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[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Suns with a blowout win, 111 to 87, over the Blazers

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

All around team effort closes out the Summer Suns season

I am back! But not like AC/DC Back in Black. Nobody wears black clothes in the desert in the summer. Also, we recognize the tourists and recent transplants with black cars. Pizza ovens there that will soon need new paint jobs.

Just when I thought I was out, I was pulled back in. Somehow the short-straw keeps showing up for the “Rook” on the writing squad. Maybe, because I was late on washing the writer’s jock straps.

Okay, I followed all your game chat comments. Some were naughty and some were nice, but we are not celebrating Christmas in July. We are celebrating that we finally had basketball, until, we don't. Welcome to the end of the Summer Suns and welcome to Summer. Get your vacay time in while you still can.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The fans were not treated to a Hanson Yang vs. Khaman Malusch battle, which should have been the main event. Both are DNP. No Dunn, Oso. or Koby either. Let’s really see what the other players can do with those minutes.

Suns roll out Rasheer Fleming ,CJ Huntley, Moses Wood, Boogie Ellis and Khalif Battle as the starters.

Portland counters with Dmytro Skapintsev, Rayan Rupet, Sidy Cissoko, Caleb Love, and James Bouknight.

In the first quarter, with 2:26 left, the Suns would successfully challenge a three-point foul call to turn it into an inadvertent whistle. Challenge preserved and the foul was reversed. No three FTs for Portland. Play of the game for me, because it so rare to see these calls get reversed. Ultimately it would not matter, as Portland leads 25 to 19 heading into the second. CJ Huntley wins the first quarter Suns player MVP with perfect shooting and seven points. Coaching was not that bad either to win the challenge.

Second quarter started hot with three-point shooting from Boogie Ellis and he would remain hot throughout the half. Portland would lead by ten at one point but Boogie just kept it going. Not only would he assist on a Battle three but would shoot a few of his own to give the Suns the lead at 42-37. The announcers are loving “The Boogie Show”. He is good folks and deserves the the second half MVP. He assists, he passes, and he scores. Also need to give kudos to Battle and Huntley.

Suns up 49-38 after a 22 to 1 point run (read that again) before Caleb Love sunk a free throw to break the streak right before the end of the half. Boogie would finish 5-7 from three.

I am starting to think, I need to do more of these recaps. I get to see the good games.

Second Half​

Suns will keep the “Battle” going into the third quarter and start off with hot shooting, mainly from the hot hand of Khalif Battle. Alex Schumacher also needs his third quarter kudos for just straight up battling. I was actually watching good Suns defense for most of the quarter. I have not been able to type that for awhile, especially in the third. At the end of three Suns up on top, 77-61.

In the fourth quarter. Probably the biggest news is that Boogie has to sit with a possible leg injury. Suns make another challenge, but this time it is unsuccessful. Well, so much for riding the hot hand on two fronts. But the Suns continue to pull away and I really like Alex Schumacher’s all-around game. I would give him fourth quarter MVP.

Great win by the Suns to close out the Summer League season. They finish at 2-3.

This should be a good Bright Side Baller survey. The reality is, I saw a team effort throughout the entire game on offense and defense. I vote on these surveys and I am not a politician. so I do not want to unnecessarily influence you (it was Boogie). But if you said another player, I would probably just do the shrug emoji and go “yeah, you are right”.

Up Next​

Preseason! Friday, Oct 3rd against, you guessed it, the Lakers at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert. TV is still TBD, but based on LA traffic, I think the local Suns fans have a decent chance to drive out with tickets and beat the Laker fans to the best seats. Not only that, but the Suns play the Lakers twice in the preseason, which means a lot of DA comments.

But wait there is more! Itching for some jet lag and want to head over to China for some more preseason action? Two games are scheduled in the Global Games. Oct. 10th in Macau,China against the Nets. And another against the Nets on Oct. 12th. Same Venetian Arena, so get the two-fer-one pack. TV is still TBD.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...with-a-blowout-win-111-to-87-over-the-blazers

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns have two roster spots left and one familiar name might be the perfect fit

Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images

Call him “Non-Stop”.

Thirteen players under contract. Two spots left. The Phoenix Suns, as of this moment, do not have a full roster. That means there’s room. Wiggle room. Breathing room. Yes, I realize this sounds like I’m walking you through kindergarten arithmetic, breaking down roster construction like it’s Snack Time with Mr. Numbers. And for that, I apologize.

It’s the question of the moment, isn’t it? What should the Suns do with those final two roster spots? Who’s out there worth the ink on a contract? Is there anyone who genuinely moves the needle, not just a body to fill space, but someone who might claw their way into the rotation, make an impact, or at the very least push the guys ahead of them in practice?

Do they want that? Or is this about development? About allocating minutes to young players, rolling the dice on upside, and leaning into the long view?

These are all valid questions. Necessary ones, even. Because the Phoenix Suns aren’t just filling a depth chart, they’re trying to build something real. Something lasting. An identity. A culture. And that doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t just declare yourself gritty and expect it to stick. Toughness is earned. Mentality is molded. That kind of transformation takes time. Sometimes a season. Sometimes longer. But it always starts with intent.

Which brings us here. The market is thin. The names are familiar. The dreaded retread conversation rises from the ashes once again. But among that pile of maybe’s and what-if’s, there’s one name that still makes a little sense.

Josh Okogie.

#Hornets have waived Josh Okogie, league sources told The Observer. His $7.7 million salary for next season would have been guaranteed today after sides agreed to push back original date.

— Rod Boone (@rodboone) July 15, 2025​

We’ve danced this dance before, and we’re all well aware of his flaws. Limited offensive ceiling, streaky shooting, an occasional “what are you doing?” moment.

But let’s not pretend we didn’t love what he brought. The hustle. The defensive bite. The chaos he created on the boards. The pace. The pride. When the Suns were searching for an edge, he gave them one.

And it’s not just us. Warrior fans would love an Okogie. Lakers fans, too. Every team needs a guy like that tucked away deep on the bench, a plug-and-play energy source, ready to go to war the second his number gets called.

So yeah, I can see the vision. I can see a world where Okogie returns and fits like a well-worn glove in what this new-look Suns team is trying to become.

The real question is: does Phoenix’s front office see it too?

Sure, you’re not tossing a chunk of the midlevel his way. Not after clawing back this precious flexibility. But a vet minimum deal? A low-risk, high-character signing who might actually help you win a game or two down the line? That’s the kind of decision that might not make headlines...but might make a difference.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-free-agent-options-depth-chart-needs-hornets

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns - Topics: The state of the Suns post Bradley Beal buyout, Summer League observations

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Your weekly Inside the Suns analysis straight from the BSotS community who live and breathe the team.

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team.​

Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week​

Q1 - The Beal buyout is done. What are your thoughts on where this leaves the Suns now and in the future?

Ashton: I breathed a sigh of relief. There were so many countless articles and comments on the subject that I was beginning to suffer Beal fatigue.

Should he stay? Should he go? Who screwed up? Relief from the second apron? There is a myriad of ways to view this subject. and I was just quite frankly burned out from chatter and having my head spin through the discourse as well.

Peace out Bradley Beal. We barely got to know you and yes, the fans may have given you a raw deal. Coaching and management surely did when they overlooked the fit and decided to cut checks instead.

Time to move on, Suns fans.

OldAz: I have been fairly vocal on the chats with my opinion on this. I am glad that they are able to move on as he does not fit the teams new direction at all. However, that really only speaks to the buyout portion and not the stretch. I understand the math of this buyout equating to far less of the overall cap in years 4 and 5 but it is still almost $20M that could be used elsewhere in those seasons. I want to see another move this year that smartly uses this newfound flexibility before I can be happy about the “stretch” portion and its impact on future years.

That does not mean using the MLE and magically competing this year. I am good with a rebuilding year or two if it means exciting basketball with more passionate and engaged young players. I would like them to use the flexibility to get off of Allen and O’Neale’s long term deals. Theoretically that could have been done while still over the aprons, but it may take aggregating someone like Richards to get back exactly what they want or need. If that return is expiring contracts to free up Allen’s and Oneal’s salary the next few years, includes picks, or brings back a young player that fits the teams new direction then it would make the whole Beal exit seem far better in my mind. This is similar to how the KD trade looked a lot better after the draft added Maluach, and allowed them to maneuver up to get Fleming and Brea.

One last note: I am split on a sign and trade for Kuminga being the move I describe above. I don’t mind them being hard capped in a rebuilding year because of a sign and trade, but I am not sure Kuminga is the guy worth doing that for. He is not much bigger than either of Dunn or Brooks so he might be duplicative at the wing position just like the logjam already at SG. If they are able to make this move for $15-18M a season while offloading Allen or O’Neale then it fits my description above perfectly and swaps out a bad contract for a young player with enough upside to justify giving minutes. However, if that S&T is for $20M+ (sending back Allen and Richards) then I feel like it may be piling a new mistake on right as they are trying to move on from the last mistakes.

Rod: Do I like all the dead money on the Suns’ cap sheet for the next 5 years? No. Do I believe it will completely cripple the team for years to come? Also, No. This pretty much came down to a choice between the lesser of two evils and there were cases to be made for both sides, both choices but no matter how strongly I or anyone else believes this was the right or the wrong choice to make, only time will tell how good or bad this choice was.

With that in mind, I prefer to remain cautiously optimistic. I am very glad that the team is now under both tax aprons and has gained a lot of flexibility moving forward. What they do with that added flexibility is the question now. With a new GM, we can’t really go by how well or how badly the front office has done in the past to predict the future but I can understand why some tend to predict gloom and doom but for me that’s just not worth the aggravation it would cause I will just wait until I see more of how the Suns are going to navigate this new reality before passing judgement.

Q2 - What are your thoughts on the rookies (Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea) after Summer League?

Ashton: The Suns are 2-3 in Summer League. The point is, that it is not going to cut it. What started as a promising blow-out over the Wizards, turned into losses with being blown-out by the Kings and Hawks, while playing an entertaining game against the Wolves. Suns followed up with a very convincing win over the Portland Trail Blazers with only Fleming starting and the other two were DNP.

What do three teams have in common in the loss column? They are all 4-0 in Summer League.

So, who can say how their performance was affected by going against the “Murderer’s Row”. I think all the players need improvement.

Khaman Maluach: Oh Vey (I am not Jewish, I just like the expression)! If he wins Most Improved Player this year, then you should have taken any Vegas odds at +20000 or above. He needs to stop with the three-pointers and focus on actually making shots around the basket, which was awful, just like his +/-. Not a good showing for the #10 pick in the draft He was a DNP against Portland when he clearly needed some more time on the court. It was basically handed to him as Hanson Yang was out. Load management, I guess. But I remain unconvinced.

Rasheed Fleming: Just too many DNPs due to injury for me to accurately judge. The jury is still out on him too. However, he did start against Portland, so the injury concerns are unjustified. And he recorded a respectable + 26 over 20 minutes of play. I need to see more, but he seems like a keeper.

Koby Brea: He could very well be a rotational player off the bench at a very loaded SG position. Lit the world on fire with his game against the Wizards to the point that some national pundits were wondering if he could be the steal of the draft. Inconsistent at times, but I remain hopeful. He was also a DNP with the blowout win against Portland. I would have liked to see more.

OldAz: I watched more Summer league this year than I have in all past seasons combined. That was 100% because of these 3 rookies and wanting to see what the Suns are getting. I tend to be fairly optimistic about young players and also recognize that significant development will be needed regardless of where they are drafted. With that said, here are my thoughts:

Maluach is really raw, but you can also see every bit of that potential everyone has been raving about. I get excited about young players developing and can see him being everything DA was for the Suns plus some of the things DA wasn’t. I am even more excited that they have another young center in front of him for now that has already proven to do some of these same things. It will give Maluach time to develop with much less pressure to perform immediately.

