News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns might lose more than we want but they won’t bottom out

We’ve reached the point where we are forming predictions for the 2025–26 Phoenix Suns. Every move, from the draft to trades to free agency, has shaped what we believe this team can become.

And let’s be clear: this is a developmental season. The roster has been infused with youth, the front office reshaped, and the direction reset. It’s a team built around one All-Star, a second guard brimming with athletic upside, and the promise of a defensive identity that could change everything for the franchise.

But this won’t be instant gratification. This is a process. It will take time. Losses will stack up, and they will sting, but that’s part of the journey. No one should expect anything different.

What really grabs my attention right now is how many people believe this team is destined for a 20–62 season. Or worse. I see it in the Bright Side comments, I hear it during Suns JAM Session live feeds, and my DMs are full of people convinced this is rock-bottom basketball.

Maybe, months from now, you’ll get to pull this article back up and hit me with an “I told you so.” But I can’t get there. I don’t see a reality where the Phoenix Suns finish with 20 wins or fewer.

Why? Because being that bad takes work. It’s not as simple as being young, hiring a new head coach, and trying to find your identity. Winning fewer than 20 games has only happened twice in franchise history: the inaugural season in 1968–69 and, half a century later, the infamous 2018–19 campaign.

And that 2018–19 team? That was a special kind of disaster. They ranked 28th in offensive rating, 29th in defensive rating, and finished with a net rating of -9.2, second-worst in the league. They were painfully young, directionless, and full of lottery picks who hadn’t figured it out…or never would. They didn’t just lose games; they never looked like they knew how to win them.

For all the challenges this team is going to face next season, I just don’t see them bottoming out like that. Sure, the offense will likely take a step back. That’s what happens when you lose Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal and the shot-making gravity they bring. But defensively? They should be better than the 27th-ranked unit we saw a season ago.

Look at NBA history since 1960: only 100 teams have finished with 20 or fewer wins. That’s over 65 seasons and barely one and a half teams per year. You think the Suns are going to be one of them?

News flash: they’ll play two games against every team in the Eastern Conference. Even if they go .500 against a weaker East, that’s already 15 wins. It’s simply hard to be that bad unless you’re trying.

Last year, three teams failed to hit 20 wins: the Hornets, Wizards, and Jazz. None of those teams had an All-Star anywhere near Devin Booker’s level. And while the Suns might look like chaos waiting to happen if things go sideways, they’re still in the process of forging an identity. One rooted in defense, in making teams uncomfortable, in forcing them to work for every bucket. That matters. That wins you games.

Charlotte didn’t have an identity last year. Neither did Washington. Utah’s identity was openly tanking to get Cooper Flagg. The Suns won’t be tanking this season. They can’t. They don’t own their pick, so losing on purpose is worthless. To finish with 20 or fewer wins, you practically have to be trying to lose. And this team? They won’t be.

So yes, this team could end up worse than we expect, and honestly, expectations are already pretty low. But they’re not going to be so historically awful that they lose over 62 games. That’s not just bad basketball. That’s a monumental collapse.

When a team is building its identity on toughness, hustle, and effort on the defensive end, it’s really hard to lose that many games. I get why people are frustrated and don’t fully buy into the vision right now. But to say this team is only winning 20 games? That’s missing the context of just how rare and difficult that level of losing actually is.

Maybe it’s just a knee-jerk reaction. Maybe some people really believe it. Time will tell who’s right. But right now? I think that prediction is way off base. Because pulling off that much losing is a lot harder than people think.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...why-they-wont-win-only-20-games-or-bottom-out

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Alyssa Thomas and the Mercury have become the Valley’s must-see show

Something special is brewing in downtown Phoenix. The Mercury have locked in a playoff spot, and with Alyssa Thomas orchestrating the show, they’ve become one of the most electrifying teams to watch, not just in the Valley, but across the entire WNBA. Thomas, a walking triple-double, has already recorded seven this season, the most ever in a single year, while leading the league in assists.

At 26–14, the Mercury are tied with the Las Vegas Aces for the West’s second-best record and sit just three wins shy of surpassing their franchise-best 29 victories from 2014. The chase is on.

The energy is contagious. Fans are packing the arena, fueling the Mercury as they push toward a fourth championship, and even members of the Phoenix Suns are showing up to be part of the X-Factor.

When someone says who watches the WNBA?

Here’s your answer: @Suns pic.twitter.com/jadNjgvwvt

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 3, 2025

Last night’s 85–79 win over the Indiana Fever wasn’t just another Mercury victory. It was a Who’s Who of Phoenix Suns in the building showing their support. Newly acquired Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green were courtside, joined by Devin Booker, who turned heads in a clean pair of Jordan 3’s.

On the floor, Alyssa Thomas once again delivered. She poured in 23 points — her seventh 20-plus performance of the season — while nearly notching another triple-double with 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

It’s a reminder that basketball season is right around the corner. With Suns players back in the Valley ramping up for training camp and preseason, why not take in a team that’s already executing the vision Mat Ishbia has preached?

The Mercury are fun, fearless, and closing in on the postseason. And we’ll be here at Bright Side to cover it all.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...yoffs-suns-fans-wnba-devin-booker-jalen-green

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Valley Suns announce Tip Off Tournament and regular season slate

No, there’s no polished graphic to share here. What there is, however, is the unmistakable sense that basketball is nearly back in full force across the Valley. And it’s not only the Phoenix Suns preparing for the grind ahead. Their G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, has unveiled its schedule for the upcoming season.

This will be just the second year of following the Valley Suns, which means fans are still getting used to the rhythm and quirks of the G League calendar. Unlike the NBA’s straightforward slate, the G League season is split into two distinct phases. It begins with a 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, where every team across the league competes for the chance to hoist the NBA G League Winter Showcase trophy. For the Valley Suns, that journey tips off November 8 against the South Bay Lakers and runs through late December.

Once that tournament concludes, the G League resets for the true grind: a 36-game regular season. This is the stretch where the wins and losses matter most, with playoff seeding on the line. It’s a unique setup, one that mirrors the developmental spirit of the league while offering fans two distinct storylines to follow.

Valley Suns 2025-26 schedule. #Suns pic.twitter.com/2IrhJa0kTW

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 2, 2025

So as the Suns prepare for their own climb back to contention, their younger counterpart is gearing up for a season that’s every bit as compelling in its own way.

In a statement from the team:

The Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, today announced its Tip-Off Tournament and regular season schedule for the 2025-26 season, which will begin on the road with back-to-back games against the South Bay Lakers on November 8 and 9. The Valley Suns will begin their 24-game home schedule against the Rip City Remix on November 14 at 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena

The Valley Suns longest homestand of the season will run between November 27 and December 13, hosting the Salt Lake City Stars and South Bay Lakers twice, and the Stockton Kings and Warriors once each. The schedule features eight back-to-backs throughout the season, including five at Mullett Arena.

Last year offered a promising glimpse of what the Valley Suns could become.

They closed out the Tip-Off Tournament with a 10–6 mark before rolling to a 20–14 record in the regular season. Their postseason push included a first-round victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors, only to end at the hands of the eventual champion Stockton Kings.

As this new season approaches, there are still some unknowns. Final roster decisions have yet to be announced, and the intrigue grows around how much time any of the big club’s new rookies might spend with the affiliate. Developmental minutes in the G League can be a proving ground and a chance for young talent to sharpen skills, adjust to the professional pace, and make a case for bigger roles in Phoenix.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ule-release-home-opener-mullett-arena-tip-off

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Jalen Green is the swing piece for the Suns

Jalen Green Breakout SZN?​

Shooting Guard, 6’4”, 178 pounds, 23 years old, 4 years of NBA experience

The Phoenix Suns need Jalen Green to make a leap this season. With Kevin Durant traded and Bradley Beal off the team, Green enters Phoenix with a heavy burden on his shoulders and big shoes to fill. The Suns did not trade for a veteran scorer to paper over weaknesses. They added Jalen Green, a young bucket-getter with a high ceiling and a lot to prove. This is a clean break into a new chapter for Green and for Phoenix.

The question isn’t whether he can score. He can. It is whether he can turn that scoring into consistency, fit the team context, and form a sustained partnership alongside Devin Booker. He has star potential, but the question is if he’ll be able to put it all together.

He was the headliner of the Kevin Durant trade, but many question his long-term fit next to Booker in Phoenix. How will he answer the skeptics? Does he end up a rental that they flip, or is he a cornerstone for the future? We’ll find out a lot this season about the future and direction of the Phoenix Suns, depending on how the Green era goes.

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2024-25 Recap​

Last season was a mixed bag for the former second overall pick. There was progress, no doubt. But some of the concerns loomed large, especially come playoff time for the 23-year-old. Green finished the 2024–25 regular season at 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while playing all 82 games and averaging 32.9 minutes. I think it’s worth highlighting that he played in all 82 games in consecutive seasons.

He shot 42.3 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from three, and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line.

His playoff run left a lot to be desired in a vacuum, but he also had a 38-point outburst in Game 2, showcasing his raw upside.

“In Houston, he was both a promise and a puzzle. He was the leading scorer on a two-seed, yet doing so on volume over efficiency.“

Green was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 after coming through the G League Ignite program. Each year, he has shown gradual improvement, but there hasn’t really been that “aha” moment for him where he makes the big leap all at once. Yet.

