RSS Suns Team Notes

[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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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.

---

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)

---

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

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Rasheer Fleming has a chance to be impactful early

Rasheer Fleming​

Power Forward, 6’9”, 240 pounds, 21 years old, rookie out of St Joseph’s University

Going into the second day of the 2025 NBA draft, it did not look like the Phoenix Suns were going to be in a position to select Rasheer Fleming. It was somewhat of a surprise the forward dropped to the second round, and the Suns were slated to draft in the backend of the second.

However, as the day went on, the Shams notifications kept coming in, the Suns found themselves with the first pick in the second round and selected Fleming, something that he said he appreciated on draft night.

“It’s a great feeling for me, because it’s kind of that same feeling I had with St Joe’s coming in, coming into college. It’s a team that really sought out for me and think I could contribute just to the team and organization overall, just as a person, as a player, kind of everything. So I really appreciate them taking that chance on me, and I can just go out there and do,” Fleming told Bright Side on draft night when asked what it meant to him that the Phoenix traded a lot of their minimal draft assets to draft him.

With Kevin Durant now on the Houston Rockets and the Suns taking a more developmental approach than previous seasons, the 21-year-old has the chance to play meaningful minutes for the Valley this season.

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College Career Recap​

Fleming played three seasons for Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. In his freshman year, he was a part-time starter and an inconsistent three-point shooter, averaging just 5.8 points per game. By his junior year, his final season of college, he was a full-time starter shooting 39% from three, averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest.

With a 7’5” wingspan, he was very productive in transition, and his lateral quickness gives him the ability to guard multiple positions. Averaging nearly 3 stocks (steals and blocks) per game, his agility and hands helped St. Joe’s achieve their best record in nine seasons.

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Contract Details​

After being drafted 31st overall, Fleming signed a four-year, $8.7 million deal with nearly $6 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. For the 2025-2026 season, his base salary will be about $1.3 million. The Suns have a club option for Fleming for his fourth season that doesn’t become fully guaranteed until 2028. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2029.

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

His 7’5” wingspan makes him able to guard multiple positions and protect the rim at an above-average level for a forward. With his length, he’s also able to be disruptive in the passing lanes.

While he averaged a block and a half his junior year at St. Joe’s, his 27-inch standing vertical ranked just 52nd out of 72 participants at the NBA Combine. Fleming is also a strong rebounder. He averaged 8 boards a game his last two seasons of college.

What makes Fleming an enticing rookie, and how he could crack the rotation, is his shooting. He shot just 31.3% his first two seasons of college, but last season he shot 39%, averaging nearly 2 more threes per game more than he averaged his first two seasons. If he’s able to continue his shooting development over to the NBA and be a steady shooter, he has an opportunity to not just be an impactful player in the second unit, but also alongside the starters.

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One Key Factor​

If Royce O’Neale is traded, something that has to be considered a real possibility considering the years left on his deal, his age and the direction the Suns appeared to be heading in, Fleming could naturally see more playing time, especially at the power forward spot.

Not only do they play a similar position, they both project to play similar roles on the court for the Suns this year. Both play both forward spots and are known for their ability to defend and space the floor. O’Neale is obviously the better player at this point, but Fleming is younger and more athletic.

Likely playing with the second unit for the majority of his minutes, playing alongside a floor spacer like Grayson Allen could help him have more room to operate, but the team lacking a true, reliable point guard, could cause him to struggle to get open looks, especially as he gets acclimated with speed of the NBA game.

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Prediction Time​

Just like his college career, I see Fleming improving as time goes on. His size and ability to space the floor, tied into the youth movement the Suns appear to be taking apart in, I see him carving a solid role for himself on the team, especially if Royce O’Neale is traded. There will definitely be some bumps, but his skill set should carry him to some solid stretches.

Stat Prediction: 70 games played, 8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG on 42/33/74 shooting splits

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Final Thoughts​

The Suns invested a ton of their limited draft capital to get Fleming: expect them to invest a lot of time in developing him as a result. With Ryan Dunn the only other young forward on the team, he has a real chance to solidify himself as a member of the team’s core for not only the future, but also for this season.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-scouting-report-contract-rotation-prediction

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Phoenix Mercury lose Game 1, 76-69

The Phoenix Mercury opened their first-round, best-of-three playoff series against the New York Liberty, and for a moment, it felt like they were about to seize Game 1. A blistering 30-point second quarter had Phoenix in control, and when the fourth quarter began, they held a 57–55 lead.

Then the game tightened. And so did the Mercury.

Both teams struggled down the stretch, trading stops and missed opportunities. The Liberty scratched together 10 points in the fourth. Phoenix managed only 8, going 3-of-16 from the field, leaving the door cracked open for someone to take it.

That someone could have been Alyssa Thomas. With the ball in her hands on the final possession of regulation, she drove the paint, spun free, and found herself staring at the rim for what should’ve been a game-winning layup. It rolled off. The moment — and the game — slipped away.

Alyssa Thomas misses a layup with two seconds left and the Liberty will have one final chance with 0.9 seconds left. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/nqwbgz0WKv

— Desert Wave Media (@DesertWaveCo) September 14, 2025

Overtime belonged to New York. The Liberty outscored Phoenix 11–4 in the extra frame, sealing a 76–69 win and sending the Mercury back to the locker room with a long list of what-ifs. Thomas finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, but not the result she wanted.

“It’s just an unfortunate roll. I’ve made that shot thousands of times, but for me, it’s no big deal,” Thomas said after the game. “There’s still a lot of basketball to play.”