Fleming excites me the most despite us not getting to see too much of him. The simple fact that he displays NBA level talent in an actual NBA power Forward shaped body gets me excited. The Suns have not had that in a young player since Amare and even then they had to play him at Center. With Maluach and Williams, that won’t be a problem.

Brea looks to be a great value for where he was drafted and has such a pure and pretty jump shot. Some people compare him to a young Booker (a big stretch), but I would be happy just to get the sharp shooter and smart basketball player they had in Cam Johnson coming off the bench.

Rod: Maluach was pretty much what I expected, lots of potential, flashes of talent but needs time to learn and develop. He’s not a guy who’s going to come in and be a real force right away which is why getting Mark Williams will turn out to be a really smart move as Maluach will have time to adjust to the NBA without a lot of pressure to perform right away. My biggest concern with him right now is conditioning. I hope he will work to improve that during the rest of the summer before training camp opens in September.

I wish we had gotten to see more of Fleming but what I did see looked pretty good. He wasn’t flashy but payed well and under control. Offense mostly stands out in games but it might surprise some to know that Fleming lead the Summer Suns in defensive rating and a PER of 22.0. His per 36 stats for rebounding were 8.6 rebs which is encouraging. I’m encouraged by his performance but still want to see more of him in games with a more structured offense and defense (not Summer League).

Brea looks like he could easily get time this year as a microwave scorer off the bench. He might not be ready for a lot of minutes, but I think sticking into the lineup whenever team scoring goes flat might just kick start the Suns’ offense back to life. Getting him on a two-way contract is a very big plus and, depending on how the Suns’ season goes, he might wind up getting converted to a standard contract before the end of it.

Although CJ Huntley wasn’t mentioned in the question (an unfortunate oversight made by me), I was fairly impressed by his play too. He looked solid for a two-way player but still has a way to go before being a real factor on the court during a real NBA game. I’ll be following his progress in the G League this fall with interest.

Q3 - What are your thoughts on 2nd year players Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro after Summer League?

Ashton: Talk about that second-year jump! Ryan Dunn was the leading scorer for the Suns in Summer League and Oso had a really nice game against the Hawks, but boy does he need to work on his FT shooting. Both were DNP against Portland in the last Summer League game of the year. Even Draymond Green is complaining about “Rest Management” in SL, but he complains about everything.

They received the most minutes on the team when I kinda wish that would have gone to other players. Boogie Ellis anyone?

They will both be rotational players on this year’s Suns squad, unless they become aggregation trade bait.

OldAz: Dunn was too good to be playing in Summer league and should have been pulled after the first game. You could tell that he had NBA experience and had worked on his game to get better since his rookie campaign. However, when he went down late in game 4 I cussed and shook my head and only felt a little bit better when they put him back in because it was not worth the risk. You can see that he works hard on his game and I expect him to take a significant leap given the youth movement and change in direction for the team. He should get plenty of minutes to continue his development. I see him on a similar trajectory as a young Mikal with the benefit of a bigger frame and possibly even better offensive mindset earlier in his career.

Oso is a tough read for me because we have yet to see what Ott’s offense and defense look like. While Oso has incredible basketball IQ, he is just not big enough to play center long term at the NBA level. There has been talk of playing him as PF, but without an outside shot I don’t see how that works. If he is hanging out at the corner on offense, you are basically allowing the defense to play 5 on 4. The Summer league did give some glimpse of his ability to help the offense as a facilitator and he continues to work on his shot from inside 10 feet, but it only worked because Maluach was able to man the center position on defense and then float out to the 3 point line on offense and provide the shooting threat that Oso cannot. I will be happy to be proven wrong, but I see Oso as a career bench player looking for minutes.

Rod: One thing about both of them impressed me. That was how confident and active they were on the court. Oso especially looked much more confident and aggressive offensively. Last season I was often frustrated at what seemed to be hesitancy on his part to make decisions and instead looked to just pass the ball off to someone else. Yeah, it was just summer league but I liked seeing that disappear and him aggressively taking the ball to the hoop rather than searching for someone else to pass to.

On the negative side, neither of them seem to have improved their free throw shooting much (Oso - 47.4%, Dunn - 60.0%). Watching Oso make only 3 of 10 FTs in the Minnesota game was exasperating. And he’s still not developed any kind of an outside shot...but at least he seemed to be a little more accurate with his push-shot floaters than before.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Suns Trivia/History​

On July 24, 1996, the Suns officially signed their 1st round pick (15th) Steve Nash to a 3-year deal worth $992,300 a season. When asked what kind of player he expected to be, Nash joked, “Probably a little bit like Michael Jordan at first.”

On July 26, 2010, the Suns waived Taylor Griffin (the older brother of Blake Griffin) whom they had drafted with the 48th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Taylor turned out to not be anywhere near the player his soon to be NBA All-Star younger brother would become and played in only 8 games for the Suns (averaging only 4 minutes per game) throughout the season. He would not play in the NBA again although he was briefly picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats for 9 days in December before being waived yet again without seeing any court time there. Taylor did actually make the Suns’ highlight reel once though...

On July 27, 2013, the Suns traded Luis Scola to the Indiana Pacers for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee and a 2014 1st round draft pick (Bogdan Bogdanović was later selected). Green and Plumlee played integral parts in the Suns’ short-lived turnaround in 2013-14 when they went 48-34. They improved by 23 wins over the previous season (25-57) and just barely missed the playoffs in an extremely tough Western conference.

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Last Week’s poll results​

Last week’s question was “If the Suns make another trade this summer, who do you think is the most likely Suns player to be traded?”

35% - Nick Richards.

48% - Grayson Allen.

17% - Royce O’Neale.

A total of 350 votes were cast.

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Important Future Dates​

October 3 - Preseason game vs LA Lakers

October 10 - Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)

October 12 - Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)

October 21 - Regular Season Opening Night

Feb. 13-15 - 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA

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This week’s poll is...

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ey-beal-buyout-summer-league-observations-nba

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Chris Paul and Bradley Beal unite in LA while the Suns watch from the sidelines

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Are you kidding me?

Two former Phoenix Suns who were kicked out of Phoenix over contract negotiations are now teaming up in LA? You know, the retiring player’s salary place of choice was not Phoenix. Why not? Sunny summers, enough money to buy a house in an area that may burn up, and June gloom with the fog.

CP3 never had a chance to play with Beal, but one wonders if they had the chance to team up. Do you see the potential outlet pass to Beal? Another one to Booker as he actually breaks the half-court press because he is the pigeon?

If Chris Paul elevates Bradley Beal’s game, then every single Suns fan (or most of you) on this site should be ashamed of themselves. Or was this the most serious under-utilization of Beal’s talent ever without a point guard? Let's put this one on the front office. They listened and they tried to surround the shooting guard position with point guard talent, but it failed awfully due to the utilization of the coaching scheme.

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Look, Chris Paul is not going in for the mid-range shot while drawing the foul at 40. That was his best quality, and he could sell you insurance. I would honestly worry if he hit the deck, attempting that signature move. Game Over on the career.

But, if those two players manage to bring the Clippers into the playoffs, Sun fans will regret not keeping both or not making negotiations to retain or bring back both.

The Suns gamble vs. the Clippers gamble? Who wins next regular season record for the playoffs? My guess is this that the Suns have to sit this one out while the Clippers will at least make a Play-In. Is this an “No Country for Old Men” analysis? Well. lets see.

Suns have a lot to lose on this one for their reputation. If the duo pairs up and starts to win games for the Clippers, then it was on the Sun’s organization not to see it. If the duo does not produce results, then the Sun’s FO made the right call.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...eal-clippers-reunion-could-haunt-phoenix-suns

 

[Phoenix Suns]

This one move could turn the Suns’ offense into a two-way juggernaut

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Why Ben Simmons makes more sense for the Suns than you think.

Look, we get it. The name Ben Simmons doesn’t light up the scoreboard or ignite your fantasy league. It probably makes your Philly friends flinch. But if you actually look at what this Phoenix Suns roster needs — and we mean really look — you might realize Simmons is the right kind of weird.

Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Let’s be blunt: the Suns are stacked with scorers in the backcourt. Devin Booker and newly acquired Jalen Green are walking buckets, but both are best off-ball in a shooting guard role. The offense isn’t begging for another guy who needs the ball to score 20+. What it does need is someone to run the show, play defense at a high level, and not demand touches.

Oh, and if that someone can guard the opposing team’s best wing? That’s gold in the Valley.

Simmons vs. Giddey vs. Durant: Why Defense Still Matters​

Sure, the Bulls’ Josh Giddey is another oversized point option floating around in trade rumors. But the man regularly earns F grades from advanced defensive metrics. And it’s not just the eye test. The numbers are ugly. Put him in a lineup next to Booker and Green, and you’ve got three perimeter defenders made of warm butter. That’s not a Big 3, that’s a Big Mistake.

Let’s stop pretending the Booker/Beal/Kevin Durant trio was ever built to last. That experiment was doomed from day one. You can’t run two dynamic scoring guards next to a 36-year-old power forward who can’t defend, can’t facilitate, and needs the ball in his hands to function.

Durant’s presence didn’t unlock Booker and Beal. It choked the life out of the offense. Instead of movement and flow, we got ISO after ISO while the rest of the team stood around like they were waiting in line at the DMV. Defensively? A disaster. KD couldn’t stay in front of wings, couldn’t fight through screens, and didn’t rotate fast enough to clean up mistakes. He wasn’t a floor-raiser; he was a traffic cone with a jump shot. And in the playoffs (lord forbid if we had made it), that kind of lineup gets cooked. We saw it happen so often that we missed the playoffs completely.

Ben Simmons, on the other hand? He’s a 6’10” defensive cheat code. A three-time All-Star, a 2020 All-NBA Third Team member, a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team honoree, and one of the best perimeter-and-post switch defenders we’ve seen this decade. He can still clamp 1 through 4 on defense, crash the boards, and — when he’s healthy — push in transition like a freight train with elite passing vision.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

And look, the Suns don’t need him to be All-NBA Ben again. They need Phoenix Version Simmons: chilled-out, Zen desert Ben. Just facilitate, defend, and vibe.

Let’s Talk Fit — Because It’s Actually Perfect​

The Suns’ lineup is suddenly fascinating. Here’s what a starting five could look like with Simmons running the point:

Offensive Lineup

• PG: Ben Simmons
• SG: Devin Booker
• SG: Jalen Green
• SF: Brooks/Dunn
• C: Mark Williams

Defensive Matchups

• PF: Ben Simmons
• SG: Devin Booker
• PG: Jalen Green
• SF: Brooks/Dunn
• C: Mark Williams

It’s not traditional. But you know what, neither is two shooting guards, and it makes sense in this lineup! Simmons gives the Suns the ability to actually get away with running two scoring guards in Booker and Green because he’s the defensive glue and primary table-setter.

A Soft Landing Spot for a Complicated Career​

Let’s not sugarcoat it, Simmons’ career has taken a hit. Between back issues, confidence struggles, and the ruthless pressure cooker that is the New York media (and, before that, the brutal Philly market), Ben’s been through the wringer.

He needs a market that isn’t dissecting his every move. He needs fans who aren’t booing him for passing out of a dunk. He needs Phoenix.

This is the place where he can quietly get healthy, mentally and physically. Where expectations are measured. Where the team isn’t asking him to do what he can’t do — just lean into what he still does better than almost anyone else: defend and distribute.

Ben Simmons isn’t washed. He’s just miscast. And in Phoenix, he might finally find the right script.

