More than a year after the Phoenix Suns moved on from the Kevin Durant era, Jalen Green has wound up in an uncomfortable spot: he is now the least valuable piece the Suns got back in that deal.
At the time, adding a 24-year-old former second overall pick fresh off a postseason burst against the Golden State Warriors looked like a strong return. In practice, though, Green has been outpaced in Phoenix by Dillon Brooks, who has given the Suns far more in the short term.
Brooks quickly became the kind of tone-setter this team needed. He brought the edge, the noise and the nightly urgency, even handing out nicknames like "Villain Jr." to Collin Gillespie. That kind of edge helped fuel a 45-win season and a playoff berth.
What makes Green’s slide harder to ignore is that his value has fallen below that of 19-year-old center Khaman Maluach, another piece tied to the Durant deal. In today’s NBA, young big men carry real upside value, and Maluach was already a 10th overall pick in the package. Even with so little on his rookie résumé, he has passed Green in perceived value.
Green’s case isn’t helped by availability. In Houston, he was an Ironman. In his first season with the Suns, a persistent hamstring issue limited him to 32 appearances.
The path forward may be simple, if not ideal: bring him off the bench. That could give Green a chance to reset, but it would also make it harder to argue he was anything other than the weakest return Phoenix received for Durant.
To change that narrative, Green would likely need to become one of the league’s top sixth men, and that is no sure thing. Brooks keeps producing, the Suns clearly believed enough to extend him, and Maluach is expected to keep developing. With that in the mix, Green is running out of room to make a different impression.
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Miles Bridges Changes The Suns Question Dillon Brooks Now Faces
Miles Bridges gives Phoenix a different kind of edge, and the early read on his fit is less about shot volume than how his presence could reshape the Suns offense. The move points the team toward more downhill attacking and more pressure at the rim, the sort of approach that can open up cleaner looks for everyone else and change the rhythm of the half-court. For a roster trying to find the right balance, that kind of addition matters as much for what it creates off the ball as for the points it directly brings.
Dillon Brooks is the one who may feel the ripple effect most. If Phoenix leans further into penetration and kickouts, the pecking order can shift quickly, and Brooks touch time and usage may not look the same as they did before the roster change. Nothing is settled yet, but the Suns now have a clearer question to answer about how much offense they want flowing through strength at the rim versus the perimeter shots and secondary chances that come with it. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Drama Just Dragged Two Former Suns Into A Mess
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Chris Paul remains central to that frustration after being sent home early in the season, effectively closing the book on his run with Los Angeles, while Bradley Beals recent switch to No. 3 added another layer of noise. The number choice set off reactions from fans and brought a quick defense of Pauls legacy from Beal himself, a reminder that even a jersey change can turn into a referendum when the Clippers are already under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Trades With Charlotte May Be Fueling A Twist Fans Wont Like
Phoenix has spent the past couple of seasons doing business with Charlotte in a way that has quietly reshaped both frontcourts. The Suns brought in Nick Richards, Mark Williams and Miles Bridges from the Hornets, moves that helped stock the roster with size and options up front while giving Charlotte a fresh batch of pieces to work with as it keeps tinkering with its own direction.
Now there is a new layer to watch, and it could give Suns fans pause. The Hornets have remained in the conversation for Domantas Sabonis, and the path to getting there may be tied to some of the very players Phoenix has already sent their way. Nothing is official, and Sabonis has not been moved, but the idea that the Suns' recent swaps could end up helping Charlotte chase a former All-Star adds an unexpected twist to a familiar trade partner relationship. [Read more 🡒]