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Contract Details​

Jalen Green signed a 3-year, $105 million contract with the Houston Rockets, with an average annual salary of $35,111,111. In 2025-26, Green will earn a base salary of $33,333,333, while carrying a cap hit of $33,584,499 and a dead cap value of $33,333,333.

(courtesy of Spotrac)

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

Jalen Green is an athletic freak with the ability to effortlessly lift off and finish around (or through) contact at the rim. He has an off-the-dribble game and can attack downhill when he’s at his best.

Green poured in 38 points, drilling eight three-pointers, and recorded six assists in Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors to help the Houston Rockets even the series. That game wound up being an outlier, though, after Green struggled mightily in the rest of the series. He failed to score more than 12 points in the other five games, and in four of the seven, he scored single digits.

In attack mode, he is unstoppable. He is comfortable hunting his shot in transition and in pick-and-roll bursts. In games where he and Devin Booker are downhill and aggressive, the Suns will be a handful for opposing defenses.

Durability is another skill that the Suns could sure use more of. Yes, it is a skill. Green has now played in all 82 games in consecutive seasons, as we noted above. That is a rare and impressive feat in today’s NBA.

The progress we need to see includes increased volume in rim attacking, improved shot selection, and becoming a more impactful defender.

Defense is a work in progress. He has the tools. Wingspan. Athleticism. Quickness. But he is not yet a plus defender who can erase his offensive lapses. In a loaded Western Conference, defensive limitations get magnified. While most of the talk is about the offensive fit, Green and Booker will need to learn how to play off one another defensively as well.

Inconsistent rim pressure

For all of Green’s athleticism, he ranked in the middle of the league on “drives per 36 minutes” last season, which suggests he is not yet an elite, relentless rim presser who forces constant contact and free throws the way some top wings do. His 11.5 drives per 36 ranked 68th among 375 players who played at least 500 minutes in 2024-25. That wasn’t far ahead of Beal, who ranked 75th at 11 drives per 36.

Shot selection swings. High-volume guys come with volatility. Green can be prone to taking ill-timed pull-ups and contested threes. This is something that his fellow former Rocket, Dillon Brooks, can struggle with as well. There have been times when those two shot Houston out of games.

The general weaknesses for Green are similar to the things we heard about Devin Booker when he was younger.

Empty calories. High-volume scorer. Doesn’t impact winning. Defensive liability. Poor shot selection. We’ve heard it all. Some of it is true, while some of it is subjective.

Comparing the first 4 seasons of Devin Booker versus the first 4 seasons of Jalen Green pic.twitter.com/VEo8Ecdmwc

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) August 24, 2025

One Key Factor​

The key factor to the Suns’ season will not solely be about how many points per game Jalen Green averages. It’s how he fits alongside Devin Booker, and if his weaknesses (listed above) improve. He’s a good bet for averaging 20+ ppg, but the question is, how will he get those 20 points? How does the defense look? Has the shot selection and playmaking improved?

I look at the playmaking specifically, due to the increased role he’ll take on in that department since Phoenix only has one true point guard on its roster.

Holden added this in his piece in Devin Booker’s preview, and it’s worth adding it in here as well.

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Prediction Time​

I think Green will have a strong season. Stronger than the skeptics believe, and he fits better next to Booker than you’d think on the surface. That being said, I’m still not sold on the defense and ability to build a title contender with those two are your primary options. That leaves the Suns with a decision to make, especially with that much money committed to the guard duo.

Let’s roll with him playing in all 82 games again, because why put anything else into the universe?

Stat Prediction: 82 games played, 23.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/36/79 shooting splits.

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Final Thoughts​

If Phoenix leans into a two-guard system with staggered screens, early rim runs from Mark Williams, catch-and-shoot reps for Green, and clear isolation lanes for Booker late, this can work. If minutes are jammed into the same half-court moments with no structural spacing or play design, both will step on each other’s toes, and efficiency will crater.

The Suns’ coaching staff must choreograph, not tolerate, the pairing. If the Suns do more damage than expected this season, it’s very likely due to Jalen Green breaking out. Let’s hope that is the case.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...w-jalen-green-is-the-swing-piece-for-the-suns

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Phoenix Suns announce 2025–26 Theme Nights

The season is close. You can feel it in the air, like static on the edge of a storm. All the little bells and whistles of basketball’s return are starting to go off, and it’s as if we’re staring into some old Cold War radar screen, watching the first blips crawl into focus. They’re distant, faint, but they’re coming straight for us. And the closer they get, the harder it is to sit still.

One of those blips? The Phoenix Suns dropping their Theme Nights schedule.

Now, I’ve never been the type to plan my calendar around a promotional giveaway. I’m more of a creature of convenience, the kind who goes to a game because it fits, not because there’s a trinket dangling at the gate. But I’ll admit that if a bobblehead’s on the line, I’ll crawl out of my comfort zone and fight through the lines. Because I kind of like them. There’s something weirdly satisfying about walking away from a game with a miniature, big-headed version of a player frozen in plastic glory.

Theme nights are like a wink from the franchise. They’re not why you go — you’re already juiced to be there — but they sweeten the deal. It’s the sports equivalent of a fast-food joint not nickel-and-diming you for extra sauce, or a hotel slipping you a late checkout without asking. It’s the bonus round, and it feels good.

So what do the Suns have cooking this year? Let’s take a look. Because if the blips on the radar are this loud already, the season itself is about to hit like a thunderclap.

October

• Oct. 22 vs. Kings – Coca-Cola/Fry’s Tip-Off (Free t-shirt for all fans)

November

• Nov. 2 vs. Spurs – Dia de los Muertos presented by Hornitos
• Nov. 10 vs. Pelicans – Hoops for Troops
• Nov. 13 vs. Pacers – Valley Creators Night
• Nov. 16 vs. Hawks – ORIGINATIV

January

• Jan. 4 vs. Thunder – Mascot Madness
• Jan. 9 vs. Knicks – Legacy Night
• Jan. 11 vs. Wizards – Sneaker Night
• Jan. 25 vs. Heat – First Responders Night
• Jan. 27 vs. Nets – Pride Night

February

• Feb. 10 vs. Mavericks – Black Excellence Night
• Feb. 11 vs. Thunder – Lunar New Year
• Feb. 21 vs. Magic – Kids Day
• Feb. 22 vs. Trail Blazers – 2027 All-Star Countdown

March

• Mar. 5 vs. Bulls – El Valle presented by Dos Equis
• Mar. 6 vs. Pelicans – Sustainability Night presented by Footprint
• Mar. 21 vs. Bucks – Women’s Empowerment Night presented by CarMax
• Mar. 28 vs. Jazz – STEM Night presented by Honeywell

April

• Apr. 7 vs. Rockets – Western Night
• Apr. 8 vs. Mavericks – Fan Appreciation Night

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So start circling dates, Suns fans. Mark them with a star, a doodle, a reminder that something worth your time is coming. The season is almost here, the blips are screaming louder, and the arena will be waiting. I’ll see you there.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-news/88841/phoenix-suns-announce-theme-nights

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Dillon Brooks is the kind of villain Suns fans can love

Dillon Brooks​

Small Forward, 6’6”, 225 pounds, 29 years old, 8 years of NBA experience

There’s a new enforcer in Phoenix. And it’s been a while since the Suns have had one. Jae Crowder once filled that role, and his absence was felt. We’ve experienced three seasons of a team that too often looked passive, listless, and “unbothered”. But every contender needs that guy. The one who stirs the pot, sparks the fire, and makes the opposition uncomfortable. The one who plays so hard, so fearless, that it forces everyone around him to elevate. A fuck-shit-up guy.

Enter Dillon Brooks.

Brooks arrives with a reputation carved in grit and irritation. In Memphis, he was the pest, the antagonist, the villain you cursed when he lined up against your team. Just ask LeBron James. Brooks needled him through a playoff series with a mix of trash talk and relentless energy.

LeBron x Dillon Brooks.

pic.twitter.com/CkKUBW7InU

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 23, 2023

He’s an irritant, a disruptor, an annoyance. Which is exactly why Suns fans should be thrilled. Because once a player like that is on your side, you can’t help but back him, warts and all.

Of course, he comes to Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant trade. No one can replace a Hall of Famer, and no one’s pretending otherwise. But Brooks, along with the other pieces acquired, represents something the Suns have sorely needed: a reset in identity. If the new identity of this team is one that frustrates opponents, agitates the elite, and dares to carry itself with an edge, then sign me up.

Because the last couple of seasons, the Suns didn’t just lack toughness. They lacked seriousness. They weren’t taken seriously by others, and worse, they didn’t always seem to take themselves seriously either. With Dillon Brooks in the mix, that changes.

It looks like Phoenix is ready to get serious again.

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2024-25 Recap​

Last season may not have been Dillon Brooks’ flashiest in terms of raw numbers, yet it was the season where his game found its sharpest edge. Year eight in the league, second stop in his career, and the most efficient version of himself we’ve seen. The numbers say steady contributor, but the presence said tone setter.

Brooks has lived in the orbit of winning teams before. Those Memphis Grizzlies squads in 2021–22 and 2022–23 that finished as the two seed, and the Houston Rockets climbed into the same echelon last season. He has never been the athletic marvel who dominates headlines, but he embodies the glue every roster requires. 14 points per night on 43%shooting, 40% from deep, 82% at the stripe, nearly four rebounds, nearly two assists. The shooting efficiency peaked at a career-high 53.3% effective field goal rate.