The Bottom Line​

On most teams, Ben Simmons is a weird fit. But on the Suns, he’s oddly perfect. We don’t need him to shoot. We need him to defend wings and bigs, lead the break, and deliver dimes to two elite scoring guards. His weaknesses aren’t exposed here — they’re covered.

So maybe it’s time to stop laughing at the idea of Simmons in purple and orange… and start asking:

What if we’re the team that figures him out?

Would you take a chance on Simmons in the desert? Drop your thoughts in the comments — but be nice. Ben’s already had enough Philly in his life.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...fense-booker-jalen-green-clippers-free-agency

 

[Phoenix Suns]

CBS Ranks Suns’ front office among the worst in the NBA

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

CBS’s Sam Quinn ranked every single NBA team’s front office. See where Phoenix stacks up to the competition.

CBS’s Sam Quinn took the time to rank all 30 front offices in the NBA. He did a ranking back in February, where the Suns came in at 28th overall. Not much has changed since then for the Suns in-house.

Spoiler alert: They moved up! (a little)

The Phoenix Suns didn’t necessarily “revamp” their front office as expected this summer, despite that being the implied messaging in the end-of-season presser.

All they did was rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Brian Gregory was promoted internally, and Josh Bartelstein remained with the organization. James Jones stayed on board in a “new” role until taking a job with the NBA office. They moved on from Coach Bud as expected, but outside of that, most of the changes have been roster-related.

As Mat Ishbia famously stated: “I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook — hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way — and none of us were happy with the outcome.” That quote won’t help this ranking.

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

Quinn had the Suns previously ranked at 28th overall, with only the Kings and Bulls behind them. They were in the “I can’t even defend what you’re doing” tier.

In this updated version, he moved the Suns up a spot to 27th overall. Progress! The Pelicans dove headfirst from 13th to 30th in this ranking, moving past the Suns and moving them up a slot.

Here is the clump of teams they are ranked near:

• 25. Toronto Raptors
• 26. Dallas Mavericks
• 27. Phoenix Suns
• 28. Sacramento Kings
• 29. Chicago Bulls
• 30. New Orleans Pelicans

As you can see, they are sandwiched between the Kings and Mavs at 27, which, to be honest, feels about right with how the past few years have gone. I still think what the Mavs did deserves to move them even lower, and no, I do not care about their fraudulant lottery win.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the energy to defend the Suns’ ranking.

Here’s what Quinn had to say. He did not hold back and went right at the front office. I made comments beneath each point in bold to add my thoughts.

Jordan Ott is a qualified first-time NBA head coach. He is also a former graduate assistant at Michigan State, which raises questions about the process that led to his hiring, considering just how many Spartans are in the building right now. New general manager Brian Gregory did not have NBA front office experience prior to joining the Suns last summer. He was a collegiate head coach who made the NCAA Tournament twice in 19 years. But, like Ott, he was a former assistant at Michigan State, not coincidentally overlapping with Mat Ishbia’s time as a walk-on for Tom Izzo. The Suns are by no means the only team to so blatantly operate in this manner. Hell, the Knicks are No. 6 on this list and are built on Leon Rose’s CAA connections. But Rose took a bad Knicks team and made it good. Ishbia took a good Suns team and made it bad, losing the benefit of the doubt that Rose has long since earned.

This is well-put. Ott, on his own, was never a bad hire. But given the surrounding context and the Michigan State ties, it was always going to be viewed as a “connection hire.” That’s something he will have to live with, and I hope he has a chip on his shoulder because of it. We need someone hungry looking to prove people wrong.

The difference between the Knicks and Suns was a great way to lay it out. If you’re going down this route, sure, but make sure it works. So far, it hasn’t.

The degree of control Ishbia seemingly exerts over basketball decisions is extremely concerning. Earlier this offseason, he made the bizarre suggestion that he had, at some point, been a hands-off owner. “I’m not the conventional NBA owner and I don’t want to be,” he said. “I’ve tried running the typical NBA owner playbook — hiring the experts, signing the checks, and getting out of the way — and none of us were happy with the outcome.” It’s worth asking here what period he was specifically referring to. Ishbia officially gained control of the Suns on Feb. 7, 2023. On Feb. 9, they traded for Kevin Durant, with rumblings suggesting that Ishbia played a substantial part in those negotiations.

This quote is the one that set the NBA media world on fire and probably sent a chill down Suns fans’ spines.

It pairs nicely (horribly) with this gem in 2024: “Ask the other 29 GMs— 26 of them would trade their whole team for our whole team and our draft picks and everything as is,” Ishbia said Wednesday, per The Athletic’s Doug Haller. “The house is not on fire. We’re in great position. It’s not hard to fix. It’s not like we’re like, ‘Hey, we don’t have enough talent to win a championship.’ We have enough talent to win a championship.”

This has aged like milk. Let’s hope the quote above that one doesn’t.

Rarely does it make sense for an owner to be this heavily involved in basketball decisions. The best ones trust their basketball people to act in their long-term interests. Ishbia has done the opposite. His track record is one of impatience. He’s never kept a coach longer than a year. He waived-and-stretched the two remaining years on Bradley Beal, offering immediate financial relief, but leaving five years’ worth of dead money on their books.

“Impatience” is a fair reputation for this regime. Let’s hope “aligned” becomes the next buzzword in Quinn’s update next February.

Even the midseason trade with Utah reeked of desperation. They swapped an unprotected 2031 first-round pick for three lesser, protected first-rounders several weeks before the deadline. Utah general manager Justin Zanik immediately called that pick “the most valuable asset on the market.” Why not wait until the deadline to see if you could have done better with it? What was the point of rushing into that trade then? The same could be said of some of the secondary swap trades they made. Orlando got Desmond Bane in part because Phoenix offered them swap rights on the lesser of their own or Washington’s 2026 first-round pick, giving the Magic a premium pick to dangle to the Grizzlies in those negotiations. All the Suns got in return were three low-upside second-rounders. Could they not have waited a bit just to get a better sense of how valuable those swap rights might actually have been?

This is just how the Ishbia Suns operate. Every move is shortsighted. Not surprisingly, the team seems to get worse every year. Having someone in a prominent role outside of his Michigan State orbit to offer a different perspective would probably go a long way, but Ishbia has stayed within his comfort zone, and the result is one of the bleakest long-term outlooks in basketball.

This is not holding any punches back. I think it’s fair criticism.

Despite the strong draft and promising young core they’ve assembled in this pivot/retool or whatever you’d like to call it, there’s still a long way to go.

Inside the 2025 Phoenix Suns Draft War Room ️

TOMORROW MORNING 9AM. pic.twitter.com/B0MXNXDg3s

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 22, 2025​

Read the full story here: NBA front office rankings: OKC on top, Lakers and Mavericks low on list, new team falls behind Bulls at No. 30

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...a-cbs-sam-quinn-mat-ishbia-criticism-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns Summer League Stock Report

Shooting the shit about the Phoenix Suns since 2019.

4 games down for the Summer Suns. Whose stock has risen? Who has gone down?

• Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
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Watch it right here!

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Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ssion-podcast-suns-summer-league-stock-report

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker back at shooting guard?

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

After years of Point Book, the chapter has finally come to an end.

Might we expect to see Devin Booker returning to the shooting guard position this upcoming season? Well, Phoenix Suns’ insider John Gambadoro confirmed today that Book will indeed be back at the shooting guard position, while Jalen Green will take over the point for the Phoenix Suns.

Adjustment here
Plan will likely be Green starting at PG not Booker
Gillespie as the backup
With Goodwin and Butler battling for 3rd PG

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 24, 2025​

With that being said, I still expect Book to do most of the playmaking on offense, similar to what he has been doing the past two seasons. The backcourt guard dynamics this season will be intriguing as the Suns look to replicate the combo guard scenario the Cavs ran last season under Kenny Atkinson and Jordan Ott.

For Book, I expect him to play similarly to how he did in the 2023 season, where he was the “lead guard” next to Chris Paul. While Book was the primary scorer, he was also doing a lot of playmaking. While that season was arguably Booker’s best season individually, I look for him to return to that same style of play this upcoming season.

The Devin Booker “point guard” discourse is interesting.

By now, you would think it’s universal knowledge that Booker thrives as the primary playmaker. Was among the NBA’s best last season, without a high turnover rate. He’s not good at it … he’s great at it.

Also, he enjoys…

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) July 24, 2025​

NBA reporter Shane Young makes some valid remarks on behalf of the Booker point guard discourse.

Book enjoys being a playmaker and dictating how the game flows. I for one also believe that’s how Book thrives. I think the past two seasons, the main reason it felt like Book wasn’t playing like himself or up to standards was because of a lack of fit around him roster-wise. Having a roster that has three ball-dominant players isn’t really a recipe for success, even if one of those guys is a great playmaker.

Book finally has a roster that complements his style of play with guys like Ryan Dunn, Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green.

Also, let me add: Positions haven’t mattered in the NBA for a long time now. We shouldn’t even use the traditional labels anymore because they’re useless. Positions are dead and have been dead for years, which is exactly what I love about modern basketball.

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) July 24, 2025​

Young also makes another valid remark about the style of basketball that is played in today’s league. The NBA isn’t like the early 2000s or 2010s, for that matter, where you need a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. It’s freer in terms of positions thanks to the Warriors. It’s now changed to guard, wing, big, stretch big, stretch four, combo guard, etc.

The 2025-26 Suns season will have a lot of room to try many things and different lineups with this roster. That means more flexibility and will help us match up against teams better around the league.

If you’re a Phoenix Suns fan reading this, I would not be worried and instead be excited about this upcoming season and the amount of flexibility we have as a team. Also, having either Jordan Goodwin or Jared Butler to help back up the point guard position behind Collin Gillespie is very promising as well. Goodwin can provide hustle and defense as a bigger guard, while Butler can provide playmaking and scoring off the bench. With both of those guys likely competing for that last guard spot in training camp, I wouldn’t be mad at either of them being the third guy, behind Green and Gillespie.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-guard-jalen-green-point-guard-season-preview

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns’ sophomore changes jersey number to make way for Jalen Green

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Phoenix Suns’ big man Oso Ighodaro makes the selfless switch.

The Phoenix Suns have just undergone a change that may go unnoticed, as it is not a roster transaction. With the team acquiring Jalen Green via the Kevin Durant trade, a question arose in the fan base, and we finally have an answer. What number would he wear? In his rookie season, he wore number 0 but switched to 4 over the last couple of seasons.

The problem? Well, the Suns had two rookies last season in Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, who already occupied these numbers. So what was the solution?

Jalen Green (@JalenGreen) will wear No. 4 for the #Suns. Number last worn by Oso Ighodaro in 2025. #NBA pic.twitter.com/YQmHW54gwH

— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) July 23, 2025​

As we can see, Jalen Green will be wearing the number 4 he has had for the past three seasons in Houston, now in the Valley. Oso Ighodaro has decided to switch to 11, which was last worn by Bol Bol.

Oso Ighodaro is switching from No. 4 to No. 11 for the #Suns. Number last worn by Bol Bol in 2025. #NBA pic.twitter.com/qpbGKjMFa4

— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) July 23, 2025​

Final Thoughts​

It does seem that this was the right thing to transpire. With Green being the veteran, the sophomore in Ighdaro giving up his number makes sense. Then you see him transferring to eleven, which suggests to me that Bol Bol will not be back, given the Suns already have a crowded frontcourt, and that remains the case.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...nge-oso-ighodaro-switch-bol-bol-roster-update

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Former Sun TyTy Washington Jr. signs with Los Angeles Clippers

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Washington Jr. heads to the Suns’ rival down the road.

Another former Phoenix Suns guard heads to Los Angeles to join the Clippers.

First Bradley Beal, then Chris Paul, and now... Arizona native TyTy Washington Jr. heads to Los Angeles.

