
Phoenix Suns' improbable turnaround: defense, coaching, and savvy moves reshape their season
Phoenix pivoted from a cap-strapped, pick-short future after trading Durant and waiving Beal to support Devin Booker with a defensive-minded coach in Jordan Ott and shrewd fringe signings (Gillespie, Goodwin). The Durant deal, plus midseason role players and enhanced transition defense, transformed a potential lottery team into a surprising playoff contender and top-10 squad, rebuilding around Booker without meaningful draft capital.