Most telling of all, he appeared in 75 games, proving that his most valuable skill is showing up. For a Suns team that has been haunted by inconsistency in availability, his dependability is gold.

From The Dream Shake’s Xian E:

Over the past two seasons Dillon Brooks has been worth what the Rockets paid him, and then some.

Some might have thought that Dillon’s defense slipped a bit this season, and perhaps it did, but it’s hard to see it from the company he kept with his individual defensive rating. Dillon ended up with a very good Defensive Player Rating. About the best in the NBA over the regular season, with enough games played to qualify for an NBA award (65), and enough minutes to qualify as a starter (30+), was around 104.

It’s probably impossible to calculate, but difficult to overstate Dillon’s effect on the effort level and toughness of the young Rockets, which saw a marked turnaround last season with the addition of Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Dillon might be a hothead, and an irritant, but the horrible defending, uninspired, soft, young Rockets from before Dillon’s arrival needed his fiery presence.

In Houston, surrounded by Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson, Brooks carved out significance by leaning into the unglamorous. Six three-point attempts per night at a career-best clip, relentless defensive energy, and the willingness to do the work others often skip. He was the irritant, the tone raiser, the connective piece.

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Contract Details​

Brooks enters the 2025-26 season on year three of a four-year, $90 million deal he signed with the Girzzlies in the summer of 2023. He is owed $21.2 million this year and his contract, which was front-loaded, decreases next season to $20 million ahead of the 2026-27 season.

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

His profile is easy to define yet difficult to replicate. He doesn’t demand shots, he takes pride in effort, and he thrives in defensive battles. These traits are increasingly rare in the league, and the Suns will welcome them with open arms. Watching him reminds you that ignoring the little things causes the big things to crumble.

Brooks will never be mistaken for a star, yet he is no liability either. He is not a great rebounder or elite playmaker, and help defense isn’t his strong suit.

What he offers is balance. He’s a capable shooter, a willing screener, a mobile defender, and one of the league’s premier isolation stoppers on the perimeter. He is not the man you hand the ball to in the final five minutes, but he is the one you assign to defend the man who has it. That balance matters. It keeps you in games, it steadies rotations, it multiplies value in subtle ways.

Dillon Brooks arrives in Phoenix as a player who thrives in the margins, and the margins are where seasons are won.

One Key Factor​

Fit. This isn’t unique to Dillon Brooks, it’s a thread that runs through the fabric of the entire roster. The question is how they fit together, how the moving parts find rhythm once the ball tips. A learning curve awaits, particularly in the backcourt, and that is where Brooks can tilt the balance. He brings steadiness, presence, and a personality wired to anchor chaos.

That balance is his value, and that is where success takes root, as Brandon Duenas framed in the ‘What does success look like?’ series.

If Dillon Brooks can strike a balance on both ends, he could end up being more than just a role player. He could be the heartbeat of a younger Suns roster that desperately needs an identity.

The Suns have been searching for identity, for a heartbeat to define them, and Brooks has the makeup to embody exactly that.

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Prediction Time​

Ah yes, predictions. Trying to forecast Dillon Brooks feels slippery, because so much of his game lives outside the box score.

His value isn’t tethered to averages or percentages, it’s rooted in energy, effort, and attitude. Those are the things you feel more than you measure, and they are the things that tilt games. Still, if we’re going to attach numbers to his impact, I’ll play along.

Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 14.3 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG on 42/38/80 shooting splits

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Final Thoughts​

When I scan this roster, Dillon Brooks might be the player I’m most eager to see in a Suns uniform. I’ll admit, I wasn’t exactly in his fan club before he arrived in the Valley. But that changes now. He’s ours, and he embodies the grit and identity we’ve been craving in Suns basketball. Sign me up for every bit of it.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-brooks-enforcer-grit-identity-player-preview

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Mercury’s 6-game streak now comes with home court attached

The Phoenix Mercury hit the road Thursday night, squaring off against the Washington Mystics, and came away with a win that mattered. Behind Alyssa Thomas’ near triple-double — 12 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists — Phoenix ground out a 75–69 victory. Kahleah Copper added 18 points on a gritty 7-of-21 from the floor, along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, stuffing the stat sheet in true Copper fashion.

The victory pushes Phoenix to 27–14 on the season. But more importantly, it locks in home-court advantage for the opening round of the playoffs, clinching a top-four record with three games still to play. The first round is a best-of-three series, and if it comes down to a Game 3, the decisive matchup will take place on Mercury’s home floor inside Footprint Center. Circle September 14. That’s when the chase begins.

We’ve officially clinched home court advantage for Round 1 of the WNBA Playoffs — Tickets on sale NOW for Game 1, September 14 at PHX Arena.

The first round runs through Phoenix! pic.twitter.com/XA8GlrQPa8

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 5, 2025

This win marks six straight for the Mercury, nine of their last ten, and they haven’t dropped a game since August 21 against the Las Vegas Aces. Las Vegas are winners of 12 straight themselves. Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Atlanta remain locked in a battle for the second overall seed, with every game down the stretch carrying weight.

The WNBA throws conference standings out the window come playoff time. It’s the top eight records, period. Three spots are still up for grabs, so the Mercury’s opponent remains a mystery. What isn’t in doubt? Phoenix has earned the right to defend their season on their terms, in their building, with momentum firmly on their side.

The team continues this quick two-game road trip on Saturday as they battle the Connecticut Sun, a team that is just 10-31 on the season.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...court-win-vs-washington-mystics-wnba-playoffs

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns sign Alex Schumacher to Exhibit 10 deal ahead of training camp

Training camp is only weeks away, and the Suns’ roster is taking shape piece by piece. Camp invites are beginning to trickle in. One Exhibit 10 spot was already filled by Jared Butler. Now, it’s two. Alex Schumacher is back in the fold, rejoining the Suns on an Exhibit 10 deal, per Keith Smith.

The Phoenix Suns signed Alex Schumacher to an Exhibit 10 contract yesterday.

(Aside: Expect lots of news like this over the next couple of months ahead of the season starting!)

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 5, 2025

Schumacher is no stranger to the Valley. He spent time with the Suns’ G League affiliate last season after being acquired in a trade with the Windy City Bulls in March. In eight games with the Valley, the 6’3” guard averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, starting three of those contests.

Because this is an Exhibit 10 deal, Schumacher counts toward Phoenix’s current roster total, which now sits at 19. The offseason limit is 21, a number that must be trimmed to 15 standard contracts by opening night, with three additional two-way spots available.

Most likely, Schumacher will head back to the Valley Suns once training camp concludes, eligible for a bonus of up to $85,300 on top of his G League salary if he spends at least 60 days with the team.

Undrafted out of Seattle University in 2024, Schumacher now gets another shot to showcase his game. And there’s opportunity waiting for him. With TyTy Washington no longer in Phoenix’s system — he signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Clippers this offseason — the Valley Suns will have minutes to fill. For Schumacher, this is a chance to seize that role.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...exhibit-10-deal-training-camp-roster-g-league

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns made the most September roster move ever

The content gods giveth and the content gods taketh away. And this time, they barely let us unwrap the gift.

In a move that could only happen in the basketball purgatory that is early September, the Phoenix Suns have waived Alex Schumacher…less than 24 hours after officially signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal.

It’s not as wild as it sounds. The Suns already held Schumacher’s G League rights, since he wrapped last season with the Valley Suns. This Exhibit 10 was more of a handshake agreement than a roster-shaking transaction. It is a way to give him a chance at a bonus check stacked on top of his G League salary when he returns to the Valley this fall.

So why go through the charade? Because that’s how the NBA machine works. Sign him, waive him, bonus still secured, everybody happy. It’s transactional theater. The kind of procedural roster shuffling that makes September basketball feel like a Kafka short story.

No, the Suns didn’t slip him a secret duffel bag or sign him to a deal with Aspiration. They signed him, they waived him, and the paper trail keeps him in the program while putting a few extra dollars in his pocket.

Ah, the preseason hustle. It’s a reminder that even in the quietest moments of the NBA calendar, the gears never stop turning.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...er-exhibit-10-contract-signing-g-league-bonus

 

[Phoenix Suns]

SBN Reacts: The new Sun fans are most excited to see is Jalen Green

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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The Phoenix Suns have more than a few new faces on the team this year. Coming from trades, drafting and free agency, the Valley has completely revamped their roster season since last year, with some of the main moves being trading for Kevin Durant, agreeing to a buyout with Bradley Beal and trading for Charlotte Hornets starting center Mark Williams.

The Suns have 12 new players on the roster, including newly signed Alex Schumacher, who inked an Exhibit 10 deal with the Valley on Thursday. Although Schumacher was then waived by the Suns shortly thereafter.

Earlier this week, we asked Suns fans who they were most excited to see play in the Valley for the first time, and one person lapped the competition.

I was honestly very surprised by the results, and not just by Jalen Green getting more than double the votes of Rasheer Fleming, who got the second most votes. Green and Brooks got half of the votes. Both are some of the more polarizing players in the league and do not present the unknown upside that rookies Khaman Maluach and Fleming do.

While Green is already a dynamic, 20+ PPG scorer and Brooks is well-known for his tenacity and trash talk, a player like Maluach, who is one of the youngest in the league and has a unique physical presence projects to be more of a part of the team’s long-term future. Additionally, with the Suns lacking a true center for most of the last few seasons, both Mark Williams, who got the fourth most votes, and Maluach give the Valley fans talent at the five they have not experienced much recently.