Free agent guard TyTy Washington Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN. Washington, a 2022 first-round pick, enters his fourth NBA season after playing 16 games for the Suns in 2024-25.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 26, 2025​

Washington appeared in 16 games for the Suns in 2024-25, averaging 2.2 points and 1.0 assists per game in 7.4 minutes per contest. Washington, the former 29th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has appeared in 58 games across three seasons for the Rockets, Bucks, and Suns.

He attended high school in Arizona (Cesar Chavez and AZ Compass Prep) and played his college ball at Kentucky.

In 21 games for the Valley Suns, Washington averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game on a 47/43/72 shooting split.

He showed he was too good for the G League, but didn’t capitalize on his opportunities in the NBA. The good news for him is that he is still just 23 years old, so there is plenty of time left for him to figure it out.

Phoenix adding Jared Butler and Jordan Goodwin all but closed the door on a Washington return to the Suns next season. Linked those stories above if you (somehow) missed those additions.

A tidbit on Washington’s contract status with LAC that I found browsing X:

Can confirm ESPN report that LA Clippers and TyTy Washington have come to an agreement, per source

The Clippers are at 14 standard contracts. They are highly unlikely to exceed that. Current two-way contracts: 2nd round rookie Kobe Sanders, Trentyn Flowers, Patrick Baldwin Jr.

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 26, 2025​

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...washington-jr-signs-with-los-angeles-clippers

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns have an identity now but can they score enough to win?

Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Why playmaking, shot creation, and shooting are the biggest questions for Phoenix next season.

As the season lingers just beyond the horizon, still two months out from even a whiff of preseason, I find myself staring at this newly assembled Phoenix Suns roster. And honestly? I feel…satisfied. Not elated, not giddy. Just a quiet, measured satisfaction. Because, unlike last year, this team feels like it might actually know who it is.

Identity. It should exist. It’s a team that should hustle, that should defend, that should put pressure on the rim. All the things that were painfully absent a season ago. And because of that, we ended up watching the most aimless version of the Suns since 2019. So yeah, shifting the pendulum in the opposite direction deserves at least a polite golf clap from those of us still watching every possession like it matters.

But here is where I get in my own way. I could golf clap. But no. I must analyze. And the more I do, I still don’t know how this team is going to score. I still don’t see a blueprint for how the offense becomes sustainable.

Sure, they’ll be competitive. They’ll scrap. They’ll fight. But will that translate to wins in the box score? I’m not convinced. There are just too many offensive gaps. Too few players who can reliably create shots. Too much hope resting on role players to be more than they are.

I’ve seen the math. I’ve read the threads breaking down where the points can come from, how the efficiency might balance out. And yeah, I can play along with those equations. But philosophically? It’s hard to buy in.

Because when I zoom out, I see a team that lacks playmaking. And shot creation. And shooting. Real shooting. Especially from beyond the arc. And the two guys who can shoot — Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale — are the same two names most people are trying to package in trade scenarios.

Let me play this out. Let me see if I can accurately depict why I am concerned about the offense. Who knows? Maybe by the end, I’ll be in a better place.

Playmaking​

We’re back here again, talking ourselves into position-less basketball. This time, it’s Devin Booker and Jalen Green slated to be the starting backcourt for the Phoenix Suns. And honestly? I can live with that.

The game’s been trending this way for the better part of two decades. Traditional point guards are becoming extinct. The floor generals of yesteryear, the ones who’d rack up 11 assists and take four shots, don’t survive in today’s league. Not unless they can score.

Facilitators now come off the bench in spurts, run the offense for a few minutes, then fade to the background with a Gatorade cup in hand. That’s the trade-off. You want minutes? You’d better be able to put the ball in the basket.

So I’m not losing sleep over the fact that the Suns are leaning into that shift. In fact, it’s a blueprint that’s already been tested. Cleveland did it last season with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. And Jordan Ott, now the Suns’ head coach, saw it firsthand as an assistant there. Garland. Mitchell. Now? It’s Booker. Green.

Official reports suggest Booker will slot in as the two while Green takes point guard duties. But frankly, that’s just labeling. You can call them whatever you want. Labels don’t matter as much as touches, and when it comes to usage rate, shot creation, and who’s actually steering the ship, I’ll continue to bet on Devin Booker. Because he’s the better ball handler. Because he’s the steadier hand.

Green? He’s got plenty to prove. And the hope — no, the need — is that he enters this season with a chip on his shoulder. That he’s putting in the work this offseason to sharpen his shot-making and elevate his playmaking. Because let’s be honest: facilitating has never been his strength.

His advanced metrics suggest the tools are there. Green ranked in the 83rd percentile in overall playmaking talent. But when you dig deeper, the picture gets murky. He was in just the 25th percentile in passing efficiency last season, and an even more alarming 7th percentile in passing creation quality. Not exactly what you’d call “ideal”.

It paints a portrait of potential without polish. Someone who can create, but often without purpose or precision. The “Bledsoe Effect”, as I like to call it.

What used to drive me crazy about Eric Bledsoe as the Suns’ point guard was his tunnel vision. He’d blow by a defender, get into the paint, leave his feet....and only then realize he had nowhere to go. That moment of mid-air panic, when he saw his shot was about to be sent into the third row, was when he’d finally start scanning for teammates.

It led to countless turnovers and, more importantly, revealed a fundamental flaw: an inability to read the floor. He was focused on what he could do, not what they could do together.

I don’t know if Jalen Green is cut from that same cloth, but I truly hope not. The athleticism is undeniable. He’s a blur, a human highlight. But when it comes to seeing the floor through the eyes of a playmaker, there’s real room for growth. The instincts, the awareness, the ability to read a defense and anticipate the next move? Those are still question marks. And in this league, that kind of vision can’t just be taught. It has to be developed through reps, trust, and feel.

Then there are the numbers.

As Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro recently pointed out, in the 22 games that the Houston Rockets’ starting point guard Fred VanVleet played last season, Jalen Green played well as the “primary facilitator”. He went for 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in those games.

Jalen Green's numbers when Fred Van Vleet was out last season and he ran the point were actually decent. Green averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 22 games without VanVleet in 2024-25. Had 8 games of 5 or more assists, had 10 assists versus Jazz and 8 against… https://t.co/sCt31q1qbo

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 24, 2025​

The team went 11-11 in those games, but Jalen Green wasn’t the one running the show from the point guard spot. That role belonged to Amen Thompson.

Green posted 4.4 assists per game over that stretch, but also averaged 3.0 turnovers, a ratio that raises more questions than it answers. His assist percentage with Fred VanVleet off the floor was 19.7%, third on the team behind Alperen Sengun (22.3%) and Thompson (20.4%). It’s a glimpse at his potential as a playmaker, sure, but it also reinforces the idea that he hasn’t quite figured out how to steer an offense yet.

And then there is Devin Booker.

Devin Booker is coming off a season in which he posted a career high in assists per game, despite not being labeled the point guard. It’s a testament to how position-less basketball has taken hold in Phoenix. Per Basketball Reference, Book played the point 1% of the time, yet led the team in assists. He carried an assist percentage of 30.1% with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.4.

The “Point Book” label still carries baggage, a reminder of the early years when he was forced into a playmaking role out of necessity, not design. Those scars linger in the narrative.

But the truth is, Booker has evolved. He sees the floor better, makes the right reads more often, and can run an offense when called upon. He may never be a traditional point guard, but as a playmaker, he’s more than serviceable. He’s steady, capable, and in the right structure, even reliable.

The challenge for Booker comes when defenses start to lock in.

Over the course of a regular game, his playmaking works. It flows within the rhythm of the offense. But when the pace slows, the court shrinks, and defenders dial in with one goal, take the ball out of his hands, things change. That’s when he can get jammed up.

He has a tendency to wait just a beat too long to pass out of double teams, as if he’s inviting the pressure before trying to escape it. And while Booker is an elite scorer, he’s not physically overwhelming. He doesn’t have great length, which makes passing out of tight traps even harder. He sees the right reads. It’s just that in the biggest moments, those reads have to come faster. And cleaner.

Let’s use Cleveland as a reference point. The Cavaliers finished ninth in assists per game last season, averaging 28.1. Their backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland accounted for 12.7 of those assists, a mark that feels within reach for the Suns if Booker and Green can share the load. But if either misses time, what does this team become?

The key, though, lies beyond the backcourt. Phoenix will need playmaking from non-traditional sources. That’s where someone like Oso Ighodaro becomes essential. He may not start, but when he’s on the floor, he’ll need to facilitate. Because guys like Ryan Dunn and Dillon Brooks? They’re average playmakers at best, just 2.5 assists combined last season. We need them to focus on...

Shot Creation​

Shot creation is an art. And it’s one that both Devin Booker and Jalen Green have in their arsenal. Each can take a defender off the dribble, find their spot, and make it count.

For Booker, that spot is the midrange. He’s a surgeon there, methodically carving out space within 16 to 24 feet and rising up with a jumper that feels inevitable. Green, on the other hand, is a blur. He thrives downhill, attacking with speed and burst that Phoenix fans will quickly learn to appreciate. His explosiveness, paired with durability, offers hope.

It’s not all doom and gloom. He can collapse defenses and finish at the rim with force. Think a younger Bradley Beal, but with more vertical juice.

Looking at the shot diet of Devin Booker and Jalen Green from last season: pic.twitter.com/fehQnrfCTU

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 27, 2025​

Outside of Booker and Green, the Suns don’t have many players who can reliably create their own shot.

Dillon Brooks is average in that department. Ryan Dunn showed some flashes in Summer League, but beyond that? There’s a real scarcity of isolation scorers on this roster; guys who can take the ball, break down a defense, and generate a clean look when everything else breaks down.

Say what you want about Kevin Durant’s isolation-heavy style, but that’s a skill set that’s going to be sorely missed. Because sometimes, it’s not about schemes or sets. Sometimes, you just need someone who can get a bucket. You need a player whose offensive talent simply outpaces what the defense throws at them. And when you don’t have enough of those guys, it gets easier for opposing defenses to key in, send help, and blow up your rhythm.

That’s why the interest in Jonathan Kuminga makes sense. Sure, he’s undersized at the four, but he can put the ball on the floor and create, something this team desperately lacks. The problem? My biggest concern with him happens to echo my biggest concern with this team heading into next season. It’s their...

Shooting​

This is where the biggest challenge lies for Phoenix next season.

Even if they figure out the playmaking, if they can move the ball, make the right reads, and get it to the open man, the question remains: Can that guy actually knock the shot down?

Because as it stands, this roster isn’t built to be efficient. It’s not built to shoot the lights out. And if we’re making a list of things we’ll miss from last season, offensive efficiency might sit right at the top.

Sure, this team is going to hustle. They’ll grind. They’ll wear teams down with energy, intensity, and effort. But all of that is wasted if you can’t do what the game ultimately asks of you: put the ball in the basket.

Let’s run the numbers. Yes, it’s flawed to rely solely on last season’s stats. New systems, new roles, and new teammates all matter. Still, the math can help paint a clearer picture of the road ahead.

Assume the starting five is Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Mark Williams. Maybe Nigel Hayes-Davis slides in at the four to provide more size, but for now, that’s the five I believe will open games. Now let’s dig into what those five brought to the table statistically last year, because when you combine their shooting and scoring data, a story begins to take shape.

For comparison, last season’s Suns starters posted a 48.4% field goal percentage (10th in the NBA), shot 38% from three (7th), and carried a 56.4% effective field goal percentage (8th).

If you take the projected starting five for the 2025-26 Suns and compare it to starters’ percentages across the NBA from a season ago, here is what you get:

• 45.4 FG%: 24th
• 35.1 3PT%: 21st
• 52.7 eFG%: 23rd

Projected Suns starting 5: Green, Booker, Brooks, Dunn, Williams

Last year’s Suns starters?

