
And that might just say it all.
This feels like the very beginning of a rebuild, one that could take years to clear the books, regain draft capital, and build a new young core.
I hope I’m wrong, I may be, but I doubt it.
19 PTS
| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) 