I’m not surprised that Fleming was one of the top vote getters. His ability to space the floor, how he projects to be more league ready than other rookies considering his three years in college and that he can play multiple positions, set him up to compete with Ryan Dunn for the starting power forward spot if he can prove himself early in the season.

With the Suns projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA, all the new players on the Suns, especially the rookies, will get ample opportunities to prove themselves and win the support of the fanbase. It will be interesting to see which of the new players are fan favorites and who is not as the season goes on.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-fans-are-most-excited-to-see-is-jalen-green

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Nick Richards returns in a back-up role

Nick Richards​

Center, 7’0”, 245 pounds, 27 years old, 5 years of NBA experience

Nick Richards may not be the type of player to excite fans or carry a team to victory, but he’s a valuable talent to have as a backup center in the league. With questions surrounding the health of newly added starting center Mark Williams, Richards provides crucial depth for the Phoenix Suns over the course of an 82-game season. In the long grind toward the playoffs, he can maintain balance between his usual backup role and stepping in as a starter—just as he did with the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023–24 season when Williams was sidelined by injury

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2024-25 Recap​

After the Suns struggled at the center position early in the 2024–25 season, with Jusuf Nurkic looking a step slow and out of rhythm on the boards, he was moved to the bench as the team searched for answers. With the trade deadline approaching, Phoenix turned to a familiar trade partner in the Charlotte Hornets, acquiring Nick Richards and a second-round pick in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-rounders.

Richards made an immediate impact. In his Suns debut against the Detroit Pistons on January 18, he posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in a win. Just a week later, on January 25 against the Washington Wizards, he nearly recorded a 20 and 20 performance, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds. Suddenly, things were looking up for Phoenix, and Richards appeared to be the answer at starting center with a disappointed Nurkić watching from the bench.

Richards was steady for the remainder of the season, but the early excitement eventually wore off. After a hot start with the Suns, the final 32 games of the season brought him back to his usual production, averaging nine points and a little over eight rebounds per game.

Even with those modest numbers, Richards proved his value. He gave the Suns a reliable presence in the paint.

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Contract Details​

Nick Richards signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, with the full amount guaranteed and an average annual salary of $5 million. For the 2025–26 season, he will earn a base salary of $5 million, which also counts as his cap hit and dead cap value. Now with the Suns, Richards is entering the final year of that contract.

Strengths & Weaknesses​

Things were shaky last year when it came to player competitions and year-by-year attention to detail. Suns players were left to fend for themselves through the lost season, making the game feel more like an individual sport than team basketball. But Richards played with hustle and stamina, showing complete control of what he brings to a team on or off the bench. Looking at the stat sheet, his below-average numbers in points and rebounds might deter many from a closer look, but his body language always showed he was ready to ball. This is his biggest strength: staying quiet, calm, and focused. While grabbing boards is more of an elite skill on his end, Suns fans can see that it’s a no-brainer that he brings his best night in and night out. He proved that consistency and effort often matter more than flashy numbers.

The weakness, on the other hand, is his lower IQ and slow reaction to plays on the weak side, which is why we can breathe this season knowing that when Mark Williams is starting, Richards can come in for the dirty work and tough rebounds.

At times, Richards is a lob threat, but he is also inconsistent.

But you can see that the hand-eye coordination is there at times, and with the lack of pressure to start, he might excel this year when it comes to drop passes and plays off the pick-and-roll.

One Key Factor​

This is a contract year for Richards, and proving himself is key. Praising his work ethic and relentless presence around the rim could put him in line for future deals, but the question remains—does he have what it takes to prove he can be a paid starting center in the league? It’s a stretch and perhaps unlikely, yet a contract year has a way of bringing out a different beast on the glass and in pick-and-roll situations.

With Mark Williams’ health still uncertain, the opportunity and minutes will be there for Richards. Settling into the backup role on a Suns team that will scratch and claw for every victory, while striving to play as a true unit, gives Richards a chance to expand his game and showcase his value in every area of the floor.

Prediction Time​

Richards will have more highlights and his stats will improve by a smidge, but that small improvement is exactly what Richards needs to gain a little more traction ot respcect in the league.

At the end of this 2025-26 season, the Suns will likely be in the hunt for a play-in seed and I think Richards will be a big part of it. Not the guy to make the winning play at the end of the game, but just enough durring the game to keep the Suns close and maning the boards like the Suns need him to.

Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 10.2 PPG and 10.6 RPG

Final Thoughts​

Bringing Richards back for the final year of his contract is a no-brainer, not only for the reasons mentioned earlier, but because his fight and grit align perfectly with the identity of this Suns team. His toughness and steady, emotionless demeanor will match the group at its highest peak this season.

He is set to play a big role in the rotation, with a lot of pressure placed on his shoulders to deliver solid minutes consistently. The expectation is high, but Richards has shown he has the resilience to meet it.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...eview-nick-richards-returns-in-a-back-up-role

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Mark Williams could turn the Suns’ biggest flaw into their greatest strength

Mark Williams​

Center, 7’0”, 241 pounds, 23 years old, 3 years of NBA experience

The center position has always been the bedrock of basketball. The last line of defense, the first guardian of the rim. At its core, this game is about a ball finding its way through a hoop, and no one stands closer to that truth than the big man in the middle.

For the Phoenix Suns, that spot has been a riddle in recent years. Jusuf Nurkic brought size and savvy, but his feet were made of stone. Deandre Ayton had springs in his legs, but a motor that sputtered when the moment demanded more.

Now, the franchise is swinging again, and this time it’s for balance. Athleticism and drive, power and hunger. Enter Mark Williams, the Suns’ new anchor in the paint, acquired on draft night for Vasa Micic and two first-round picks.

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick tonight and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/a6eDDn5aE6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

Mark Williams is young. He’ll turn 24 in December. And he carries a résumé that reads like a blueprint for a future star. IMG Academy. Duke. A top-25 recruit in the 2020 high school class. The pedigree is there, no question.

But pedigree isn’t the problem. The problem is the body. Williams has played in 106 of a possible 246 games with Charlotte, barely more than 40% of his career. And that’s the gamble Phoenix is taking. This isn’t some tidy, risk-free pickup. This is the franchise sliding its chips to the center of the table, betting on a trend the league rarely rewards: that an injured center can suddenly stay healthy. History doesn’t love that bet.

But if he does stay upright? If the injuries finally stop haunting him? Williams is a walking double-double, a rim protector who can tilt the geometry of the game. And maybe he becomes the cornerstone for the cultural reset the Suns are trying to engineer.

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2024-25 Recap​

Mark Williams’ 2024-25 campaign was anything but smooth. He opened the year in street clothes, missing the first 20 games with a strained tendon in his left foot. When he finally returned, he reminded everyone why he was supposed to be Charlotte’s future at the five. Playing in 23 of the next 27 games and putting up a rock-solid 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per night.

Then came the February drama.

The Lakers — desperate for size, desperate for a spark — went all-in, shipping Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first, and a 2030 pick swap to Charlotte for Williams. It was the kind of trade that shakes a franchise’s identity. And then it blew up.

Williams failed his physical, reportedly because of long-term concerns about his back. The Lakers backed out, the Hornets hit reset, and the deal vanished.

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2025

Call me a cynic, but I think this was as much about optics as it was about MRIs. Knecht was playing like a man possessed in his rookie campaign, and the backlash in Lakerland was loud. “Back issue” makes a neat excuse to undo a deal that suddenly looked like an overpay.

None of that stopped Williams from quietly cooking once the deadline passed.

From that point forward, he averaged 14.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and looked completely healthy. His full-season line? 15.3 points, 10.2 boards, 60.4 percent shooting…and 44 games played out of 82. Not perfect, but far from damaged goods.

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Contract Details​

Williams is on the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to make $6.3 million this season. The former 15th overall pick will be a restricted free agent after this season unless an extension is signed with Phoenix. The qualifying offer will be $8.8 million.

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

Mark Williams’ strengths jump off the screen. He’s a brick wall in the paint, a true interior anchor. Sure, he drops a little too deep in pick-and-roll coverage sometimes, but he’s a bona fide rim deterrent, a vacuum on the glass, and the kind of defensive presence you can build a scheme around. That matters when your backcourt features Jalen Green and Devin Booker, two guys whose gifts are offensive first, second, and third. Williams lets them gamble, lets them take risks, because he’s the guy erasing mistakes behind them.

But this isn’t a perfect marriage. Offensively, Williams is limited. Eight feet from the rim is his frontier. Anything beyond that is foreign soil.

He won’t stretch the floor, won’t drag big men out of the paint, won’t force defenses to think twice. Which might explain why we saw Khaman Maluach firing threes in Summer League. If we ever want to see these twin towers on the court together, someone has to possess the ability to stretch the floor and shoot. Any frontcourt with Williams and Oso Ighodaro is going to be paint-clogged and slow-paced.

And then there’s the elephant in the training room. His health.

The best ability is availability, and Williams hasn’t consistently had it. That’s why his acquisition cost felt reasonable. That’s why the gamble makes sense. But if…and it’s a big if…he stays healthy? He’s not a perfect center, but he’s the kind of center you win with. Top-third in the league. Big enough, strong enough, focused enough to be the quiet backbone of a team trying to rediscover its identity.

