Breaking down Phoenix Suns 2023-24 season: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and more

Phoenix Suns first glance

2022-23 record: 45-37, lost to Denver Nuggets in Western Conference semifinals, 4-2

2023-24 Arizona Republic prediction: 54-28 (Second seed in West at best, top four seed)

Season opener: Tuesday at Golden State Warriors, 7 p.m., TNT

Next four: Thursday at Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.; TNT; Oct. 28 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 p.m. Arizona’s Family; Oct. 31 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m., TNT; Nov. 2 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m., Arizona’s Family.

Big 3: Booker, Durant and Beal ready to cook

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal form the NBA’s most prolific trio. They’re not only scorers, but playmakers as well. Booker will play point guard, but all three have talked about staying aggressive as that will open it up for everyone else. Opponents must decide if they want to force the ball out of their hands to force someone else to beat them or try to guard them straight up and live with the results.

Coaching change: Williams out, Vogel in

The Suns fired Monty Williams two years after he coached the Suns to the 2021 finals and a year after winning NBA Coach of the Year when they won a franchise-best 64 games. Phoenix hired Frank Vogel, who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20. He didn’t coach last season after the Lakers fired him following the 2021-22 season, but he’s back with a proven track record for coaching great defenses.

Player additions

Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin, Keita Bates-Diop, Yuta Watanabe, Nassir Little, Chimezie Metu, Bol Bol and Udoka Azubuike (two-way contract).

Player departures from 2022-23 playoff roster

Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Torrey Craig, Landry Shamet, Jock Landale, Cameron Payne, Terrence Ross, T.J. Warren, Bismack Biyombo, Darius Bazley and Ish Wainright.

Biggest addition: Beal

The three-time All-Star will make the Suns even tougher to guard as he can not only score on all three levels, but he can get to the free throw line. Not known for his defense, Beal seems to have already bought into guarding, too, as he sees this as his best shot to win a championship.

Most necessary addition: Nurkic

The Suns had to get a big in the three-team trade that sent Ayton to Portland. Nurkic is a quality passer who can score in the post and from distance. The 7-footer hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent years, but the Suns see him as a “better fit” with this group than Ayton.

Down to 15

The Suns had to have their standard roster down to 15 players by 2 p.m. PT Monday. They waived Wainright and hoped to bring him back as a two-way contract player, but he joined the Portland Trail Blazers. ESPN reported Sunday the Suns were planning to waive Keon Johnson as he came from Portland in the three-team trade. He’s shown the ability to play point guard, but two-way Saben Lee can provide that as a backup. Damion Lee is coming back from knee surgery on his right meniscus.

Biggest departure: Paul

The Suns are without a true point guard who can set guys up and a leader who held everyone accountable, including himself. At age 38, Paul is in the final stages of his career, can’t defend like he used to, but only time will tell if the Suns miss having a playmaker at the one position who leads.

Most necessary departure: Ayton

It was time. Ayton wasn’t feeling his role with the team while the Suns have been in trade talks with teams about him for more than a year. He’ll have an opportunity to grow in Portland while the Suns got a big in return in Nurkic and a shooter who can do more than in Allen, who came from Milwaukee.

Fifth starter: Josh Okogie or ... ?

Okogie appears to be the guy who will start with Booker, Durant, Beal and Nurkic. He’s the team’s best perimeter defender, is strong enough to guard bigger wings, but athletic enough to handle point guards. He’ll have to shoot the ball better from 3 this season. Vogel could easily go with Allen, as he’s utilized a three-guard look in the preseason, or go bigger with Bates-Diop at the four.

Projected 10-man rotation

Starters: Booker, Beal, Okogie, Durant and Nurkic.

Next 5: Allen, Gordon, Eubanks, Watanabe, Bates-Diop.

Little or Metu could work their way into the 10-man rotation or Vogel could play more than 10 guys early in the season to figure out who he’ll rely upon a month or so from now. Goodwin is the one true backup point guard on the standard roster, but with Booker and Beal expected to play major minutes and considering how Gordon and Allen have looked in preseason, he may have a hard time finding minutes.

Standing in their way of a championship

Health: Booker, Durant, Beal and Nurkic have all had their share of injuries. The Suns need everyone healthy to get through the regular season and come playoff time, but also need those four to stay healthy to build chemistry and continuity with themselves and the entire group.

Nuggets: The defending NBA champions have the two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic leading arguably the league’s best starting five. Not the most talented, but the best. Nuggets are trying to start a dynasty

Lakers: LeBron James still rolling in his 21st season – and leading a very talented roster with athleticism and length. Anthony Davis is key. If he stays healthy and embraces being the team’s best player, scary.

Warriors: How Paul meshes will play a huge part in how Golden State fares, but as long as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are in the fold, this team will be right there.

Depth: The Suns aren’t as top heavy as some might suggest, but they have reserves who are going to have to deliver. The Big 3 can’t win a title by themselves. No really, Booker, Durant and Beal can’t.

Bucks: Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the same team? Unfair.

Celtics: Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis joining Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? Really unfair.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns breakdown for much-anticipated 2023-24 season with Big 3 leading the way