The Suns’ new look keeps circling back to one big question: how do all these pieces fit together around Devin Booker?
That’s especially true after Phoenix added Miles Bridges to fill its power forward opening. Bridges gives the Suns a 6-foot-7 athlete with a reputation built more on finishing plays than creating them, but there’s a path for him to matter beyond the obvious.
Over seven seasons, he has averaged 2.8 assists, and with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the center rotation all offering limited help as table-setters in the starting five, any extra passing from Bridges could give Phoenix’s offense a different gear. That matters even more with Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale gone, taking away two of the team’s better three-point shooters.
There’s also the contract angle. Bridges is in the final year of a three-year deal, so this season is about more than just production. If he wants to earn an extension from the team that traded for him, he’ll need to show he can be more than a lob finisher.
The biggest opening on the roster may be at center, where Mark Williams is expected to miss about five months after surgery on a torn labrum. That injury creates a real chance for Khaman Maluach, who barely saw the floor last season but made noise in the 2026 Summer League.
In Las Vegas, the second-year big man averaged 19.5 points, shot 40.0% from three and grabbed 12.8 rebounds. That rebounding number stands out for a Suns team that projects to be one of the weaker glass-cleaning groups in the league, and it could be the key to whether he holds the starting job.
Oso Ighodaro has his own case to make, though, and Gerald Bourguet of Sports 360 AZ sees a strong one. For a Suns team that needs help creating easy offense, Ighodaro’s feel for the game could be valuable.
He has gotten good at running handoffs, finding cutters and working as a screener in pick-and-roll sets. He also brings enough versatility to let Phoenix lean into a more switching defensive style.
Still, he doesn’t bring Maluach’s size or rim protection, and his scoring ceiling is lower as well.
Booker remains the anchor, but the conversation around him has shifted. He’s still one of the league’s best shooting guards, yet his four-game series against the Thunder was a rough one: 21.3 points per game, 16 turnovers and 19 assists.
He’s under contract through the 2029/30 season, but with Phoenix trying to build its identity as it goes, Rankin raises the question of whether Booker’s championship window has already started to close. He’ll turn 30 on October 30, and the roster, even after last season’s better-than-expected finish, still looks a long way from true contention.
The bigger question hanging over it all is whether Booker eventually has to look elsewhere if he wants to get back to the NBA Finals.
In Other News...
Suns Are Asking Fans To Believe In A Core That Already Failed
After a rough finish to last season, the Suns are leaning into continuity with a roster that still looks very much in flux. The front office already made a series of moves around the edges, trading away Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale while bringing back Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, then adding Miles Bridges to the mix.
The bigger question is whether that collection can actually function better than the group that faded after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the playoffs. Injuries and fit issues have already raised concerns, and Jalen Green in particular stands out as a swing piece for how competitive this team can be going forward, which leaves Phoenix asking fans to trust a core that has not yet earned it. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Just Sent Suns Fans A Huge Message About This Team
Mat Ishbia used media day to send a clear signal about where he sees the Suns going, and how long he expects to be part of it. The owner said financial issues at his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, will not change his commitment to the franchise, and he reiterated his willingness to keep paying the luxury tax if that is what it takes to support a winning team.
For Suns fans, the bigger message was stability at the top. Ishbia said he intends to stay involved for decades, and he also plans to keep increasing his ownership stake with his family. In a league where ownership uncertainty can hang over a roster, Phoenix at least heard its biggest stakeholder say he is not looking for a short-term run. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face A Tough Frontcourt Choice After Mark Williams Injury
Mark Williams shoulder injury has left the Suns sorting through a frontcourt spot that suddenly feels a lot more important. Phoenix already has 15 players on standard contracts, so any addition has to fit neatly into a roster that is being managed closely as the team tries to stay competitive and keep enough size on hand.
One option under consideration is Duop Reath on a two-way contract, a move that would give the Suns extra center depth while letting him split time between Phoenix and the G League affiliate. The appeal is obvious for a team trying to patch a position without creating bigger roster ripples, and the Suns are weighing that route alongside the other two-way pieces already in place. [Read more 🡒]