One Key Factor​

I’ve spent the entire offseason hammering the health drum when it comes to Mark Williams. And yes, that’s still the key factor. But let’s look at something different.

The Suns haven’t had a true lob threat since Deandre Ayton left town. And even when DA was here, the lob was the only consistent play. And even then, he played like he was afraid of the rim, not mad at it. The minute you bounced him the ball on a pick-and-roll, however, chaos followed. The catch wasn’t clean, the timing was off, the possession was often dead on arrival.

That’s where Williams can separate himself. He’s not just a vertical threat. He’s got to become a pick-and-roll finisher who can catch in traffic, go straight up, and punish defenses before the help arrives. That split-second matters. Hold it too long, bring it too low, and the ball’s getting stripped. We’ve seen that movie before.

Turnovers were one of Williams’ biggest issues in Charlotte (1.6 a game). If he cleans that up, if he becomes decisive and strong with the ball, he doesn’t just give Phoenix a lob target, he gives them an actual interior weapon. And that, maybe more than his rim protection, is the thing that could unlock this offense.

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Prediction Time​

Mark Williams is one of the hardest players on this roster to project because everything hinges on that one variable: health. And if I’m being honest, I think it’s going to hold him back again this season.

The Suns know this, though. That’s why Nick Richards and Khaman Maluach are here. They’re like Geico geckos. Insurance policies in human form. Their presence means Phoenix can be patient, can give Williams the extra time he needs to get right without grinding him into dust. It’s all baked into the acquisition, part of the plan.

I don’t see him playing more than half the games. But in the ones he does play? He’ll matter. He’ll control the glass, tilt possessions, and give Phoenix the physical interior presence they’ve lacked. And for a team trying to rediscover its identity, that’s exactly where they need to start. By owning the boards.

Stat Prediction: 49 games played, 12.8 PPG, 2.1 APG, 10.8 RPG

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Final Thoughts​

I loved the Mark Williams acquisition. Sure, some people blasted it because it came right on the heels of drafting Maluach, but in the same breath, it felt like a deep exhale. For once, the center rotation was shored up, on draft night, no less. That alone was a small victory.

The past few seasons have been frustrating. Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee as your center duo with undersized Oso as the only backup option? That wasn’t a plan, that was a patch job. And it showed. The Suns were abysmal on the glass, soft at the rim, and too often outmuscled in the paint.

Williams’ arrival changes that. It solidifies what the Suns want to be and backed up what GM Brian Gregory promised in his opening press conference. That this team is going to attack the rim, on both ends. Mission accomplished, at least on paper. Now it’s time to see if that vision actually translates to the floor.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...sis-center-depth-injury-update-2025-26-season

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Vasilije Micic says Kevin Durant was surprised at how little he was used in Phoenix

Today, a report surfaced on Basketball Network from Bruno Feliks regarding former Sun Vasilije Micic commenting on Kevin Durant’s frustration in Phoenix.

“He’s surprised at how little he was used in Phoenix as an example, considering what he’s doing. KD often has that uncomfortable body language, but he’s actually a cool guy. That’s just his protection, he has his reasons for being that way, but he’s very open to conversation. He’s extra intelligent. We used to talk, and his basketball vision is on a completely different level, from understanding to analyzing the opponent,” Micic stated.

The article added: “Vasilije Micic saw firsthand how much KD works when the cameras are off, and how surprised he was that the rest of the Suns weren’t on his level.”

Micic was acquired at the trade deadline from Charlotte in the Nurkic deal and only appeared in 5 games. He did not score a single point and and all of his minutes came in garbage time. Phoenix declined the team option on his contract this summer.

It’s an interesting source for this type of quote for someone who had a cup of coffee in Phoenix, especially with it being the end of the year when things started to spiral. There’s no telling what type of relationship those two may or may not have formed behind closed doors, but it was an odd twist in the news cycle today.

According to former teammate Vasilije Micic, Kevin Durant was frustrated with his usage in Phoenix.

(Via @ballnetwork/@BrunoFeliks44) pic.twitter.com/ZSaGPUHhuX

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) September 8, 2025

The Kevin Durant experiment in Phoenix was an absolute failure across the board. He did have his lowest usage rates of his career in Phoenix at 29.0 and 28.7 during his past two years with the Suns. His field goal attempts were about in the middle of the pack relative to his career numbers at 19.1 and 18.1 per game, respectively.

Should they have gotten him more involved? Does he have a right to be frustrated?

I think Suns fans who watched what was happening on a nightly basis can probably answer that for themselves. There are several parties to blame, and the frustration was likely mutual.

We’re at the point of the offseason where Micic quotes are worthy of articles. Hang in there, Suns fans. We’re ready to move on.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...urprised-at-how-little-he-was-used-in-phoenix

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Ryan Dunn is here to unlock his defensive potential

Ryan Dunn​

Small Forward, 6’8”, 216 pounds, 22 years old, 1 year of experience

The Phoenix Suns are looking for a fresh start this season after a disappointing finish last year. The team has made plenty of new additions on the court, but it has also added a new head coach, Jordan Ott.

For Ryan Dunn, this is a year to showcase his true potential within this Suns lineup. Last year, the rookie was impressive for Suns fans, but he received sporadic playing time that hindered his great play outside of Phoenix. His goal this year is to take the league by storm and make a name for himself in this league as one of the most impactful defenders.

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2024-25 Recap​

For a rookie, Dunn was able to impress immediately coming into Phoenix. When he was selected with the 29th overall pick in last year’s draft, there were some skeptics about his offensive game coming into the NBA. In the two years in college, he shot under 25% from three with 35 attempts his sophomore year.

This was a concern, even if Dunn was regarded as the best defensive wing in the class, but luckily for the Sun, it did not matter. Dunn, in the preseason, showcased that this would not be a big issue, and he finished his rookie season shooting 31% from three on 3.6 attempts.

For his rookie year, he certainly made an impact while on the court when he was playing. Unfortunately for Dunn and the Suns, there were times he did not see the court for long stretches of time. This was frustrating not only for him but the fans who knew how important he was for the defensive side of the ball, his specialty.

That being said, Ryan Dunn did have some great games out there for the Suns this season. One game I can remember specifically was late in the season, where the playoff hopes had already faded for this team. Even with that being the case, Dunn came prepared to play vs the San Antonio Spurs. Dunn had his career high of 26 points, notched with 11 rebounds. Dunn was the leading scorer for the team and showcased his ability to be a growing piece within this unit, something someone on the coaching staff did not see.

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Contract Details​

Dunn signed a four-year $13 million contract after he was traded from the Denver Nuggets on draft night. The Suns signed him to a rookie-scale contract, and he earns around $3.25 million per year. This is an excellent deal for the Suns, who still want to see the potential in Dunn and have him secured for the next three seasons. Once he reaches the end of that deal, the Suns will then have a better evaluation of his talents and know how much he is truly worth to the franchise, one that should be prioritized down the line as of now.

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Strengths & Weakenesses​

Dunn was one of the best defensive prospects in his draft class and held that standard in his rookie year. He was such a pivotal point in the Suns’ rotational spot that when he played, it was clear the defense was night and day different. Dunn’s ability to pick players up on-ball leads to him being such a disruptive force when opponents are trying to attack the basket. His ability to help off-ball as well led to more disruptions out there and helped the Suns in transition.

When he and another player, Caleb Martin, were out there, it was evident how they needed to be used as connectors to the offensive stars already out on the court. As the season continued and Dunn was more present in the lineup, his steal numbers also rose. The wing averaged one steal or more in March and April of this year, proving that if given the minutes, he can truly be a help in this wing rotation.

So far what we have seen in the Summer League this past year, would also prove that Dunn has been very effective on that side of the ball and should continue so into this upcoming season.

Now his weaknesses would definitely be on the offensive end of the ball. Like we mentioned earlier, he was not known to be a good three-point shooter in college, and even though it does not seem to be ineffective at the NBA level, there is still some development needed there. The struggle to create his own shot is still there, but not needed when he is a complementary piece alongside those scorers here in Phoenix. He is a better catch-and-shoot three-point scorer, which is a better fit for his role here as well.

By getting more consistent in this role, though, he could become better from three-point land and turn into a solid 3&D wing that would be a perfect fit next to Devin Booker.

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One Key Factor​

Where does Dunn find himself in this rotation? Everyone highly speculates that he will find himself in the starting lineup alongside Dillon Brooks as the two wings. That would mean in a league that is now positionless that he would most likely be the power forward, as he is taller than Brooks. Will this be able to showcase Dunn’s true ability to be a versatile defender? I ultimately do think so, and that is the player we need to see.

One that is going to step up and be ready to take the opponent’s best offensive weapon and lock him down. This is what Suns fans wanted to see last year, and something that is going to need to translate in Jordan Ott’s new system for the team to find success. We know last year they ranked as a bottom-five defense, and that is something that cannot happen again. Especially if Ryan Dunn is a pivotal piece in this starting lineup.

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Prediction Time​

With Dunn getting a bigger role within this group, I do see him taking the leap that is going to be needed for Phoenix this upcoming year. Since he is one of the best defenders on the squad, I see him prioritizing defense more than offense throughout the year. Even though that is the case, I do expect him to hvae some crazy dunks as we saw last year with Dunn soaring through the air to attack the rim. With Brooks being alongside him, I do see him being used less as a three-point scorer, but I do think in instances, he will be able to hit them when needed.