It was an ice-cold night for Phoenix, shooting 32.5% overall and 23.1% from three. Kahleah Copper went 5-of-13, while Satou Sabally endured a brutal 2-of-17 performance and finished with a team-worst -18.

New York was led by former Mercury guard Natasha Cloud, who poured in 23 points against her old team. Breanna Stewart added 18, and Sabrina Ionescu chipped in 16 to give the Liberty the edge.

Now the series shifts to the Big Apple, where Game 2 at Madison Square Garden looms large. Win and the Mercury bring the fight back to Phoenix. Lose and the season ends on Broadway.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...wnba-playoffs-2025-game-1-loss-overtime-recap

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Isaiah Livers, closer to an NBA court than ever before

Isaiah Livers​

Forward, 6’7”, 230 pounds, 27 years old, 3 years of NBA experience

Isaiah Livers is closer to an NBA court than ever before. Not because he’s simply signed another deal, but because for the first time in years, his body has allowed him to chase the game without compromise.

The Suns’ two-way wing isn’t a headline-grabber; his résumé won’t echo like All-Star intros. But in the margins of resilience, rehab, and hard-won health, he’s built something fans can feel: the possibility of a player who’s ready not just to return, but to contribute.

And he’s ready to go. Now.

Phoenix Suns two-way signee Isaiah Livers said he'll be ready for training camp after having right hip surgery October 2024 and missing the entire 2024-25 season.

"I'm ready to go now. If they want to play 5-on-5 now in two hours, I'll be there. I feel really good." #Suns pic.twitter.com/A2nZ60brAl

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 13, 2025

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2024–25 Recap​

There is no “recap” in the usual sense. Last season is a file folder labeled ‘absence’. In October 2024, Livers underwent right-hip resurfacing — major work, not a maintenance tune-up — and didn’t play a minute all year. His last NBA game was Jan. 12, 2024, after a stop in Washington, where he never suited up.

The telling moment came from him, not about him: “I am a big believer in dealing with the cards that are dealt in your hand, while taking control of this situation and making a change,” he wrote on Oct. 23, 2024.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by (@isaiah_livers)

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Contract Details​

Fast forward to a couple of months ago…On July 8, 2025, the Suns signed Livers to a two-way deal. For Phoenix, it’s pragmatic and hopeful at once: a wing with size and a repeatable stroke, no cap pyrotechnics required. For Livers, it’s a doorway. From the Valley Suns minutes to NBA minutes, practice court to rotation, anonymity to habit-forming trust.

First-year head coach Jordan Ott spelled out the thesis:

“Isaiah brings a shooting piece, size piece we’re looking for on this roster… he’s fully healthy.”

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Strengths and Weaknesses​

Strengths: The shot is real. Not loud, but real. Spot-ups, pick-and-pop, the weak-side “lift” three when the ball finds him late. He doesn’t need touches to be valuable; he needs gravity. He’s 6-‘7” with the frame to guard across lineups, the temperament to fit next to scorers, and enough connective passing to keep the possession alive.

Weaknesses: Availability has been the story he’s trying to stop telling. And he’s not a primary creator. He won’t bend defenses off the dribble. However, when a return to health and a return to competitive basketball has been the summit, Isaiah Livers has been climbing without fear.

Ultimately, the only abiding weakness may be something out of his control; will he be given enough runway to show how far he can fly?

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One Key Factor​

When you strip the game to its essentials, though, Livers’ recent injury history isn’t a deciding factor for Phoenix. The opportunity and the promise far outweigh any preconceived limitations—personal, court-specific, or otherwise.

Livers’ best version amplifies others: a wing who spaces, competes, and doesn’t blink. Rhythm. After a year away, the first victory isn’t a box score; it’s breath. Can he build NBA timing in 3-minute stints, then 8, then 14, without chasing it?

Two-ways can live on the margins, but rhythm is what moves you from “break-glass depth” to “coach can trust him on a Tuesday in Memphis.”

Livers’ shooting gives him a lane. His game-to-game rhythm will decide if he passes traffic in the slow lane.

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Prediction Time​

The two-way contract ensures that Phoenix will start him with the Valley Suns to harden the legs and re-train the reads. Let’s call it prepping for match-fitness.

The call-ups follow if the shot is there and the positioning holds. In NBA minutes, think clean, low-usage production: corner threes, second-side drives, a rebound that ends a possession at the right time. Something like 12–15 minutes a night once he’s in, low turnovers, a threes-made ledger that keeps growing. Not splashy. Sustainable.

POTENTIAL 2025/26 SEASON STAT LINE CEILING:

33 NBA games played (and remaining healthy all season!), 16.8 Minutes Per Game (perhaps getting “decent minute” call-ups during injury windows or trade scenarios involving other wing players), 5.4 PPG (on good efficiency), 3.1 RPG, 1.1 APG

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Final Thoughts​

Every roster needs a few stories that don’t hog the spotlight but hold the season together. I, for one, will be rooting for an Isaiah Livers appearance all season long.

Livers has the tools — size, touch, temperament — and he now has the health to test them honestly. Suns fans will recognize the type: the pro who does the next correct thing over and over until trust sneaks up on everybody.

If you’re looking for a single stat to track, try this one: appearances. Not points. Not percentages. The steady drumbeat of availability. If that number climbs, the rest of his game will say the quiet part out loud. And somewhere between the practice court and a fourth-quarter corner three, you’ll remember why Phoenix brought him here: not to save anything, to belong to it.