48 FG% (10th)
38 3PT% (7th)
56 eFG% (8th)

This group? Based on last year’s combined numbers compared to other NBA starters:

45 FG% (24th)
35 3PT% (21st)
53 eFG% (23rd)

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 27, 2025​

What you’re seeing is exactly what worries me. Efficient shooting? It’s barely on the horizon for this team. Three-point shooting? Nearly nonexistent. Sure, you can crunch the numbers, add up last season’s points per game, and make some hopeful assumptions, but the reality still sparks serious concern.

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Chances are, next season will be a flip of the script. Phoenix might emerge as a top-10 defense. Relentless, grinding, suffocating. But offensively? They could fall into the bottom 10, struggling to put consistent points on the board.

That’s why my expectations are tempered. These are the reasons I plan on enjoying a new version of Suns’ basketball, but have no expectations of anything higher than a Play-In appearance. This feels like a gap year, a season dedicated more to development and evaluation than to chasing wins.

Because with this roster, in its current state, winning basketball games consistently? I just don’t see it happening.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...g-challenges-booker-green-shooting-playmaking

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Is Jared Butler the diamond in the Rough for the Suns?

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Jared Butler just landed in Phoenix, and he’s ready to prove everyone wrong.

Wednesday was a busy day for the Phoenix Suns as they claimed Jordan Goodwin off of waivers and then signed Jared Butler to a contract just a few hours later. So who is Jared Butler? Let’s dive into it.

Jared Butler​

Guard, 6’3”, 195 pounds, 24 years old, 4 years of NBA experience​

Jared Butler is a solid young prospect for this team to take a flyer on in the position they are currently slated. In his four years, he has played for four different franchises and is now looking to make an impact in Phoenix.

He was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2021 NBA Draft at pick 40, but was traded to the Utah Jazz. He spent one season there before being waived and signing a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue. He did end up playing in some Thunder games at the end of the season, but was waived once again. This led him to sign a two-way contract with the Wizards, and then he inked a multi-year deal, only to be waived for the third time and signed to a two-way contract heading into last season.

For the Wizards, he received some playing time on a two-way contract, similar to the one Collin Gillespie had with the Suns the previous year. By playing so well for them, he earned a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers at the deadline. This was due to the Wizards having a full roster and wanting to give him an opportunity, one he could take advantage of on a team that was in a weird second half of the season.

This past season is where Butler proved in two spots that he could be someone a team could invest in to turn into a rotational guy if all the stars align. This was the perfect developmental spot for him in the first half of a Wizards team with no direction. Since he was not part of their long-term plans, his goal was to stand out and make an impact, which he did.

While being on a two-way deal to start the year, he contributed in 32 games for the Wizards. In those contests, he averaged 6.9 pts and 2.6 assists on 11.3 minutes. His best performance for Washington, ironically, was against the 76ers, where he outplayed the player he was traded for, Reggie Jackson. Butler had 26 points with seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal.

In this game, he proved he could be a solid finisher at the basket, but also someone who could help initiate a secondary unit as a playmaker. He also made 100% of his three-point attempts in this game, proving to be someone who could hit the three if needed.

These performances led to his being traded to the 76ers, as I stated, because they did not want to waive him again and wanted him to get the opportunity he had proven he deserved. Since the Sixers were dealing with an abundance of injuries and were tanking, they were willing to see what Butler could provide.

He played 28 games for the Sixers, starting in 17 of them. This was now Butler’s chance, and he showed out well. He averaged all went up, totaling 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Butler scored double-digit points in more than half (15) of these games, which is something to think positively about. His best game with the Sixers was against the Atlanta Hawks, when, late in the season, he dropped 25 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. In this game, once again, he demonstrated all the great qualities he showed when he played for Philly earlier in the season.

Contract Details​

Free agent guard Jared Butler has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. The 2021 second-rounder averaged 9 points in 17 minutes per game over 60 contests for the 76ers and Wizards last season. pic.twitter.com/5RvcgFmOsG

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 23, 2025​

Shams Charania announced Butler’s contract by stating it was a one-year deal heading into the season. That being said, many media members in the Suns media space have alluded that it is either non-guaranteed or a training camp deal. This is to allow Goodwin and Butler to compete for the final guard spot in the rotation, where one of them could be waived to maintain flexibility on the trade market, pending any other potential moves down the line.

Suns make the Jared Butler signing officially official. Details not given, but as I reported yesterday, it's another non-guaranteed deal, and he will compete with Jordan Goodwin for that third PG spot on the roster pic.twitter.com/e4YVMmr4iX

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 24, 2025​

Strengths and Weaknesses​

Butler, in my opinion, has some different strengths compared to the other guard the Suns signed the other day. As I mentioned in his big games last season, a lot of his success came from driving and scoring at the rim. He seems to be comfortable doing that and does not seem like the guy to smoke those bunnies we saw last season.

He also had a good touch with his floater and seemed to beat guys off the dribble when attacking the lane. This, added with his solid vision and ability to be a playmaker for a secondary unit, makes me feel comfortable. His three-point shot in some games was very streaky, but when it is on, he can be effective from beyond the arc.

On the defensive end, he gives the hustle and energy that the Suns are looking for in this new identity. With him competing for minutes and a role his whole career, I expect him to bring that same hunger and fire in training camp as well. He can be scrappy and net some steals, but compared to Goodwin, that is not his specialty.

Since Butler has been used in situations where there is no solid foundation, the ability to identify some flaws is evident. He is not the most athletic guard, and on the defensive end, he is a decent defender, but not the best. With him competing for a spot, though, this seems evident to the Suns in their evaluations, as they are already scouting him and bringing him aboard.

Final Thoughts​

I think the expectations for Butler should not be the highest. I do like him as a player and followed him on the Wizards, so I do see the intrigue, but I am still skeptical. With him coming to compete for a spot and being non-guaranteed, the possibility of him being gone before the season is a real one.

That being said, I think he deserves the opportunity, and with the Suns having no expectations, he should see that shot. I think if he is the tertiary point guard on this team, there is nothing wrong with that. Have him as depth, if injuries occur, he gets burn, and we see what he can be. If he stands out, it was worth taking the flyer; if not, he will be off the roster regardless by the end of the season, even if they choose not to waive him.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...dan-goodwin-point-guard-depth-nba-free-agency

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Remember when big men used to wear big numbers?

Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images

Mark Williams will wear a number that doesn’t feel big enough.

Where have all the big numbers gone?

Maybe I’m just clinging to my youth. Maybe it’s late July and there’s nothing going on. But when I heard that Mark Williams would be wearing No. 15 for the Phoenix Suns, something about it didn’t sit right.

Mark Williams (@MarkWi1liams) will wear No. 15 for the #Suns. Number last worn by Jalen Bridges in 2025. #NBA pic.twitter.com/tChil7m7Y5

— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) July 25, 2025​

Sure, he wore No. 5 during his time with the Hornets, and yeah, he can’t wear that here because it’s up in the rafters for Dick Van Arsdale. So he’s going back to his Duke days with No. 15. Fine. But still...fifteen?

He becomes the 16th player in Suns history to don the number, joining a lineage that includes Jalen Bridges, Cameron Payne, Marcus Morris, Robin Lopez, Vinny Del Negro, and Danny Manning.

But I have to ask: What happened to the big numbers?

There was a time when centers wore their size on their back. Patrick Ewing: 33. Hakeem Olajuwon: 34. Shaq: 32 in Orlando, 34 in L.A. Even in Suns’ lore, bigs embraced bold numerals. Oliver Miller rocked 25. Alvan Adams? 33. James Edwards? 53.

There’s just something about those meaty numbers, ones that don’t lean on the digit “1.” They look right. Balanced. Brazen. Aesthetically powerful.

But lately, it feels like every player wants to be under 20.

Of the 465 players to wear a Suns jersey in their long, 58-year history, 54 different numbers have been represented. And 238 of them — more than half — have chosen numbers under 20.

I get it. There’s usually a story. Sentiment. Personal history. I’m sure No. 15 means something to Williams. But still, wouldn’t 28 look better? That number’s only been worn once, by Andrew Lang back in the early ‘90s. How about 45? Last seen on Justin Jackson. Or 50, which hasn’t been touched since Eddie House in 2006.

If you’re big, be big. Be bold. Be dominant. Own it. Don’t wear a number that also belonged to Daniel Santiago and Sedric Toney.

But again…maybe this is just a late-July rant about things that don’t matter. Or maybe the numbers still do.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-numbers-phoenix-suns-mark-williams-number-15

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Who’s the Suns’ top trade piece after Devin Booker?

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Ryan Dunn’s trade value may be higher than you think.

With the Phoenix Suns being in the heat of trade discussions all offseason, specific names associated with the team have been mentioned in rumors left and right. Even with all that going on, though, there are certain players this team would not trade. There are also players on this team that others across the league do not see the value for. Hence, the stalling out of the Suns in all of their transactions this offseason.

The Durant traded lingered for weeks until they both found an agreement, even if it was not the best offer for the Suns. They could not find a Bradley Beal, and now with Jonathan Kuminga, the offer is not what the Warriors want.

Of course it is not, because the players the Suns are offering either have no value to the Warriors or hold more value to our team. So that leads to the question of who has the most trade value? I think it is Ryan Dunn, the sophomore who has showcased a lot so far and can be helpful for a plethora of teams now and for the future.

Why is It Ryan Dunn?​

For many reasons, I would think it would be Dunn.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Age​

The first would be looking at his age and comparing that to the role he can bring. Dunn, as the 29th overall pick in the 2024 draft, was viewed as a sleeper this season. Since he was not prominently known for the offensive side of things, his stock seemingly fell, but the Suns saw the value in the wing and transformed him to have a positive outlook.

The 22-year-old in his rookie season impressed in just a limited role. Many fans, including myself, thought he would see little to no minutes, but he then carved himself out a role in this rotation. He showed that not only was he one of the best defenders on the roster, but he was also someone who could hit the open three.

Now, his three-point shot was very streaky this season. Still, for a rookie who had shooting issues, he seemed to look brighter than when he was selected. Despite Mike Budenholzer giving him wild rotations, with nights seeing Dunn in the starting lineup to him being taken out of games entirely, his ability to grow was hindered. That being said, he still performed well, averaging 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 43% from the field and 31% from three in 19 minutes.

Dunn illustrated last year that he could be that solid defender, and it is something this team lacked heavily in their rotation. This year, after a solid summer league, he is only looking to get better and become a more integral part of this rotation.

Type of player​

Since Dunn is a defensive first player, his value around the league on competing teams has increased. The lack of players who have his skill set and with his ability makes him a hot commodity around the league.

With the Suns not having many of those players, it makes sense why they would want to keep him. Newly hired head coach Jordan Ott has also stated that this roster will play with more energy, hustle, and intensity. I can only estimate that Dunn will be a part of that group alongside Dillon Brooks to lead them.

Dunn’s ability to be a credible on-ball defender with his size and length brings intrigue from outsiders. His connectivity for a unit that can utilize him as their primary defender would be loved for now and for the future. Hence why the Suns want to keep him.

From looking at contending teams in the past, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, they did this last season. When they needed additional defenders, they went and got Alex Caruso with Isaiah Hartenstein. Other teams would like to take a player like Dunn and do the same, but the Suns have stayed put on not doing so.

Is there anyone to argue this against?​

To me, it seems there is no one else who can compare. Besides Devin Booker, who is not in this discussion, as the Suns have stated they are not moving him and just did the recent extension. By looking at the rest of the roster, even if Dunn is unavailable for Kuminga, he could present himself as available for another star player.