Dunn should expect the most development out of the young guys, and this will be shown with his playing time.

Stat Prediction: 78 games played, 8.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG on 45/34/53 shooting splits

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Final Thoughts​

Ryan Dunn is one of the most intriguing players on the team this season. He is someone I am going to be keeping an eye on. He is very beneficial for the future direction of this team and how quickly the Suns can return to the conversations we will miss this year. As someone who is trying to make a name for himself in this rotation, I am looking for the best for him this year and can’t wait to see what is in store for us as fans.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...on-breakout-defender-rotation-starting-lineup

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Phoenix Suns may be on track to repeat their darkest season

Sometimes the critics are right.

Recently, John Voita of Bright Side of the Sun wrote an article titled, “The Suns might lose more than we want, but they won’t bottom out”. He argues that this year’s iteration of the Suns won’t be as bad as the 2018-19 Suns, who went 19-63, because “being that bad takes work,” in the form of catastrophically bad players, drafting, and roster decisions.

However, the counter argument is that the current Suns roster construction is likely to be catastrophically bad in ways that were entirely predictable. Without further ado, here are 7 reasons why the 2025-26 Suns are likely to be every bit as bad as the 2018-19 Suns due to atrocious roster building.

1. They’re spending most of their money on players at the same position​

Between Booker, Green, Allen, and the departed Bradley Beal, the Suns are paying ~$135 million to guys who are shooting guards. This either forces people to play out of position (where they have limited value) or not play them at all (zero value, like Beal). The opportunity cost is that there’s no money left for players at other positions. Effectively, the Suns’ investments in shooting guards make the entire team much worse.

2. Their #2 guy (Green) is an inefficient, defenseless chucker​

Jalen Green never met a shot he didn’t like. I dare you to find a highlight featuring him passing the ball. His defense is non-existent. If you look at the 2018-19 Suns, at least you could say that their #2 guy (TJ Warren) was both efficient and played a different position than their number one guy (Booker).

3. The 2018-19 talent pool was arguably better​

The 2018-19 team featured a 22-year-old Booker, Kelly Oubre, DeAnthony Melton, TJ Warren (pre-injury), Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges. This year’s team features players who are either rookies, deeply flawed (Green, Williams), or both (Maluach). The two decent veterans on the team (Allen, O’Neale) are afterthoughts who have no future with the club and are likely to sit on the bench to give the rookies a chance to figure it out. This adds up to a lot of losses.

4. They’re playing people out of position more​

At least with the 2018-19 team, you could say that the team was generally playing people at the positions they were most comfortable, with perhaps the exception of T.J. Warren at power forward occasionally. The Suns actually had point guards playing point guard that year (even if they weren’t particularly good at it).

This year, the Suns are playing people out of position at point guard and power forward.

Much has been written about playing Booker at the point, but putting Ryan Dunn at the four has been lost in the discussion. The truth of the matter is that your frontcourt players have more impact on defense than the backcourt, and putting Dunn at power forward dramatically reduces his effectiveness at the one thing he is good at. Dunn isn’t a particularly good rebounder even as a small forward, and he’s going to get rag-dolled by bigger, taller, stronger players like Julius Randall.

5. The center situation​

The Charlotte Hornets were generally regarded as having the worst center rotation in the Eastern Conference, until recently. Now, the Suns have acquired both Charlotte’s starting center (Williams), and backup center (Nick Richards).

Williams has an injury history and boasts being a 7th percentile defender per DEPM. (This is really hard to achieve as a center.) Khaman Maluach looked exceedingly raw this summer and did little to assuage my fears that he’s the next Hasheem Thabeet. Oso Ighodaro plays well…for a second-round pick. His frame is better suited to playing power forward, and he lacks the range to play alongside a center who doesn’t stretch the floor.

In short, the Suns’ best center is a terrible defender with inconsistent effort and a nasty history of injuries, and the rest are marginal NBA players, at best.

6. Devin Booker is possibly in a worse spot than 2018-19​

The Suns have been a bad team when Booker doesn’t have a true point guard alongside him. The Suns’ greatest success has been when he’s played with defensive-minded point guards who can distribute, namely Ricky Rubio and Chris Paul.

Now, he’s back almost exactly where he was in 2018-19: the lone star on a team full of raw rookies and disinterested veterans with no future on the team. Except, in 2018-19 the Suns were at least trying to put a point guard next to him, and Booker has a lot more mileage on his body now. Again, the current situation is arguably worse.

7. Ryan Dunn is unlikely to develop the way Suns fans hope​

When evaluating college players prospects for becoming better three-point shooters when they reach the NBA, the first thing I look at is their free throw percentage. If I see a guy who was a mediocre three-point shooter in college, but hits 85% at the line, I see potential to develop the consistent form and stroke necessary to become a solid spot-up three-point shooter at the NBA level.

Ryan Dunn shot 47% from the line last season.

His three-point stroke isn’t likely to get much better. I know a lot of fans are thinking that he’ll develop and make the team better this year, but he’s playing out of position on offense and defense, has so-so handles, and I’d bet one of my kids that his three-point shooting never improves much. This season is going to be rough for him, and as a 3-and-D guy who can’t 3, I’m not sure he has a future in the league outside of a marginal rotation player (think Josh Okogie).

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When I look at the roster construction of the Suns, I see they have really put in the work at being awful.

No point guard. 70% of their payroll is going to shooting guards. Their #2 guy is a negative at both ends of the floor. Playing a marginal NBA small forward at starting power forward. Bored veterans with no future on the team cashing a check to ride the pine or play inconsistent minutes on a team with no hopes of the playoffs, and more interested in developing rookies, while waiting to be traded to a better team before the deadline (Trevor Ariza seems to have comps with Allen, Hunter, and O’Neale). Perhaps the worst center rotations in the league. Plus, there’s a strong chance Booker’s contract is going to look like an albatross as bad as Beal’s in a few years.

No hope, either, because the Suns don’t have their own first-round draft picks for the next half-decade. You cannot tell me that playing on a team where a veteran knows the situation won’t get better doesn’t drag them down, resulting in less on-court effort. It’s a rare player who can give 100% on a team that isn’t going to win this season, or any season for the rest of your career.

It would take a series of small miracles for most of this not to be true, and the Suns managing to emerge as even a 30-win team. The worst part: this was avoidable. The Suns set off a domino effect of badness by choosing to make Jalen Green the centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade. Looking at the roster as it is, the only player I’m sure is in the right place is Dillon Brooks at small forward, where he is perfectly suited to being a junkyard dog 3-and-D wing.

Everything else is a completely predictable disaster waiting to happen. Congrats to Brian Gregory for putting in the work to create what may be the worst Suns team ever.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...onstruction-jalen-green-devin-booker-disaster

 

[Phoenix Suns]

SunsRank returns with Booker and Green setting the tone at the top

We are once again setting out on the journey of SunsRank, the annual exercise where we stack the entire roster and ask the simplest question with the most complicated answers. “Who is the best?”

First, a thank you to everyone who took the time to help with the opening step, sorting this team into tiers. That process matters. It lets us break the roster into digestible pieces, group players with similar arcs, and measure them against one another before we start sliding names up and down the ladder.

Now that the tier voting has closed, it’s time for the next phase. We’ll begin dissecting those groups and voting on the order, chiseling away until we have the full SunsRank laid out. For many of you, this is familiar ground. You’ve been here before, you know how it works, and you know how much fun it can be. For those new to it, welcome in. This is where the debates start, the arguments get sharp, and the story of this roster starts to reveal itself.

So we begin with Tier 1: The Cornerstones. These are the backbone players, the ones a franchise leans on when the season gets heavy. Their names are etched into the story before the first tip, and if the Suns find success, it will be because these players delivered.

A year ago, this tier was simple. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Sorry, Brad Beal. Despite the cash, you were a Tier 2 player. But KD is gone now, shipped to Houston, and the picture shifts. This time, it comes down to Booker and one of the players brought back in that very trade: Jalen Green.

Of course, it’s never unanimous. There are always those who like to push against the grain. Looking through the voting, it’s pretty clear someone decided to hand out “Cornerstone” status to the entire roster. Thanks for playing along. Still, the results tell the story. Devin Booker received a resounding 96%of the vote as a cornerstone player. Jalen Green came in at 57%, carving out his place alongside Booker at the top.

Others drew some attention, Dillon Brooks most notably with 24% of his votes pushing him toward Tier 1. But Brooks belongs in Tier 2, and that’s where he’ll stay. The Cornerstones are two names deep entering the 2025-26 season. Devin Booker and Jalen Green.

So Tier 1 once again comes down to a battle between two players. Last year it was our starting shooting guard against our starting power forward. This year, it’s a duel of shooting guards, though one of them will be asked to play point. The Suns can tell us Jalen Green will run that spot, but deep down, we all know whose team this is.

And with that, SunsRank begins in earnest. The first ranking of the season, the one that sets the tone. Two names, two spots, and one simple question: who do you believe is the best player on the Phoenix Suns, and who comes in second?

Cast your vote in the poll below.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...evin-booker-vs-jalen-green-cornerstone-debate

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Patience will be the smartest play with Khaman Maluach

Khaman Maluach​

Center, 7’2”, 250 pounds, 19 years old, rookie

The lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft carried a buzz in Phoenix. New general manager Brian Gregory wasted no time putting his fingerprints on the roster, moving pieces until the Suns found themselves holding the 10th overall pick. A pick that once belonged to them, before it was sent away in the Kevin Durant trade, only to circle back like a storybook twist. And when the board fell the way it did, when Khaman Maluach slid to ten, it felt like the basketball gods had smiled on the desert.