That’s what this season represents for Livers: proximity becoming reality. The court he’s inched toward for two years is finally within reach. If he can stay healthy, hit shots, and give Phoenix rotation minutes that ripple beyond the box score, he’ll prove that “closer” isn’t the right word anymore. He’ll simply be there, on an NBA floor, in a Suns uniform, where resilience itself counts as the defining stat.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...season-preview-injury-update-two-way-contract

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Royce O’Neale could be the odd man out in the Suns rotation this season

Royce O’Neale​

Small Forward, 6′6″, 226 lbs, 2 years old, 8 years of NBA experience

So far, the Phoenix Suns are keeping Royce O’Neale on their roster heading into the 2025–26 season. There may have been a few trade feelers floated in hopes of landing draft picks in exchange for him, but for now, he remains a Sun. The question is whether he truly aligns with the direction and the fight that this team is expected to display next season.

For me, it feels like Royce is the odd man out in a rotation that’s shaping up to be sharper and more aggressive. While he brings value as a floor spacer and a versatile defender, his more relaxed style doesn’t quite match the intensity this Suns team will need to contend in the Western Conference. Whether he adapts and finds his place, or eventually becomes trade bait, will be one of the quieter but telling storylines to follow.

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2024-25 Recap​

From catch-and-shoot threes to grabbing rebounds that sparked fast breaks, Royce gave the Suns a legitimate threat as a versatile wing. He played bigger than his size in key moments, keeping the Suns alive with timely production off the bench.

He was a solid piece to add alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but the Suns never managed to get out of the mud, sinking quickly toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings as the season wore on. Shooting over 40% from three, Royce was deadly at times from beyond the arc, but as the season spiraled, his role became more one-dimensional, often reduced to simply standing on the perimeter and launching threes.

179 of them going in.

Royce had his moments but struggled to maintain consistency throughout the year, though he did deliver a few huge games for the Suns when they needed it most.

Playing anywhere from the two through the four, he was shifted between starting and coming off the bench so sporadically that it’s no wonder he could never really find a rhythm. That constant role change made it difficult for him to build momentum, leaving his impact more scattered than steady.

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Contract Details​

On July 6, 2024, Royce O’Neale secured a 4-year, $44 million fully guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns, a contract that includes no player or team options. The agreement came shortly after Phoenix traded three second-round picks to acquire him from the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the year. O’Neale’s prior contract was a 4-year, $36 million pact signed in 2020.

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

A knockdown shooter from the perimeter and a power forward in a small forward’s body, Royce is a valuable asset as a plug-and-play option off the bench. He can knock down threes off the catch-and-shoot while also holding his own defensively against opponents several inches taller.

Increasing his three-point percentage to over 40% last season, Royce delivered exactly what was asked of him in catch-and-shoot situations. He also stepped up when needed to secure key rebounds. A high-IQ player, he brings energy and toughness, though his impact is somewhat limited when it comes to ball-handling and playmaking.

What makes Royce even more valuable is his adaptability in different lineups. Coaches can trust him to fit seamlessly alongside star players without disrupting offensive flow. His ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions gives him staying power in tight playoff rotations, where versatility and efficiency often separate role players from true difference-makers.

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One Key Factor​

The big question is whether O’Neale truly fits into the Suns’ current plans. Are the Suns content with being a scrappy, middle-of-the-pack team, or are they still operating under a championship-or-bust mentality? Royce is the type of player who thrives in a winning environment — a perfect fit for a team with established stars that needs reliable role players to glue things together. That was exactly the logic two seasons ago when the Suns went out and acquired him.

If the organization is serious about chasing a title, O’Neale’s shooting, defense, and toughness make him an ideal complementary piece. But if the Suns are simply looking to compete and hang around the play-in picture, his skill set may be more valuable to a contender than to a team in transition.

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Prediction Time​

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I don’t see Royce finishing the season with the Suns. It really comes down to how competitive this team can be in securing a top-four seed out West, a goal that feels close to impossible right now. O’Neale will be a better fit on another roster, and the Suns are likely to look for draft capital in return.

According to trade machine scenarios, the Suns could potentially land a first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks. That would be an intriguing move, as Dallas could use O’Neale’s shooting and defensive versatility to fortify their playoff push. For the Suns, recouping a first-rounder would provide a much-needed asset to balance the books and plan for the future. A midseason move like this seems realistic — and possibly inevitable — if Phoenix fails to establish itself among the West’s elite early on.

Stat Prediction: 32 games played with Suns before trade, 7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 42.3% from three

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Final Thoughts​

If Royce sees a future in Phoenix during the opening weeks of the season and the team’s chemistry feels right, he has the tools to be a high-level contributor off the bench.

That said, being realistic, the situation may not align with his long-term goals. If the Suns struggle to establish themselves and the vibes shift, it’s reasonable to think O’Neale will eventually ask out when the time is right. In that case, Phoenix would likely pivot toward moving him for draft compensation or depth at another position, rather than risk losing him for nothing.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-analysis/89101/player-preview-royce-oneales-place-in-phoenix

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns: Leadership, the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, our questions

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

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

Fantable Questions of the Week​

Q1 – In a recent interview, former Sun Vasilije Micic stated, “He (Booker) respects KD so much that his leadership took a backseat.” What are your thoughts about this statement?​

Ashton: It just sounds like an excuse statement. I am not sure what Micic is hinting at, as he only saw the floor for five minutes as a Phoenix Sun. Was he in the locker room? Sure.

I was treated to Book and KD attending Diamondback games on TV and never really questioned their relationship. Let’s not forget the 2024 Olympics.

