Chris Paul's Phoenix Suns: Most Complete Team In Franchise History?

The Phoenix Suns have shocked the NBA with a playoff sweep over reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, 125-118.

No one could have possibly imagined that this franchise that just ended their 11-year playoff drought would be on the cusp of representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

As they wait with bated breath on who will come out of the Los Angeles Clippers – Utah Jazz series, their Cinderella run to the second seed and a potential finals berth begs the question: could this be the most complete Suns team since Charles Barkley’s 1993 Suns that faced Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls?

It certainly looks to be the case.

General manager James Jones has turned this franchise around in such a short amount of time that everyone’s losing their minds over it.

Since being named the permanent general manager in the summer of 2019, he hired Monty Williams as head coach, acquired Dario Saric, Cameron Johnson and Aron Baynes.

Cameron Payne was then brought in during their stellar undefeated Orlando Bubble run.

In addition, Jones orchestrated a masterful trade that saw fan-favorites Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ricky Rubio, along with some young players traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Abdel Nader and ten-time All-Star Chris Paul.

The acquisition of Paul gave the franchise its best point guard since Nash and someone that could take the playmaking load off Booker so the rising star could focus solely on being a scoring threat.

Alongside the free-agent signings of Jae Crowder, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway, and the big strides that Deandre Ayton made on both sides of the ball, the Suns were poised for success.

Paul did what he does best: be a point guard. Whenever the young Suns needed a bucket to stop the opposing team’s run, "CP3" was their go-to guy.

He provides veteran leadership and a winner’s mentality that no one else could’ve brought to this team.

Moreover, Paul made the squad's offense into being one of the most efficient in the league and helped them establish an identity on the defensive end as well.

There’s no denying that the Suns’ success this year has put the league on notice. Phoenix is well-equipped for an all-out war with the remaining playoff teams, regardless of who they face next.

The current Suns lineup is already more balanced than the offense-centric "7 Seconds or Less" teams of the Nash era.

If they break through the glass ceiling and reach the finals, all they have to do is put four more wins and they’ll be the best Suns team in franchise history.