Seven-foot-two, with a wingspan stretching to 7’5” and a standing reach of 9’8”. A frame built for the modern game’s paint battles, and yet he’s still a teenager. Nineteen on Sunday. The raw athletic profile is undeniable, the kind you dream about when you talk about upside, potential, and what the future could hold.

Now comes the harder question. What will he give in year one? Can he carve out a role, flash glimpses of dominance, and lay the foundation for something bigger? Or will his rookie season be less about production and more about moments, the kind that hint at what’s coming? Either way, Maluach is one of the most captivating storylines the Suns carry into the new season.

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2024-25 Recap​

Maluach arrived at Duke as a freshman by way of the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, entering the program ranked 51st in the RCSI top 100. On paper, the numbers don’t leap off the page. 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and a 71.2% field goal mark.

But context matters. He wasn’t asked to be a scoring anchor, not when Duke’s roster featured Cooper Flagg, the eventual number one overall pick, and Kon Knueppel, who went fifth.

What Maluach did bring was consistency.

He played in all 39 games, carving out a role and showing growth as the season stretched on. His impact wasn’t defined by stat sheets, it was in the way he fit into a loaded roster, held his own, and earned the respect of those around him. Teammates spoke highly of his character, his kindness, and his willingness to do the work.

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Contract Details​

Maluach is on a rookie deal, which in his case as the 10th overall selection, is four years, $27.4 million. The last two years of his deal are team options.

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

The strengths with Khaman are as clear as they come, and it all starts with his size and the way he uses it. At 7’2” with that kind of reach, he is a true lob threat in every sense of the word. Throw it near the rim and he can go get it. Add to that an agility uncommon for a player his size, and suddenly he becomes more than a stationary big. He becomes a weapon in the pick and roll, able to dive hard to the basket, stretch defenses, and punish them when they collapse.

Stephen Gillaspie from No Ceilings noted the following:

Khaman Maluach ranks in the 99th percentile in possessions where he is the roll man. Of all of his credited play types, Khaman spends 22.5% of his time operating as the roller. That grades in the 84th percentile.

Another impressive finishing stat for Khaman is that he spends over 55% of his at-rim finishes dunking the ball. That ranks in the 98th percentile. These aren’t just the typical “I’m big” dunks—many times, he catches the ball on the move or catches a lob and converts above the rim.

Being able to be so effective at this skill is immensely valuable for big men in the NBA. To compare him to other bigs, Mark Williams dunked on his at-rim shots 48.4% of his time at Duke. Donovan Clingan dunked on only 22.3% of his interior finishes. Yves Missi was at 36.9%. Walker Kessler was at 44%. Zach Edey, 41.6%. Only Dereck Lively II, who finished over 64% of his inside shots with a dunk, ranked higher within that player group.

The weaknesses are there, and they begin on the defensive end. For all his size and length, he isn’t an elite shot blocker, at least not yet. That will surprise some, but it’s the reality. Length alone doesn’t make you a rim protector. Add in the physicality of the NBA game, and there will be an adjustment period as he learns to hold his ground against stronger bodies.

Perimeter defense will also be a challenge. Quick guards are going to test him in space, the same way they test every big, and he’ll need time to sharpen his instincts. He’ll need to learn when to close out, when to stay low, and when to slide laterally instead of reaching. These are habits built through repetition, and at nineteen years old, he’s only starting to lay that foundation.

The upside is still real. With his frame and mobility, there’s a pathway for him to become a versatile defender. But it won’t be instant. It will take patience, growth, and a steady climb into his body and into the speed of the game.

One Key Factor​

Development. That should be the central focus for Khaman Maluach this season. The excitement is real, everyone wants to see him on the floor, showing flashes of what he can become. But the growth of a big man takes time, patience, and intentional strategy. The hope is that the Suns embrace that philosophy, allowing him to progress at a pace that builds confidence and reinforces his foundation rather than overwhelms it.

Because make no mistake, being a nineteen-year-old center in the NBA can be brutal. Nights will come when it feels discouraging, when the size and strength of veteran bigs lean heavy on his frame. That’s why the presence of Mark Williams and Nick Richards is a blessing. Their roles ahead of him on the depth chart give Maluach the space to breathe. He’ll get chances to play, to learn in live action, but he won’t be burdened with the weight of nightly expectations.

Instead, this year can be about milestones. Moments that show he belongs. Steps that fortify his confidence in what he already does well while sharpening the instincts that will carry him forward. If the Suns handle it right, this rookie season becomes the beginning of something that grows steadily rather than being rushed into something it’s not ready to be.

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Prediction Time​

I’ll predict we see more of him than originally planned, simply because Mark Williams will miss time. That’s the cost of doing business with him on your roster. Circumstance will force Maluach into the spotlight sooner than expected, but I still believe the Suns will manage his minutes with development in mind.

That word, development, keeps circling back for a reason. It was one of the key phrases Brian Gregory leaned on in his introductory press conference, and it aligns with his reputation for scouting and growth. Everything about his track record suggests a deliberate approach, one built on patience and measured opportunity. Which means Maluach will play, and he should play, but within a framework designed to nurture rather than rush.

Stat Prediction: 38 games played, 7.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.8 BLK

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Final Thoughts​

Young big men taken in the lottery are always a gamble. Maluach has the upside, that much is undeniable, and with that upside comes one of the few glimmers of hope the fan base can cling to for next season. You can already hear it echoing through the walls of social media though, can’t you? Once the losses start to stack, the calls will get louder, fists pounding on the table, demanding more minutes for Maluach. And I don’t know if that’s the smartest approach.

This is a transition year, and the team has to treat it as such. I feel the same impatience as everyone else, the itch to see him out there every night, testing himself, growing in real time. Could he become a cornerstone of this franchise? Time will tell. But the smarter path is the patient one, the one that builds him steadily and puts him in position to succeed long term.

And that’s why I’m excited. Not only to see him on the floor, but to see how the Suns choose to bring him along. That process, as much as the flashes of brilliance, will tell us what kind of future they’re building.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-rookie-center-development-potential-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Jordan Goodwin brings an edge to Phoenix

Reunited in the Valley​

Guard, 6’3”, 200 pounds, 26 years old, 4 years of NBA experience

Jordan Goodwin is back.

The Phoenix Suns claimed the 26-year-old guard off waivers on July 23 after the Lakers cut him to make room for roster shuffling. It is a low-cost move with real upside, and it puts a familiar defender back into a backcourt that needs on-ball pressure and second-unit stability.

Goodwin’s profile is the same one many Suns fans will remember. He is a physical point-of-attack guard who rebounds like a wing, bothers ball-handlers, and lives for the grimy possessions. In his first Phoenix stint during 2023–24, he averaged 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 14.0 minutes. In a larger role later that season with Memphis, he put up 10.0, 8.0, and 4.5 in 29.2 minutes.

He only played in 40 games with Phoenix before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the Royce O’Neale deal and was waived by Brooklyn the next day. Goodwin later signed with Memphis, where he finished out that 23-24 season.

The Phoenix Suns have claimed former Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin off free agency waivers, sources tell ESPN. Goodwin, waived by the Lakers to create roster space for Marcus Smart, is a gritty, upside pickup for the Suns backcourt. pic.twitter.com/SIMQXztpNi

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 23, 2025

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2024-25 Recap​

Last season with the Lakers, he produced across the margins again. In 29 games, he averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 18.7 minutes, while knocking down nearly one three per game. That is a compact, useful second-unit line that fits what Phoenix needs from him right away.

Pitbull, he is. The Lakers may regret letting go of Goodwin, especially since his fit next to Luka (and LeBron) was pretty seamless.

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Contract Details​

In 2025-26, Goodwin will earn a base salary of $2,349,578, while carrying a cap hit of $2,349,578 and a dead cap value of $25,006.

(courtesy of Spotrac)

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

Phoenix wants more two-way competence around Devin Booker and Jalen Green. But if we have to settle for one of the ways, it’s defense that’s key alongside those two.

Goodwin’s strengths map directly to that request on one side of the ball. He tracks the ball off the glass, creates extra possessions, and defends without needing touches to stay engaged. His best NBA stretches have come when a coach gave him a defined job instead of freelance creation, and this roster has enough scorers that he can live in that lane.

Think of Goodwin as the tempo guard who toggles between guarding ones and twos (maybe the occasional three), pushes in transition when the ball finds him, and resets the offense without forcing action. On a roster that added Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and brought in more youth, there is a clean lane for a defensive guard who keeps lineups organized and applies pressure at the point of attack. His pathway is not complicated. It is about reliability and fit more than flair.

Goodwin’s ability to play well next to lead guards offensively makes him an ideal fit in lineups with Jalen Green, Devin Booker, or Collin Gillespie in the second unit. The low-maintenance versatility he brings is a bonus from the guard position.

Gritty defender. Tough shot maker. Smart passer.

Jordan Goodwin is back in the PHX! pic.twitter.com/n4XBvwVr0R

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 24, 2025

The progress we need to see includes improved shooting, specifically on catch-and-shoots, strong finishing numbers around the rim when he slashes, and taking on more playmaking duties for a team that needs facilitators desperately.