I question this statement. Because they both seemed fine to me in the public eye. And if there was something going on outside of the public eye, then the local and national pundits failed to report it. It is their job.

Eventually, someone may write a book on what happened in 24-25, or even 23-24, but this is the hottest take I have responded to.

I do not trust the source.

Rod: It doesn’t surprise me as it seemed pretty obvious that he did the same thing when the Suns acquired Chris Paul. That, however, worked out well as CP3 is a natural leader who thrived in that role and made the whole team better. KD…well, we all saw the results of Book deferring leadership to him.

I’m not sure that Book really knows how to be a team leader, not everyone does, but this year he won’t have someone more accomplished on the roster that he can defer leadership to. I read not long ago that Dillon Brooks was a strong leader in Houston, and I wouldn’t mind him taking on that role with the Suns, too. It would probably be best if Book could successfully take on that leadership role, but pushing him into a team role he’s not suited for might be as big (or even bigger) a mistake as playing him out of position at PG or SF.

Voita: I’ve been waiting to dive into this topic for a while. I’ve seen the comments from Vasilije Micic, I’ve kept quiet, but thanks to Rod for raising the question, it’s time to weigh in. Let me start with the disclaimer: this is speculation. Micic came to the Suns late in the season, and what he experienced was second-hand, not the full two-plus years of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant sharing the floor. Still, if there’s truth to his statement, it perfectly captures the problem with Durant’s time in Phoenix.

I’ve always advocated for Durant because of his sheer basketball ability. That’s what we’ll miss this year. When possessions broke down, when the game got tight, you could count on him to create something, to score when nobody else could. That’s rare. That’s hard to replace.

But here’s the challenge: Durant’s presence carried such weight, such reverence, that it muted the players around him. Teammates didn’t play with the same freedom you’d expect, because they grew up idolizing him. To them, he wasn’t just a teammate, he was something more, almost untouchable. That’s not his fault, but the result was the same. He didn’t raise all ships.

Think back to the 2023–24 roster. Keita Bates-Diop, Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, Jordan Goodwin. On paper, all were the kind of role players who could fill gaps and contribute. But when they shared the court with Durant, they looked hesitant, like they were afraid to make mistakes. The infamous Durant death stare? It’s real. They played tight, outside of who they were, because they didn’t want to let him down.

And if there’s any truth to the idea that Devin Booker checked his leadership because of that same reverence for Durant, then it’s another sign that moving on might be addition by subtraction. Not because Durant isn’t great — he is — but because it may unlock Booker, both as a player and as the leader this franchise has been waiting for him to become.

Q2 – It’s way too early to speculate on who will win the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, but who would you most want to see put out the kind of effort it takes to win it this season?​

Ashton: I really want it to be Koby Brea, but he will not get the minutes. I sure liked his hustle in Summer League though.

Realistically, I think it could be Dillon Brooks. I have questioned his character time and time again on this board, but if he is locked on the game of basketball, with defense and offense, I see no reason why he should not enjoy the reward and a free libation at Majerle’s Sports Grill in downtown Phoenix.

Rod: It’s likely just wishful thinking, but I can’t help but wonder what sort of player Book could be if he displayed that kind of non-stop energy on both sides of the court. I’ve seen that of him in spurts, but getting that kind of energy and hustle from him for a full game would go a long way in pushing this team back into contention…and perhaps be the best way for him to become a leader on the court.

Voita: I think Dillon Brooks is a perfect candidate to win the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, because that’s exactly what he was brought here to do. To be a pest, to disrupt, to deter. And the only way to truly embody those traits is to hustle, every possession, every minute he’s on the floor. Brooks is that kind of player, relentless in effort, willing to do the dirty work, and in doing so he has a chance to endear himself to Suns fans the way Thunder Dan once did.

Q3 – If you could ask one question each of Mat Ishbia, Jordan Ott, and any single Suns player (3 questions total) and be guaranteed an honest answer, what would those questions be?​

Ashton: This is why you do not give me press credentials for Sun’s Media Day on September 23rd. The answer is no questions. Unless they all start with “WTF?”.

What a fun question, and one that should fill the comment box.

But it comes down to taking a 50,000-foot view (corporate speak) and seeing the “forest through the trees” (corporate speak) to realize that Matt Ishbia actually tried to deliver a championship team to the Valley. This after the Sarver-era that saw misogyny and front office bullying that led him to be forced to sell his controlling interest in the team from the NBA.

MI is good in my book, and most of the “inside men” in the front office need to get their feet wet before they are truly fielding questions.

Players? See the above. I am not about to ask Book if he can carry the team as an SG and PG. Okay, maybe that one.

Also, I am the kind of person who likes to read the room. Let the press handle the questions, and if I am the fly on the wall, so be it. But I would like to see where the uncomfortable questions come from and the resulting body language from the person answering them.

Rod: What I’d ask Mat Ishbia for is his true estimate on how long he thinks it will take for the Suns to rebuild/retool and become a real contender again. I’ve heard all the things he’s already said, and I’d like to know if he really is as positive as he puts on. I’m not as negative as some fans are regarding the Suns’ future, but I’m far from being optimistic about a relatively quick turnaround. My greatest fear about him is that he’s not just saying positive things to soothe the fans, but that he actually believes it isn’t going to be a difficult process.

As for Jordan Ott, I’d ask for his honest opinion on how well playing Booker and Green as the Suns’ starting backcourt will work. I’d love for the Suns to have a real starting-level point guard on this team, but that’s not happening, so I’d like to hear Ott’s opinion on how well he really expects this backcourt lineup to work out this season.