Jalen Green does not have the highest trade value, or I believe the Suns would have moved him already for a better fit.

Dillon Brooks, as a defender, has value, but with Dunn being on a rookie deal, he would seemingly have more even if he has not been as impactful yet.

Khaman Maluach could have the highest, but he has yet to play a game compared to Dunn, so I feel that hinders how teams would view him.

Mark Williams was just traded for two low-value firsts. You could say maybe he is worth more than Dunn, but I find that hard to believe with Williams’ injury history.

Oso Ighodaro could be the one who maybe rivals him the closest. As he already played and shone in the summer league, his name could bring value. Ultimately, with his ability to be a bit more limited on offense with his shooting, it seems to me that Dunn has more.

Final Thoughts​

Even though Gambo has stated he is not being viewed in a trade for Kuminga, I do think he could be traded down the line.

There is nothing happening. Nothing new. The Suns have never discussed Ryan Dunn with the Warriors. He isn't going anywhere https://t.co/JhNTmZo2VC

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 30, 2025​

With the Suns already having the contracts to get Kuminga too, it shows the value of Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Nick Richards is not as high around the league, as it is compared to SUns fans.

This leads me to believe still that Dunn has the highest value on the team as others across the league want him, have wanted him, and are signaling too. The question is, will the Suns pull that trigger similar to how they did with Toumani Camara, or are they willing to wait and have him develop?

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-dunn-devin-booker-nba-rumors-assets-kuminga

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker’s future with the Suns depends on getting this formula right

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Using data to determine how the Phoenix Suns can build a contender once again.

Devin Booker is clearly the guy the Phoenix Suns have invested their future in, and that’s completely logical. He’s proven, he has undeniable talent, and the fans love the guy. The next step is building that championship core around him.

If the Suns want to extract the absolute maximum out of their star, they have to give him the support he needs on both ends of the floor. Last season was a down year for Booker, particularly defensively, but I’m happy to chalk that up to the system and the lack of a full summer to prepare. Ironically, the Olympics showed how effective Booker can actually be on defense.

All of the team's perimeter defenders suffered last year, though, which leads me to believe it was more of a coaching issue than anything.

www.darko.app
Perimeter defenders on the Phoenix Suns last season

In the graph above, you will see the use of DPM (DARKO Plus-Minus), and this will crop up again later on. For anyone who has never come across DPM, it is just one of those all-in-one advanced statistics that take into account all kinds of quantifiable things. Like all statistics, it is not perfect, but it is one of the best indicators for player performance we have at the moment. Generally, DPM covers both the offensive and defensive contributions, but it can be further split into O-DPM and D-DPM if you want to take a look at them separately (like above).

Many different coaches and players have been employed to varying degrees of success over the past few years in Phoenix, but the key question is, what would the perfect team around Booker look like, and how do we get there? I looked into the performance of past Suns lineups to try to build a team of player archetypes they can aim for in the coming years.

Over the past five or so years, the Suns have had some great five-man lineups and some disastrous ones. Looking at those with the highest net ratings, we can start to see some patterns.

www.databallr.com
Suns top 5-man net ratings

We are less confident in the net rating of the lineups with fewer minutes, hence the introduction of a minimum 70-minute cutoff.

Now, if we want to look at purely fit, and not just overall performance (heavily reliant on player quality), then we must account for the talent in the lineup. I have chosen to do this by summing the individual DPM scores for each player in the 5 and then subtracting this from the lineup’s net rating, in order to get a true “synergy” value for each. Lineups with high synergy are examples of teams that can perform to a level that is more than just the sum of their parts.

We will look at the top 4 lineups ranked by synergy below:

1. Tyus Jones - Devin Booker - Ryan Dunn - Kevin Durant - Mason Plumlee (15.6 Synergy in 88 MIN):​

This may come as a shock (it certainly did to me), but this lineup from last year was actually incredibly successful in the 88 minutes they were on the court together, primarily driven by their superb defense. Dunn’s point of attack defending, combined with Plumlee’s rim defense and Jones’ low turnover possessions, led to a defensive rating of 99.9 (for reference, OKC’s DEFRTG for the season was 105.7). On the offensive side, surrounding two juggernauts with a facilitating point guard and two low-usage players seemed to be a framework that worked.

2. Cameron Payne - Devin Booker - Mikal Bridges - Cameron Johnson - Deandre Ayton (15.25 Synergy in 104 MIN):​

Cam Payne’s ability to push the pace caused this lineup to boast an astonishing offensive rating of 126.9. This, combined with floor-spacing two-way wings, allowed for this young side to perform way above expectations when on the court together. Upping the pace is something new coach Jordan Ott has spoken about in his press conferences, and this right here is evidence that it could benefit Devin Booker.

3. Ricky Rubio - Devin Booker - Mikal Bridges - Kelly Oubre Jr. - Deandre Ayton (11.2 Synergy in 216 MIN):​

This consistent lineup from the 2019-20 season, marking Deandre Ayton’s sophomore year, signaled the dawn of a new era for the Suns. Its strong 11.2 synergy over a significant 216 minutes reinforces a developing pattern: the profound value of a pass-first point guard like Rubio. His presence allowed Booker to operate more effectively as an off-ball scorer and a primary finisher. Combine this with crucial floor spacing, strong team defense and you have a formula for success.

4. Chris Paul - Devin Booker - Mikal Bridges - Jae Crowder - Frank Kaminsky (10.7 Synergy in 81 MIN):​

While Paul, Bridges, and Johnson consistently formed a strong core around Booker, Kaminsky’s presence here indicates that a floor-spacing center can also be a good fit, pulling opposing bigs out of the paint and creating driving lanes for Booker.

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Let’s look at one more notable lineup:

Chris Paul - Devin Booker - Mikal Bridges - Jae Crowder - Deandre Ayton (-5.95 Synergy in 1364 MIN):​

The most played lineup of the last 5 years. Now, I am by no means saying this lineup was bad, but the data shows that they may have underperformed given the talent there.

A collective DPM of 12.95 only generated a net rating of 7. A key factor was likely the offensive drop-off when replacing a player like Cameron Johnson (who excelled at catch-and-shoot threes and off-ball movement) with Jae Crowder in a similar role. While Crowder is a valuable 3-and-D player, his streaky shooting and more limited ability in transition when compared to dynamic wings like Kelly Oubre Jr. meant the offensive system may not have panned out with the same efficiency.

Crowder, in this specific offensive role, was often limited and unable to be as effective as Johnson, thereby capping his offensive contributions. This, along with his suboptimal fit in the frontcourt with Ayton, could be reasons why this lineup may have failed to equal the sum of its parts.

The Blueprint​

Point Guard: The Low-Usage, Pass-First Facilitator / Defensive Catalyst​

The analysis shows the monumental impact a point guard who prioritises playmaking and robust defense can have. Whether it was Tyus Jones’ low turnovers, Cam Payne’s pace-pushing, or Ricky Rubio/Chris Paul’s pass-first approaches, the pattern is clear. In order to extract the maximum from Booker, liberating him of playmaking duties so he can thrive as an off-ball scorer, this archetype is necessary.

Small Forward: The Elite Defensive Disruptor​

Looking at high-synergy past lineups, it is clear that a defensive small forward who can also space the floor is pivotal. Mikal Bridges was the prime example of this during his time on the Suns and was a great success. We have also seen Ryan Dunn be effective as a low-usage athletic defender; it is clear to see why there are high hopes that he can become an elite role player in the future. This guy is likely going to be guarding the opposition’s most dangerous perimeter threats, so strong point-of-attack defense is crucial. Someone who can cause chaos on this end of the floor and allow Booker to conserve energy would be the perfect fit.

Power Forward: The Versatile Two-Way Forward​

The ideal power forward in a Devin Booker-centric lineup is a player who provides crucial floor spacing with reliable three-point shooting, offers defensive versatility (especially in switching schemes), and contributes to rebounding, all without demanding significant offensive usage. Players like Cam Johnson and, at times, Jae Crowder, have been deployed here with their perimeter shooting being key to opening up driving lanes for Booker. This archetype bridges the gap between the defensive wings and the interior presence, contributing on both ends without being a focal point.

Center: The Complementary Big​

This is the one position that we can be a bit more flexible with. Our research has shown that various styles of centers have had strong fits with Booker in Phoenix. If there was enough floor spacing across the lineup already, then a defensive anchor who could provide vertical spacing may be the best fit. Think of a rim-protecting roll-man who could finish lobs for easy points. Players like Deandre Ayton, Mason Plumlee and Javale McGee have all had periods of success in this role alongside Booker.

If there was a lack of floor spacing on the team, then this is where having a center who could stretch the floor would be valuable. You may sacrifice some defense here, but successful lineups containing Frank Kaminsky showed that it’s possible to maintain a strong defense while reaping the benefits on offense.

Current Roster Alignment​

In terms of the current roster, the strongest fits are:

• Devin Booker (in the role of...Devin Booker)
• Collin Gillespie (Low Usage Pass-First Facilitator)
• Dillon Brooks (Defensive Disruptor)
• Ryan Dunn (Defensive Disruptor)
• Royce O’Neale (Versatile Two-Way Forward)
• Rasheer Fleming (Versatile Two-Way Forward)
• Mark Williams (Defensive Anchor/Roll-Man)
• Khaman Maluach (Defensive Anchor/Roll-Man)
• Oso Ighodaro (Defensive Anchor/Roll-Man)

That’s a strong base; there are definitely some pieces to work with here.

If the Suns invest in the development of their center rotation whilst continuing to focus on Ryan Dunn’s 3PT shot, there is potential here to be competing in 3-4 years. The big talking point is what happens with Jalen Green. Having your second-highest-paid player play out of position at point guard is suboptimal, and if the Suns want to become competitive again, they need to maximize all of the few assets that they have. He is not the archetype we want in the backcourt with Booker. I’m sure there will be some experimenting with the two, though.

Even though Booker’s playmaking has improved a lot over the years, I’m not fully convinced this is the best way to maximise him. Maybe the goal is to win games next season, though, not build a long-term contender from the ground up. If they want to accelerate the timeline on building a contender, they need to build up Green’s trade value and capitalise on that, strengthening the team in areas of need (PG and PF).

If we are being realistic, the Suns have to position themselves to be competing back at the top of the Western Conference by 2028-29. They simply do not have the roster or the assets to get there any sooner.

So when looking at that timeline, players like Dunn, Fleming, Maluach, and Ighodaro will have settled into the league, and we will be able to confidently assess their level. Players like Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie will be entering their primes (if they are kept around that long). There are promising signs that these players can develop into strong fits for what is needed; the remaining assets need to be converted into a starting-level point guard and power forward. Players like Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale may be decent fits now, but they do not exactly fit our timeline. If any opportunistic moves are available to be made, they should not be off the table (and neither should Green).

Potential Future Fits​

Point Guard​

Ambitious: Dyson Daniels​

We are effectively looking for a younger Jrue Holiday-type player. 2025 DPOY contender Dyson Daniels fits the mould perfectly with his elite defensive tools and strong playmaking foundations. Atlanta are unlikely to let him leave easily given his fit with Trae Young in the backcourt there, but if there is any sort of reshuffling there he should be the prime target.

Feasible: Andrew Nembhard​

Nembhard is already a proven high-IQ, low-turnover guard who consistently reads the court well and makes good decisions. He would be firmly entering his prime by the time we want to be competing and he embodies the low-usage defensive catalyst we are looking for at the point guard spot. He may be a more feasible acquisition compared to Daniels given his lower scoring averages, limited athletic upside and playmaking overlap with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. If they wanted to pivot in the direction of more a standard scorer at the 2 (interested in Jalen Green?), he could become a trade target for the Suns.