Offense will cap his minutes if the decision-making slips. During his 2023–24 cameo in Phoenix, his efficiency lagged from deep. When he was thrust into heavier usage in Memphis, the volume rose, but the shooting remained choppy.

If the jumper is inconsistent, spacing gets tight for second-unit lineups already learning one another. That is the trade-off with defensive guards who are not natural table-setters. You live with the occasional empty trip because of what you get on the other end, but the leash shortens if the shot is not there.

Ultimately, his role is easy to envision, but there is a reason he was on waivers. He will have to dispel those deficiencies to become a reliable rotation piece.

One Key Factor​

The offensive production will be something to monitor. Is he capable of knocking down open shots and not being a complete offensive liability? If so, his defense could have him on the court for pivotal moments.

Is there a chance his playmaking could improve with a bit more freedom at times? There has to be a bit more juice offensively from him to step into a larger role. But even if he comes in and is exactly who he always has been, he’ll have a role.

Excited to see Jordan Goodwin bring the defensive edge and grit back to Phoenix.

Fits well alongside either Green or Booker and in lineups where he shares the floor with Dunn and Brooks, the Suns are going to have some absolute dogs out there. pic.twitter.com/JYl59JqVWk

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) September 5, 2025

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Prediction Time​

Goodwin comes in and is exactly what you expect him to be. A hard-nosed guard that provides gritty play and hustles every second he’s on the court.

Stat Prediction: 65 games played, 6.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 42/33/78 shooting splits.

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Final Thoughts​

If Goodwin brings his trademark edge and trims the offensive issues even slightly, he fits. The rebounding for his position is real. The defensive activity is real. Phoenix does not need him to reinvent anything. They need him to be the same relentless guard he was the last time he wore purple and orange, just a little more selective with the ball. Do that, and he will stick.

The waiver claim was quiet. The impact does not have to be.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...view-jordan-goodwin-brings-an-edge-to-phoenix

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Who could emerge as the third scoring option next season for the Suns?

While Devin Booker and Jalen Green are expected to be the Phoenix Suns’ two leading scorers next season, the Valley’s third scoring option after the two guards is unclear right now. Here are three players it could be:

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The Favorite: Mark Williams​

Coming off a career year for the Charlotte Hornets, Williams averaged 15.3 points per game last year on 60.4% from the field and 80.4% from the charity stripe in the 2024-2025 campaign. Playing alongside Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, and Brandon Miller, Williams was not featured as much in Charlotte as he is expected to be in the Phoenix offense this season.

In the starting lineup, Williams is projected to be playing next to Booker and Green, both primary and ball-dominant scorers, but also Ryan Dunn and Dillon Brooks, two forwards who are not first-scoring players. This could leave Williams more room to operate inside and play as a roll man for both Green and Booker, which could lead him to open baskets and easy post-up opportunities. Additionally, Williams is just 23 heading into his fourth season and has increased his points per game every year of his career so far. A scoring increase would match how his development has played out to start. Williams should be the favorite to be the team’s third leading scorer next year.

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The Sixth Man: Grayson Allen​

Averaging double-digits for now five consecutive seasons, Allen looks to be the Valley’s top scoring option off the bench this season. An elite shooter, Allen can light it up from downtown and get hot quickly. His usage was down after being heavily relied on two seasons ago, but with Tyus Jones and Bradley Beal not on the team anymore, even as a sixth man, Allen looks to be the most prolific and versatile scorer for Phoenix in their second unit.

With his elite shooting and ability to not down free throws so vital down the stretch of games, Allen could see himself playing minutes with the starters late in games, giving him more chances to boost his point totals and get open looks created by Green and Booker’s offense.

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The Sleeper: Ryan Dunn​

Projected to be the team’s starting power forward this upcoming season, Ryan Dunn will have ample opportunities to score, even if he isn’t a score-first player. Just like Williams, playing alongside Green and Booker in the starting lineup should give him the opportunity for open looks. He shot just 31.1% from three last season, but he shot it very confidently, and in the month of March, where he took the most attempts, he shot his second-best percentage of any month of the season, knocking down 35.1% of his triples.

Shooting just 48.7% from the freethrow line last year on 0.5 attempts per game, he’ll likely need to get to and make more of his foul shots if he wants to be the squad’s third leading scorer, but his athleticism, expanded role, and natural development could lead him to be one of the team’s top scorers this upcoming season.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...er-2025-mark-williams-grayson-allen-ryan-dunn

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Oso Ighodaro is ready to prove his doubters wrong

Oso Ighodaro​

Power Forward and Center, 6’10”, 235 pounds, 23 years old, 1 year of NBA experience

This upcoming season is one that fans are hoping for some fun compared to last season. They are banking on this youth movement to take stride finally, and one of those leaders in that department is Oso Ighodaro.

Ighodaro spent his rookie season in the Valley and showed he could be a solid piece for the Suns in this new direction. Even if he was given sporadic playing time, like the other rookie in Ryan Dunn, Oso displayed that he could be utilized in this system. This year, he hopes to turn the heads of fans, like he did at the summer league, to make a name for himself in this league.

2024-25 Recap​

For being a rookie in Mike Budenholzer’s “random” system, Ighodaro brought the energy in the front court that was needed. With Jusuf Nurkic having disagreements with the coach, and Mason Plumlee looking lost out there. Ighodaro was able to buy some minutes and finally impressed fans. Similar to Dunn, he saw sporadic minutes throughout the year and saw the bulk of minutes in the last two months of the season. In the limited time, he was able to showcase himself as a solid complementary piece to these stars. He could crash the boards and help the Suns, who were in desperate need of rebounding, once Nurkic was benched. Even with Nick Ricahards being added at the deadline, it was still evident Ighodaro needed to be used to help what seemed to be the worst front court in the league.

His best game of the season that I can remember was late in the year vs the Toronto Raptors. In this game, the Suns blew the socks off them (which was a shock), and Ighodaro was a beast in the contest. He had nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal with a plus/minus of +39. Even if it was against a weaker opponent, this proved to the fans that Ighodaro could help out in multiple ways to provide a win, something very few players could do since they were mainly specialists in a specific aspect of the game.

Contract Details​

After he was selected in the second round by the Phoenix Suns after trading up to get him, Oso Ighdaro signed a 4-year $8 million deal heading into his rookie season. This would allow him to sign a rookie-scale agreement and allow the Suns to see what they have in store with a future piece. So far, what we have seen is that he is definitely worth around $2 million per year, and if he continues to grow, he can secure a nice contract extension that is beneficial not only for him but also for the Phoenix Suns.

Strengths and Weaknesses​

When analyzing Ighodaro’s game, it is clear where his strengths and weaknesses truly reside on the court. Discussing the positives, his strengths include rebounding and passing in the post on offense, with his defensive versatility being key on the other side. For Ighodaro, his frame is a mixture of a power forward and center, so he can share the benefits of what they both can contribute while on the court. He did lack some size last year, but with him putting on this muscle, it seems he wants to hold down the paint like we expect. His ability to excel in all these categories helps him be helpful on the court, aiding the stars in whatever they need at the moment.

The one weakness, besides his frame (which he is trying to change), is his ability to stretch the floor and hit a three-point shot. This was also shown at Marquette in college and translated over to the NBA in his first year. Oso Ighodaro shot only two three-point shots this year and missed both of them. With stretch fours in Kevin Durant and Bol Bol being off the roster, you would hope Ighodaro could replicate that three-point scoring to a certain degree. Only time will tell if he can fill that role, but if he does become more comfortable from three-point land, he could work himself into that definitive role, instead of competing in the long jam for the center position.

One Key Factor​

Where does Oso Ighodaro fit within this lineup? Since the Suns have drafted Khaman Maluach at pick ten in this latest draft, you would expect him to get some development time this year. Adding to that, the Suns still traded for Mark Williams, who I hope will be their starter. This leaves Oso Ighodaro and Nick Richards still in this front-court rotation and brings up the question of where they fit. With Ighodaro having trouble stretching the floor to hit the three-point shot, it is hard to put him in a power forward position. With his frame as well, people have had questions about what his actual position is and if he can fit into that role.

Prediction Time​

The last time we saw Oso Ighodaro out there on the court was the Summer League, and he impressed every Suns fan. The forward looked to be a different beast versus some weaker competition, where he could shine as one of the stars on the court. The Suns had Ighodaro playing power forward and center for this team, but were also letting him run some point forward for this team. Now this is something I don’t expect to translate into the season as much as we saw it, but it could be another facet of Ighodaro’s game that could see him get playing time. He looked more aggressive on the boards and looked more comfortable on the court with his poise on both sides of the floor. The big man can be disruptive in the paint with his long reach, and clearly was a difference for the Suns in that aspect.

Stat Prediction: 73 Games Played, 6.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, on 67/18/70 shooting splits

Final Thoughts​

I am excited to see Oso Ighodaro take the court for the Suns this upcoming season. He was a solid selection for this team last year and deserved more burn throughout the season in Phoenix. Seeing how he handled the Summer League has only made me more intrigued about what he can be for the Suns. I don’t think he will be a game-changer this year, but I do like what he can bring to this team in the development stages they are currently in.

If he can reach his true potential, he could be a perfectly sound offensive big man for this bench unit, and one that I would cherish every memory of getting to see him on the court.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ighodaro-is-ready-to-prove-his-doubters-wrong