And lastly, I suspect that Ryan Dunn’s free throw shooting woes are in his head and I’d really like to ask him about it. It may seem like a small thing to ask about but I don’t see any other reason for him to be such a poor FT shooter.

Voita: People love to say it’s easy to walk into a press conference and fire off the hard hitters, but it’s not. I know my strengths, and I know I haven’t fully found my voice in that space yet. God bless Dave King, he had the courage to do it. I’m still working up to that point. It’s not as simple as it looks. You’re in a room full of professionals, and whether you like it or not, there’s always a layer of politicking baked into the process. That’s something I haven’t mastered.

For Ishbia, there’s really only one question I’d want answered honestly: has the Bradley Beal debacle strained his relationship with Josh Bartelstein, knowing Bartelstein’s father is Beal’s agent? Because from start to finish, that move set this franchise back half a decade, and the nepotism at the heart of it makes the whole thing feel even heavier. If that’s created friction in the front office, it matters for the direction of this team moving forward.

For Jordan Ott, I’d want to know how he plans to strategically approach the season. Specifically, how he balances development with culture, with schemes, with wins. I believe the rookies should be brought along with patience and purpose, not rushed into roles they’re not ready for. Is that part of his map for the season? Or is he going to feel things out week by week, adjusting reactively as the team performs? His perspective on that would tell a lot.

And for Devin Booker, the question is simple but massive: what does leadership look like to him this season? Because for the first time, the full weight of it is his. The team is his. He’s always carried himself with a calm, almost casual coolness. Don’t mistake that for indifference, because he’s as locked in and serious as they come. But he’s never had the full burden of leadership squarely on his shoulders. That’s new. Hearing him articulate what leadership means, and how he intends to embody it, would be fascinating. You can learn a lot about a player when they’re asked to define that role.

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

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Suns Trivia/History​

On September 16, 1974, the Suns acquired Curtis Perry, Dennis Awtrey, Nate Hawthorne, and a 1976 first-round pick (Adrian Dantley) from the New Orleans Jazz for Neal Walk and a 1975 second-round pick (Clyde Mayes).

Walk, the Suns’ first ever draft pick (#2 in 1969), averaged 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, only missed 2 regular season games during his 5 seasons in Phoenix, and in 1973 averaged 12.42 rebounds per game, which is the 2nd highest single season RPG average in Suns history behind only Paul Silas’ 12.53 rpg in 1971. His career high for the Suns was 42 points vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 11, 1972. The Suns won 115-114 and Walk outscored future Hall of Fame member, and the man picked #1 above him in the 1969 NBA Draft, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 42-27.

In 1988, while Walk was living in Phoenix, it was discovered that he had a benign tumor enveloping his spine. Following surgery, he was left in a wheelchair, from which he played wheelchair basketball for the LA-Phoenix Samaritans in the Southern California league of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. In 1990, he was honored at the White House by President George H. W. Bush as the “Wheelchair Athlete of the Year.”

He later worked for the Phoenix Suns in the Community Affairs department and sadly passed away on October 4, 2015, due to an unspecified blood disease..

The draft pick that would eventually be used to select future 1976-77 Rookie of the Year, 6-time All-Star and 2-time NBA scoring champion Adrian Dantley was later traded by the Suns to the Buffalo Braves on draft day for their 1975 first round draft pick (16th), which the Suns used to select Ricky Sobers.

On September 20, 2000, the Suns were involved in the 3rd largest trade in NBA history, a twelve-player, 4-team deal between the New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

In the trade, New York got Glen Rice, Travis Knight and a first-round pick from LA; Vladimir Stepania, Lazaro Borrell, Vernon Maxwell, a first-round pick and two second-round picks from Seattle; Luc Longley from Phoenix. Seattle got Patrick Ewing from New York. LA got Horace Grant, Chuck Person, Greg Foster and Emanual Davis from Seattle. Phoenix got Chris Dudley and a first round pick from New York.

There were a lot of moving parts in that trade but essentially the Suns got Chris Dudley and a 1st round draft pick for… Luc Longley. Longley’s career stats for his 2 years as a Sun were 7.1 pts, 4.9 rebs, 1.1 asts and 0.6 blocks per game.

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Last Week’s Poll Results​

Last week’s question was, “Which position do you think the Suns will be weakest at this season?“

60.31% – Point guard.

01.53% – Shooting Guard.

00.76% – Small Forward.

36.64% – Power Forward.

00.76% – Center.

A total of 131 votes were cast.

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Important Future Dates​

Sept. 23 – Media day
Sept. 24 – Training Camp opens
Oct. 3 – Preseason game vs LA Lakers @ Palm Desert, CA
Oct. 10 – Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)
Oct. 12 – Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)
Oct. 14 – Preseason game vs LA Lakers @ Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 20 – Rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
Oct. 21 – Regular Season Begins
Oct. 25 – 2025 NBA G League Draft (1 p.m. ET)
Oct. 27 – Nov. 6 – NBA G League Training Camps open
Nov. 6 – Rosters set for NBA G League Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
Nov. 7 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins
Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed
Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Feb. 5 – Trade deadline (3:00 pm ET)
Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA

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This week’s poll is…

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...eadership-kevin-durant-dillon-brooks-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Where the Suns stand in ESPN’s 3-year outlook

Positivity will be a rare commodity as the Phoenix Suns shuffle into the 2025-26 season, and it begins with the lists. We are less than a month away from tip-off, which means we are entering the annual ritual of rankings. The best players. The best teams. The best situations. A tidal wave of lists is about to crash across the NBA landscape, and for Phoenix, those waves will not carry much sunshine.

