Phoenix Suns Sign $60M Gray Media Broadcast Deal Amid NBA Ranking Challenges

The Phoenix Suns have secured a significant local media rights deal with Gray Media, worth over $30 million per season through 2027-28, effectively replacing revenue lost after exiting a partnership with the bankrupt Diamond Sports in 2023. However, despite this financial success, the Suns' future outlook is bleak, being ranked last among NBA teams in a power ranking that considered players, money, draft assets, market, and management, with particularly poor ratings in draft assets and financial flexibility due to dead money and upcoming large contracts. The franchise's decline is attributed partly to trades involving Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal and ownership decisions since Mat Ishbia's arrival. Elsewhere in the NBA, several teams like the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks are seen as potential surprise contenders or have hopeful prospects for the 2025-26 season, amid varied challenges such as injuries to star players and roster rebuilding. The Celtics, for example, are in recovery mode due to Jayson Tatum's season-long injury but still remain competitive. Overall, while the Suns face a difficult rebuilding path, other franchises are positioned for possible growth or contention in the near future.