Power Forward​

Ambitious: Keegan Murray​

Murray is a near-perfect embodiment of the “versatile two-way forward”. He’s an elite catch-and-shoot three-point shooter (career 37.2% from three), providing essential floor spacing. Defensively, he’s a disciplined and versatile defender who can guard multiple forward spots and contribute on the glass. He excels in a low-usage, off-ball role, making him highly complementary to a star like Booker. Murray is one of the Kings’ few valuable assets, so it would be very tough to pry him away. The only hope would be that they may want to sell high if they are looking to enter a full rebuild.

Feasible: Obi Toppin​

Toppin brings elite athleticism, exceptional transition play, and strong vertical spacing as a lob threat and cutter. Crucially, his three-point shooting has steadily improved over the last couple of years, making him a viable floor spacer. Defensively, his athleticism allows for versatility in switches and high-energy contests. He would be much less costly than Keegan Murray, given the lower ceiling and the Pacers' depth in his position. They have Pascal Siakam starting at the 4, which looks unlikely to change any time soon, and Jarace Walker waiting in the wings as a young talent ready to take a step up (could also be an option for the Suns; however, the price would likely be similar to that of Murray). If Toppin wanted more minutes and a larger role, Phoenix could be a destination for him.

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What our future contending Suns could look like:

Andrew Nembhard - Devin Booker - Ryan Dunn - Keegan Murray - Khaman Maluach

Keeping Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie would be strong depth around these guys, and any remaining assets can be used to go all-in during the last years of Booker’s prime and fill out the roster. Supporting Devin Booker with playmaking and strong defense is the key to unlocking his scoring potential once again, and if all of these things come together, the Phoenix Suns could once again challenge for a ring. Booker’s brilliance is the Suns’ foundation, but true championship contention demands strategic team construction.

History tells us individual talent isn’t enough; fit creates additional value, while misfits can diminish it. The Suns must build up value through internal developement of talent and successful coaching.

To accelerate contention, the Suns must be aggressive and intelligent in asset management. This means strategically pursuing their ideal archetypes like a starting point guard and a long-term power forward while potentially leveraging current assets that don’t align with the future vision. The path to a championship isn’t through splashing the cash and attempting shortcuts, but by building a cohesive side around Devin Booker and developing a strong culture along the way.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-lineups-archetypes-future-contender-strategy

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Phoenix Suns may have always been my destiny

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

I once cheered for the Bulls, but the Suns became my soul.

It’s the offseason. A time for reflection, renewal, and remembrance. How did we get here? Why are we fans? We’ll discuss that and more throughout the summer. A couple of our writers have shared their stories. I guess it’s time for mine.

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It’s been a joy hearing the origin stories of our Phoenix Suns fandom. Writers from across the globe contribute to this site, from the bustling streets of New York to the calm coasts of Australia, from the historic charm of England to the crisp winters of Massachusetts. And somehow, all of them found their way to a team rooted deep in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The reasons vary, but each story carries its own kind of magic.

Mine? It’s not magical. It’s not exotic. But it’s unique in it’s own right.

As I sit here writing, I glance out my window and see Good Samaritan Hospital, the very place I was born. A stone’s throw away from where the Suns used to lace them up at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. I’m what you’d call a classic case of regional loyalty. Born in Phoenix, bred on Suns basketball. But my geography has a wrinkle.

At age three, my family packed up and moved west to Los Angeles, more specifically, the San Fernando Valley. My father, who had spent his college years surfing and studying at Loyola Marymount (fun fact: today is the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola), made the call. He double-majored in economics and theology, which sounds impressive until you realize he stretched it out over seven years to dodge the Vietnam draft.

That era left its mark on him. By 25, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, agoraphobia, and bipolar disorder. Life wasn’t easy for him. Or for us.

But even in the chaos, there was a pull. A return. He met my mother back in Phoenix, and in the fall of 1985, we chased a fragile version of hope to the City of Angels. A family of five, dragging roots across the desert floor to Southern California.

It was there, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, that I grew up and first fell in love with sports. My earliest memories are sun-soaked and bathed in Dodger Blue, sitting in the bleachers at Dodger Stadium during that magical 1988 season, a season that ended with a championship and forever etched itself into my soul. t’s why, even now, decades later, I still bleed Dodger Blue.

Saturdays in the fall belonged to Notre Dame. That came with the territory of being raised in an Irish Catholic household. The golden domes gleamed on the screen, the fight song echoed through the living room, and with each game, I felt tethered. To my father, to his father, to something generational and sacred.

As for the NFL, well, I started off a Buffalo Bills fan. My mom’s from Buffalo — she moved to Phoenix in the ‘50s — and my grandfather was a diehard Bills guy. It was easy to root for them as a kid. They won. Well, enough to get your hopes up, just enough to shatter your heart into a million little pieces. That’s the magic and curse of the early ‘90s Bills.

By 1995, I’d had enough heartbreak. That was the year we moved back to Phoenix, and the year I gave up the Bills. I traded in the heartbreak of Buffalo for the masochism of the Phoenix Cardinals. Local pride. New start. Same losing. But it was ours.

Basketball? Basketball is a different story.

Growing up in Los Angeles while knowing I was born in Phoenix and came from generations of Phoenicians, I always felt a deep pull toward the teams from Arizona. There was a sense of belonging, a quiet loyalty passed down through bloodlines and distance. But when I trace the origin of my basketball love, the memories don’t begin in the desert.

They begin in the heart of LA, in the 1980s. It was a city gripped by the glamour and flash of Showtime. You’d think that would be the foundation, the spark. Yet it wasn’t. My father, never one to conform, had no patience for Magic Johnson or the off-court promiscuity. So our living room turned its gaze elsewhere.

It turned toward a player who didn’t need theatrics. A player who soared through the air with something more than athleticism. Michael Jeffrey Jordan. My dad told me to pay attention, to remember what I was seeing. Because it wasn’t normal. He said I might never see another like him.

So while I had a Suns hat and cheered for Phoenix when I could, they were more like extended family: familiar, meaningful, but not central. The Bulls became the team that raised me. Their games were everywhere. Jordan’s intensity shaped the way I saw the sport. That affinity remains, grounded in the awe I felt as a child and carried forward through time.

Even now, I revisit it. I recently finished watching The Last Dance again, and it still hits with the same force. That series doesn’t feel like a documentary. It feels like walking through the halls of my basketball memory, room by room, moment by moment, tracing the footsteps of what made me fall in love with the game.

So I know what you’re wondering. 1993? NBA Finals? What about that?

Photo by Lutz Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images

For me, it was a win in every direction. I adored Michael Jordan and the Bulls, but when Charles Barkley arrived in Phoenix, my attention shifted toward home. Suddenly, I had a reason to speak up in playground debates about hometown teams. No longer was I the kid from Arizona clinging to a team that hovered beneath the national spotlight. With Barkley in the Valley, the Suns had arrived.

At the time, I was living in Simi Valley, California, in a modest three-bedroom house tucked into a quiet suburban street. We didn’t have a basketball hoop, but that didn’t stop me. I remember drawing a square on the side of our garage, exactly ten feet up, and that became my “hoop”. That square took more shots than I can count. And while Jordan remained the mythic figure on my bedroom posters, when I stepped outside with a ball in my hands, I was Kevin Johnson slicing through imaginary defenders or Dan Majerle rising up from deep at that crooked chalk box.

When the 1993 Finals came around, we had Pizza Hut’s Bigfoot pizza on the table and excitement in the air. I didn’t feel the weight of the moment. When John Paxson, who went to Notre Dame mind you, hit that shot, there were no tears or disappointment. There was no heartbreak. In my young mind, the Suns had arrived, and greatness would follow them for years to come. The loss didn’t sting because I believed there would be more chances, more runs, more magic. That was the innocence of it. The belief that the story was only beginning.

Then Jordan retired, and with him, so did my love for that team. The connection faded. My loyalty, my passion, every ounce of basketball energy I had was now reserved for the Phoenix Suns. That shift became permanent.

It was the summer of 1994, six months removed from the Northridge earthquake that had rattled more than my walls. Something in me changed that year. That summer, I felt my first real heartbreak as a Suns fan. Not disappointment. Heartbreak. The kind that sits with you, heavy and personal.

By the summer of ‘95, we were back in Phoenix. A full circle moment. Jordan returned that March, but the magic felt distant. The mythology had cracked.

I was walking the halls of Creighton Middle School now, attending my first public school, and my identity had shifted. The Suns weren’t a team I liked. They were my team. I became consumed by them, dreaming about games, talking matchups at lunch, wearing my socks high like Elliot Perry, grinding it out on the rough blacktop courts with other kids who shared the obsession.

Sure, I still admired Jordan. I watched him reclaim his throne and win three more titles. Of course I did. But they didn’t feel like mine anymore. The Bulls had become that team from the East, polished, powerful, and ultimately the ones who had denied Phoenix its crown. And that alone made it hard to cheer. That reverence I once had had been replaced by something else. Respect, maybe, but colored with resentment.

The rest? As the saying goes, that’s history. I’ve lived and died with this team since 1995, though the connection began long before, back in 1988 when I first became aware of the orange and purple. Kevin Johnson was my first favorite Sun, the spark that lit the fuse.

Then came the Seven Seconds or Less era, perfectly timed with my twenties. Bar nights, packed patios, and that wild electric sense of community that only sports, drinks, and shared hope can create. Those teams weren’t just fun, they were life-affirming. Shawn Marion became the guy for me, supplanting KJ with his unorthodox game and relentless motor. That group made it cool to be a Suns fan again. They made us believe.

And now? I write about this team regularly. I think about them more than I probably should. And I’ve made peace with the reality that this love, no matter how loud or loyal, is never going to be reciprocated. That’s the nature of sports. It’s a one-way relationship. Beautiful, brutal, irrational. Still, we show up. We always do.

Some of us are here because of the colors. Some because of the players. Some because this team is tied to where we’re from. But all of us are here chasing the same thing: that feeling. That rare, fleeting moment when it all clicks, when the suffering turns into something magical. When we can say it was worth it.

I’m lucky, in a way. I got to feel what it’s like to win it all when I was a kid, watching Jordan and the Bulls win rings. And maybe, in some twisted cosmic trade-off, becoming a lifelong Suns fan is my penance.

Dad’s a goof, and I’m rocking that Suns’ hat!

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ba-finals-bulls-charles-barkley-kevin-johnson

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns are giving local hoopers one chance to make the G League

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Think you can play for the Suns G League team? Here’s your chance to prove it.

How are your hooping skills? Do you believe you’ve got what it takes to one day earn All-Star honors? Or maybe carve out a role as a steady rotation player? Even if your ceiling caps out at G League contributor, your window is cracked open.

For the second straight year, the Phoenix Suns’ G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, are holding local tryouts. It’s an open door for dreamers, grinders, and anyone chasing that improbable invite to preseason training camp.

calling all Valley hoopers - your rise starts here.

visit https://t.co/ZZ1SjB7wwj to register and learn more about our open tryouts.#TheRiseStartsHere pic.twitter.com/yqA8qtYoK6

— Valley Suns (@GLeagueSuns) July 31, 2025​

I know the image in your head. Some are picturing Invincible, Mark Wahlberg strutting onto the field with destiny in his eyes. Me? I picture an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, complete with questionable footwork and far too much confidence.

Still, I love that the Suns do this. It’s a nod to the community. A way to bridge the gap between the team and the city that supports it. As for the odds of making the final roster? Let’s just say Vegas isn’t setting any lines.