However it is sliced, the Suns will find themselves climbing toward the top of lists that no fan wants to see.

It is a sharp change from the last two years. Back then, Mat Ishbia and James Jones built a roster with a swollen payroll that placed Phoenix front and center. The expectations were monumental, the lists were filled with the Suns, and the outcome is now a bitter memory.

Today, the franchise finds itself in a different phase. Rebuilding and retooling are no longer optional; they are the reality. A youth movement has begun, born from necessity rather than choice, since the team holds little control over its future draft capital. Development becomes the focus, with the hope that three or four years from now the young core blossoms, and Devin Booker remains a force. Add Jalen Green into that picture, a player who, in that same timeframe, will be entering his prime, and the vision of a brighter tomorrow begins to take shape.

But visions are one thing, and ESPN is another.

Power rankings fuel the conversation, and ESPN has published its latest Future Power Rankings, an exercise in projecting the three-year outlooks for all thirty teams. At the top stands the Oklahoma City Thunder, a franchise crowned champion, armed with draft picks, and managed with precision. ESPN measures players, money, draft assets, market, and management. The Thunder sit comfortably at the summit in players, draft, and management.

And then there are the Suns. Where do they land? How does this franchise measure up? If your instinct says rock bottom, you would be right. ESPN Insider Bobby Marks put it in writing.

It was only three years ago when Phoenix ranked third in the FPR and had a solid foundation of young players and future draft assets. That foundation no longer exists, thanks largely to the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal trades. Both players are no longer on the roster, and though Phoenix isn’t in financial purgatory and still has All-Star Devin Booker, its path back to relevancy is unclear. The Suns have no tradable firsts in the next seven years and have $23 million in dead money on their books in the next five years. One positive is that Phoenix has shifted away from building around multiple high-priced veterans to trading for former first-round picks Jalen Green, Mark Williams and selecting Khaman Maluach in June’s draft.

As far as rankings go, where do the Suns land?

Players: 26th​

That one gives me pause. When I scan some of the other rosters in this league, I see less talent than what Phoenix has in place. Make no mistake, there is talent here. Devin Booker is an All-Star caliber player, Jalen Green has upside waiting to pop, Dillon Brooks is a building block you can win with, Mark Williams is a quality center, and the youth movement can surprise teams on any given night.

Money: 22nd​

That is a leap forward compared to last year, when Phoenix carried the most expensive roster in NBA history. It is never ideal to pay players who no longer wear your jersey, but the Suns have maneuverability now. What they do with that flexibility over the next three years will determine everything, but hope exists in this category.

Draft: 30th​

This is the wound that will not heal, because the Suns have forfeited control of their draft picks for seven years. The future in this area is barren. So I see why Marks has Phoenix ranked 30th here. Because no team is in a worse draft capital situation than Ishbia and the Suns. Yeah, we might not care about an 8th grader right now, but having outs creates opportunity. Opportunity the Suns simply don’t have.

Market: 6th​

The size of the Valley and the hunger of its fan base continue to push Phoenix high in this category. The city is ready, the loyalty is not in question. Phoenix continues to grow (per Wikipedia, the city is up 4.04% since 2020). Yeah, it’s an influx of transplants who bring with them their own loyalties. But if the product is good enough, we can get them to change their ways. If the product is good enough…

Management: 28th​

This one is easier to understand. A general manager who has never managed, a head coach who has never coached from the first chair, and a vision that has yet to be proven. Only Sacramento and New Orleans rank lower.

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So here we are, at the bottom of another list. Dead last. No list is good to be on when you find yourself buried at the bottom. Did ESPN get it wrong? I believe they did. Sacramento and New Orleans are in worse shape. And maybe it is the optimist in me speaking, but I think the Suns will outperform these projections. None of that matters until the games are played, until the wins and losses tell the story.

More lists are coming, and more of them will bury Phoenix in negativity. I will be here to break them down and give the same closing thought each time: We will see.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-espn-nba-power-rankings-2025-26-team-outlook

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Kevin Durant “was a little upset” that the Suns put him on the market

Kevin Durant fatigue is real, and I’ve got it in spades. Two-plus years of covering one of the greatest basketball players of all time in Phoenix should feel like a gift, but the truth? It felt more like standing in the eye of a tornado. The talent, sure, I’ll miss that. The pull-up jumpers, the effortless scoring, the gravity he commanded every time he touched the ball. But everything else? The weight, the expectations, the endless swirl of narrative and noise? That I won’t.

Durant is a fascinating contradiction.

He’s one of the few superstars who actually engages on social media, who shares pieces of himself in a way fans constantly demand from athletes. And yet, when he does, people hammer him for it. Transparency punished. Honesty ridiculed. That’s always struck me as bizarre.

But what really made the Durant era feel heavy wasn’t him. It was the context. The Suns with Durant simply weren’t very good. Not by the standard they set when they mortgaged their future for him. Not by the expectations that turned every game into a referendum. Winning stopped being fun because the only metric that mattered was the win column, and when you’re losing, there’s no joy left to scavenge.

That’s why next season might actually feel lighter for Phoenix. Not because the victories will pile up — they probably won’t — but because the small wins will matter again. A rookie showing flashes. A young player leveling up. A roster finding rhythm without the crushing weight of “championship or bust” hanging over its head.

Durant himself? He tied the bow on this chapter recently, speaking about his trade.

