Thunder NBA Cup: Power ranking each West Group B team

2. Phoenix Suns

Embarrassing would certainly be a word to describe Phoenix's playoff exit last season. Coming into last season with the league's newest assembled big-three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, many pegged the Suns as a legitimate threat to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Instead, they struggled to amass 49 wins on the year and were ousted in four games during the first round of last year's postseason.

Now, expectations have been placed upon them to do better in 2024-25. At the Olympics, Booker and Durant put how good they still are on full display, but that was the case for the Suns last season as well.

Phoenix was dead last in the NBA in bench scoring in 2023-24, at just 26.6 per game. The franchise has made some impressive and underrated signings this summer to help the cause, including the additions of Monte Morris, Tyus Jones, Thaddeus Young and Mason Plumlee.

However, despite addressing their need for set-up artists and secondary offensive creators, there still isn't much big depth. Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee are the only centers on the roster, and they lack size.

Similarly to the Lakers, the Suns are extremely top-heavy. With that in mind, this team is still a threat.

They have elite outside shooting and a lot of offensive creativity. Guys like Grayson Allen and Monte Morris are now going to be part of the second unit, and newly appointed head coach Mike Budenholzer may experiment with Bradley Beal as the team's sixth man.

The Suns are dangerous, but still have glaring weaknesses, leaving them to land at number two in Group B.