Here’s the official press release from the Valley Suns if you’re interested:

VALLEY SUNS TO HOLD LOCAL TRYOUTS ON SEPTEMBER 13

PHOENIX – The Valley Suns today announced that the team will hold local tryouts on Saturday, September 13. The one-day tryouts will take place at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Fitness Complex in Tempe from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The tryouts will allow local athletes to compete for a chance to receive an invitation to the team’s preseason training camp, which will begin in October. Registration for tryouts is limited to the first 100 registrants, and will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 12. Pre-registration via thevalleysuns.com/tryouts is mandatory as walk-ups will not be permitted. A non-refundable $300 participation fee is required to register. Players must meet all eligibility standards as defined by the NBA and complete an NBA G League Medical Consent and Authorization, in addition to a Release & Eligibility Form.

Tryouts will take place at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex Tempe (400 E Apache Blvd, Tempe, AZ 85281). Questions can be directed to Valley Suns at [email protected].

If I had an extra $300 lying around, I’d head down and spend two hours taking charges. But I don’t, so I won’t.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-suns-open-registration-date-location-details

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The most rewatchable Phoenix Suns games from the past 25 years

Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images

We are lucky to be fans of the Phoenix Suns.

If you are reading this, then that means we have two things in common: we are both Phoenix Suns sickos and we are both missing Suns basketball.

And let’s be honest, last season was not “Suns Basketball,” so it has been at least a calendar year since we watched any Suns basketball that made us feel good. If you are an Arizona Sports fan in general, now that the Diamondbacks are dead in the water, we have nothing until the Cardinals start in September, before they inevitably disappoint us.

So, I decided to rewatch some of the best games Suns you can find on YouTube, and give you my elevator pitch as to why you should watch them this month.

Will I get all the rewatchable moments? No. The Suns have won 2,465 regular-season games and 160 playoff games, and different people have different connections to each season and each win. I will focus mainly on regular-season games because that’s what we sickos are craving right now, but there are some playoff games that I just had to include.

Since I was born after the year 2000, all of these games will have occurred in my lifetime. If you have one that predates 2000, post the link in the comments, and I will watch it.

With that being said, here is the list in no particular order.

Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks, March 14, 2007​

The best two teams in the NBA joined up to make an instant classic where Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki dueled at the absolute peak of their powers. If not for David Stern and the Spurs, this game would have started the championship DVD for the ‘07 Suns. It is basically impossible to not love basketball after watching this game.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, Bill Walton and Mike Tirico are incredible.

Phoenix Suns vs New Jersey Nets, December 7, 2006​

Quite possibly the greatest point guard battle of all time. Read a full breakdown of this game here.

Phoenix Suns vs Seattle Supersonics, December 17, 2004​

The Suns and Supersonics were the two best offenses in the league, and the Suns held on to win a tight game on the road as it continued to shock the NBA world early in the season.

Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks, May 20, 2005​

There are very few things in sports better than revenge. Steve Nash was dumped to the side by the Dallas Mavericks, and the very next season eliminated them from the playoffs and won the MVP. In this closeout game, Nash stuck his dagger in deep into the hearts of Mavs fans and twisted it. Watching this did make me reflect on the oddity of the Mavs not signing Steve Nash and the Suns not drafting Luka Doncic as some twisted plot to drive both fanbases near insanity.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers, May 4, 2006​

I had never watched this game all the way through until now. Backs against the wall, without the entire team, the Suns somehow pulled out a win against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Tim Thomas makes an incredible shot to keep the Suns alive, ultimately leading the Suns to come back from down 3-1 in the series. The fact that Nash was able to win this game shows just how great a player he was.

Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs, May 7, 2010​

If you lived through this era of Suns basketball, you know wins against the Spurs were hard to come by and the 2010 Suns had a decade of demons to exorcise. In Game 3 the Suns were down late in the third quarter and despite being up 2-0 in the series, butts were tight. Then comes along this Slovenian Dragon named Goran Dragic, who killed the Spurs with a dazzling display of shotmaking (yet he managed to miss a pair of free throws) in the fourth quarter to put the nail in the coffin on the Spurs.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers, August 4, 2020​

The beginning of the Suns return to glory happened during this game. That Devin Booker shot kickstarted the beginning of one of the best three year runs in Phoenix Suns history. Not much else needs to be said.

Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets, March 24, 2022​

The Suns were on the road, in Denver and won a grueling 140-130 contest against Nikola Jokic. It included one of Devin Booker’s best performances of his career including a stretch where he stole a rebound for a 3-point-play and picked Jokic’s pocket for a fastbreak slam on back to back plays. After this game it felt like the Suns winning the title was inevitable even though they did not.

Even though the Suns have not won a championship, watching old games with Nash, Stoudemire, Booker, CP3, etc., the ride has been worth it. Despite the poor luck and heartbreak Valley Sports fans have experienced over the decades, my takeaway after watching these games is that we are lucky to be fans of the Phoenix Suns.

Share your favorite game(s) to rewatch in the comments below.

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...sh-devin-booker-playoffs-classics-nba-history

 

[Phoenix Suns]

SBN Reacts: Khaman Maluach could be the reason the Suns passed on future flexibility

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Most Suns fans think the team made the right move by keeping the 10th pick.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phoenix Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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While we’re deep into the offseason, reports have continued to come out about the NBA Draft and trades that were discussed. One of those reports was about the Phoenix and a deal they had a chance to make.

According to NBA Insider John Hollinger, the Suns had the opportunity to trade the 10th pick, which they used to select Duke big Khaman Maluach, and trade it to the New Orleans Pelicans for their first next year and the 23rd pick in the draft, but they declined.

New Orleans then went and traded the 23rd pick and the rights to the better of theirs or the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2026 first-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the 13th pick, where they selected Maryland big Derik Queen. Since making the trade, many have criticized New Orleans considering their projection as being one of the worst teams in the league next season. FanDuel has their win total set at 29.5, one of the lowest marks in the league.

Hollinger’s piece:

Earlier this week, we asked Suns fans if Phoenix should have made the draft-day deal with New Orleans. While most fans think the team made the right choice, it was not a universal decision.

While Maluach has great character, size, and potential, I think Phoenix should have made the deal. The Suns are not in a position of flexibility when it comes to future assets, and in a strong draft, the team still would have had a first round pick and the chance at a high pick in next year’s. With the Suns lacking little to no control for all their picks until 2032, the team is not in a position to have even a chance at a high selection any time soon.

While the team has a draft pick in next year’s draft, it will likely not be their own. What wins in the NBA is stars, and the best chance a team could have at acquiring a star is by a selection, and high selections give you the best chance at finding talent.

If Phoenix had a high pick next year, they would get the chance to select someone who could be a game changer around Devin Booker, and while it would likely take some time for anyone the team picks to develop, Maluach was considered one of the biggest projects in this draft, so his selection isn’t likely to speed up the timeline anytime soon.

Additionally, considering the potential of the pick being a high one, the Suns could have used the 2026 pick in a trade to potentially acquire someone who could significantly help them in the immediate future.

Only time will tell how the deal pans out, but what does Maluach need to show you in his first season to make you feel good about the Suns passing up the offer?

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Listen to the latest episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. To stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, or Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-derik-queen-pick-nba-draft-decision-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns offseason gamble at center has already been written off

Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images

The Western Conference center rankings say the Suns are in trouble.

We’ve made it. August. The darkest month on the NBA calendar. Two months until preseason tips off. Three and a half months since the Suns last played a meaningful game. The basketball void has fully swallowed us. And there’s no light down here.

August sucks.

We’re tired of summer
Football is here, but doesn’t count
No holidays
No Suns basketball
School traffic is back
There’s 31 days of it
It’s phonetically the worst sounding

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) August 2, 2025​

This is the season of speculation. Of rumors spun into narratives, and narratives twisted into hope. Thought experiments, rankings, assumptions. Locally and nationally, we begin our annual ritual: judging the Suns’ offseason and guessing where it might lead.

One of the few steady signals in all this noise? The Mark Stein Substack. Every time a new post drops into my inbox, I open it like it’s a letter from the front lines. On Friday, it brought with it something worth chewing on, a repost from Diggin Basketball, penned by Iztok Franko.

The topic? Centers in the Western Conference. Ranked. Evaluated. And, of course, ripe for debate.

When you scan the landscape of centers across the Western Conference, it becomes clear: the Suns have work to do. This isn’t a new realization. We lived it last season.

From an athleticism standpoint, from rim deterrence, from defensive reliability, Phoenix had one of the weakest center rotations in the league. Add in the simmering tension between the head coach and the starting center, and it wasn’t just a mismatch of personnel. It was personal. Dysfunction at its most avoidable.

So when Iztok Franko dropped his rankings of the top centers in the West, here’s where the chips landed:

1. Nikola Jokic
2. Victor Wembanyama
3. Ivica Zubac
4. Alperen Şengün
5. Rudy Gobert
6. Domantas Sabonis
7. Deandre Ayton
8. Dereck Lively II
9. Isaiah Hartenstein
10. Walker Kessler
11. Naz Reid
12. Donovan Clingan
13. Daniel Gafford
14. Brook Lopez
15. Mark Williams

That’s right. Even after upgrading the center position, the Phoenix Suns are still saddled with the label: worst starting center in the Western Conference. Never mind the added depth. Never mind the upside. The acquisition of Mark Williams on draft night has been met with indifference, if not outright dismissal.

Per Franko:

Another unproven big man enigma with lingering and significant injury and mobility concerns that continue to cloud his long-term outlook. He’s an enormous talent (both literally and figuratively) and one I’d feel better about if paired with a playmaker like Dončić. That opportunity was lost when Williams failed his physical after being traded to the Lakers at the last deadline.

What’s always amused me is the narrative flip. The moment Mark Williams was shipped to the Lakers last season to pair with Luka Doncic, it was hailed as a masterstroke. Their guy. A vertical lob threat tailor-made for Luka’s drive-and-kick playground. Basketball purity.

Are the Lakers a real threat in the West after their moves at the trade deadline?@BillSimmons, @RobMahoney, and @BigWos discuss the addition of Mark Williams and how the new-look Lakers could function in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/fCRXmBmktd

— The Ringer (@ringer) February 6, 2025​

But once the trade was rescinded, after the Lakers claimed Williams failed a physical, suddenly the same player was radioactive. The perception shifted overnight.

And maybe this is just the tinfoil hat talking, but I’ve always felt like something deeper was at play. The Lakers had to ship out Dalton Knecht in that deal, their rookie darling who was lighting up the scoreboard at the time. Fans weren’t exactly rioting, but the backlash was real. Trading Knecht for a rim-running big wasn’t sitting right.

So, conveniently, the trade fell apart. Mark Williams “failed” his physical. And the cloud settled in.

Lakers say the Mark Williams/Dalton Knecht trade has been rescinded.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025​

The next night, Mark went out and dropped a double-double. Looked fine to me. But perception is sticky. And ever since, that cloud has followed him.

Sidenote: if you’re looking for a fantastic deep dive into who Mark Williams is and why he might actually matter, give Ranko’s piece a read. It’s worth your time. What’s funny is this is what came out when he was supposed to be a Laker.

Scroll further down Franko’s list and you’ll find Nick Richards slotted at 27. Oso Ighodaro? He’s 30th. Former Sun (and now Jazz big man) Jusuf Nurkic didn’t even crack the top 30. As for Khaman Maluach, he’s tucked away with the rookies.

What this list ultimately serves as is a snapshot of national perception. A reminder of the wall the Suns will be pushing against next season. And honestly? I’m fine with it. There are no expectations. No pressure. The world thinks Phoenix is trotting out the 15th-worst starting center in the NBA. So be it.

I don’t think that’s necessarily true. There are real challenges ahead, sure, but not all of them are set in stone. Some of them are simply projections, lazy or otherwise. And that’s what August gives us: speculation dressed up as certainty.

These are breadcrumbs, fodder for debate until the ball tips again. Time will tell what sticks.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...iams-ranking-western-conference-nba-offseason