“I would say around February, the Suns had pretty much let the league know that I was on the market,” Durant stated while on CNBC’s Game Plan. “Initially, I was a little upset because I felt like we built a solid relationship, me and the Phoenix Suns. And to hear that from a different party was kind of upsetting, but that’s just the name of the game.”

“So I got over that quickly and was trying to figure out what the next steps were. I heard Golden State was in the mix around the trade deadline, but that’s when Rich (Kleiman) came into play and those relationships that we built around the league and also playing in Golden State helped. We was able to tell them kind of hold off on that.”

“Since me being on the market in February when there’s also a trade deadline, people were just kind of seeing how their seasons played out and what they needed for their teams. And we knew we would revisit that right around the summertime, and Houston kind of jumped on, and it happened pretty fast from there.”

Kevin Durant on the rockets trading for him and finding out the suns were trying to trade him at the deadline #LiftOff pic.twitter.com/e5y0uf7ulM

— KNAWTNINE (@knawtnine) September 17, 2025

Some have framed KD’s comments as bitterness. I didn’t hear bitterness. I heard humanity.

His employer wanted to move on, and he did what was in his best interest. That’s not betrayal. That’s business. He didn’t want to be traded midseason, and I don’t fault him for that. He knew the summer was the clean break. The relationship wasn’t severed, but it was fractured. Egos bruised, ambitions misaligned.

And honestly? Why wouldn’t he want out? Phoenix wasn’t a winning situation anymore. The roster-building had been fumbled, Bradley Beal’s acquisition slammed the door on flexibility, and the Suns had no draft capital to replenish the cupboard. Durant, late in his career, wanted a chance at something better. Houston offered him that. Phoenix couldn’t.

So yes, I’m fatigued. I’m ready to move on. And so was Durant. I can’t blame him one bit. I’ll watch the Rockets, I’ll let myself wonder what might have been, and then I’ll turn back to the Suns. To the slow grind of development, the flashes of hope, the little victories that remind you why basketball is supposed to be fun.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ra-ends-houston-rockets-future-nba-upset-cnbc

 

[Phoenix Suns]

SunsRank: Tier 3. Where potential and unpredictability collide

Tier 2 of SunsRank is in the books, and to be honest, there haven’t been many surprises. That’s what happens when you open the floor to enough people on a question as subjective as “who’s better than who.” Sure, there are always outliers. Some folks will hitch their wagon to a bias and ride it all the way from Independence to the Willamette Valley. But when you’ve got 300-plus votes rolling in, the trends overwhelm those stricken with dysentery.

Tier 2 — “The Pillars” — has now been locked in. These are the stabilizers of the roster, the players who carry weight without being the Cornerstones. And as it pertains to SunsRank Preseason 2025, here’s where we stand:

It was close. Ryan Dunn earned the 5th spot by a grand total of…checks notes…1 vote.

Tier 2 really underscores why so many people are down on the Phoenix Suns. If Mark Williams is your third-best player, and he’s someone who has been plagued by injuries throughout his young career, then what is the true ceiling of this team? How good can they really be? There’s reason for optimism, sure. Williams has shown the talent to be a top-third center in the NBA. But the best ability is availability, and that’s been the one thing he hasn’t been able to provide consistently. Having him slotted as your third-best player says everything about where the Suns are right now.

And with that, we move on to Tier 3. The Wild Cards. This is where the youth lives, where potential upside sits down at the dinner table, where an old veteran gets one more shot at relevance, and where a backup point guard is finally put in a position to sink or swim. They’re wild cards for a reason. If they hit, good things can happen for the Suns and for the players themselves. But uncertainty will always be their destiny.

And the list is, going alphabetically by first name…

Collin Gillespie​

A year ago, Gillespie entered the season at the very bottom of SunsRank. But through effort, tenacity, and seizing every sliver of opportunity, he climbed all the way to number eight by the end of the year. By NBA standards, it wasn’t a standout season, but within the context of what the Suns were, his hustle and determination stood out.

Those qualities earned him the right to stick around, and now he enters this year as the backup point guard. This is his chance to carve out a true rotational role, to prove he belongs as a steady piece of an NBA roster.

Khaman Maluach​

Ah, our first look at a rookie. The 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Khaman Maluach entered as the top big man prospect in the class. He fell to the Suns, fittingly with the pick that once belonged to them before it was sent away for Kevin Durant. That alone makes him more than just another draft selection. Maluach represents a shift in the franchise, a tangible reminder of a new era.

Gone is a Hall of Famer, in comes the promise of a potential foundational big man.

Koby Brea​

Another rookie, this one on a two-way contract. Koby Brea comes to the Suns as a pure sharpshooter, a specialist who can stretch the floor in a way every roster needs. He led the SEC in three-point shooting last season and the entire NCAA the year before. Over five years in college — four at Dayton and one at Kentucky — he buried 317 of his 730 attempts, a career mark of 43.4% from deep.

At 22, Brea has the potential to be a spark off the bench, the kind of player who can change the rhythm of a game with his shot. Long term, he could even slide into a role that looks a lot like the ones currently held by Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale. Maybe not right away, but the skill set is there, and the opportunity will eventually come.

Nigel Hayes-Davis​

NHD. It’s a nickname that feels destined to stick, especially if he carves out a regular spot in the rotation.

What kind of impact he’ll make is still an open question, but from a talent standpoint, and from the ever-subjective “who is better” standpoint, where does he really land? He’s one of the most intriguing players on the roster, and it will be fascinating to see how the community perceives him once the votes are cast.

Oso Ighodaro​

Year two of Oso brings plenty of questions. What has he added to his game? How will the Suns use him? When will they use him? Does he have more than just a push shot in his arsenal? How does his rebounding look? Has he added gerth to his game?

A season ago, he entered SunsRank at 13th overall. By the end, he climbed to 10th. That’s a jump into the Wild Cards, and one he earned. All things considered, it feels like the right step forward. So here’s the next Oso question: where does he land now?

Rasheer Fleming​

That makes three rookies in The Wild Cards. Fleming’s talent is obvious. He turned himself into a force at St. Joe’s, and now the question is how he channels that talent at the NBA level. That’s the storyline to watch in 2025–26. We’ve seen plenty of wings with promise enter the league only to fall short of the impact we imagined. Earl Clark still lingers in my mind as the great “what if.”

So, how do you rate Fleming? Do you lean into the talent and the upside, or do you focus on the reality of where he stands right now…a true Wild Card?

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Now we know the players in the tier. Now it’s time to do what SunsRank is all about. Vote it out. Drop your rankings, and more importantly, tell us why. The “why” is where the debates live, and that’s where this whole thing gets fun. So flood the comments, make your case, and let’s see how it shakes out.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...h-brea-gillespie-fleming-ighodaro-hayes-davis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Koby Brea tries to break out onto the roster

Koby Brea​

Shooting Guard, 6’6”, 202 pounds, 22 years old, rookie out of the University of Kentucky

The Suns were very active the two nights of this past NBA draft as they tried to fill out this new roster. In the two days, they made multiple trades that landed them several prospects, one of them being Koby Brea.

Brea was selected with the 41st overall pick in the NBA draft after the Suns had acquired it from the Golden State Warriors. See, the Suns had multiple second-round picks and wanted to move up as high as possible, and luckily, they got to the first pick on day two. By doing that, they then still had this leftover pick and used it to take the best three-pointer scorer in the class with Brea.

College Career Recap​

Brea played 5 seasons in college with two different teams. He spent his first four years at the University of Dayton, where he only started three games his first year. He continued to be someone who barely started for their team and then really turned it up in his last year there, where he shot 49.8% from 3 and 51.2% from the field. This gave him the go-ahead to enter the transfer portal and land at Kentucky with new head coach Mark Pope.

In his only year at Kentucky, the guard put on a show once again proving he was the best three-point scorer in college basketball this season. He was one of the better players on the team and hit big-time shots when the team needed them most. He scored 419 total points last year, which was his highest in his collegiate career, and on a better team against better opponents, shot 43.5% from three.

His biggest game of the season had to come in the March Madness tournament, where he helped lead the Kentucky Wildcats to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since the 2018-19 season. As a three seed, they took down a solid Illinois team 84-75, where Brea led the team with 23 points, six rebounds, and an assist.

Contract Details​

Brea and the Suns agreed to a one-year two-way deal for the upcoming season. This allows Brea to play up to 50 games for the Phoenix Suns while also developing and growing with the Valley Suns. The 22-year-old guard is expected to be one of the better players for the G-League affiliate after a solid Summer League. If he can continue to thrive there, depending on how the team looks, it could present him with an opportunity to earn a standard deal before the season’s end.

Strengths & Weaknesses​

As we have discussed numerous times, there is a distinct strength to Brea’s game. It is his three-point shot and shot-making ability. The guard is not only lethal from beyond the arc but also has a killer mid-range game similar to Devin Booker. This is going to be key for Brea as he can utilize Booker as a leader and someone to mirror how he wants to attack opposing defenses. His frame of 6’6” also allows him to be used on the wing in some potential lineups as an extra sniper on the offensive end. One in the right lineup could be hidden and utilized to rain down from three-point range.

With his strengths, there are some weaknesses to his game, and that would be on the defensive end. He is a liability on that side, so having him play with lengthy defenders is the key to having him thrive. Luckily, the Suns have drafted that position in the last two classes with Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming. With those two developing alongside Brea, this could make Brea more viable on the side of the ball he specializes in.

One Key Factor​

The key to look at with Brea was alluded to earlier: will he earn the standard deal by the end of the season? Truly, I think that he is going to be the best player on the Valley Suns and prove to be someone who is ready for the parent club. Similar to guard Collin Gillespie from last season, if injuries do occur or he just proves in practice, we could see him get some burn while on this two-way deal. If that case persists, depending on the record and direction of this team, by the trade deadline, we could see what path is ultimately better, and that could show for better or worse for Brea.

If the Suns look towards the bottom, they may sell off some of these veteran role pieces and run the young guns, trying to develop them into their rotation for the future. If the Suns are better than we anticipate, we could see Brea still held on that two-way until the following season.

Prediction Time​

With Brea being on the two-way contract I am going to take that into my evaluation of his stats. If he were to get more time or a standard deal by the end of the season, his numbers could defintely be higher.

Stat Prediction: 42 Games 4.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.5 SPG on 44/41/87 shooting splits

Final Thoughts​

Ultimately, I’d love to see Brea on the main squad as early as possible. Earlier in the offseason, I had written an article comparing Brea to another player on this roster, and I genuinely think he can take that role if the team allows him to.

That being said, if the Suns do present them to be in the position of near the bottom of the West, I do not see the harm in giving him that opportunity if he is succeeding in his more minor role. I expect him to be someone who gets along with Devin Booker and has him as a mentor going into the year, which makes me even more confident in his role here.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-koby-brea-tries-to-break-out-onto-the-roster