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.
In Other News...
Suns Already Have A Frontcourt Problem Before The Season Starts
Phoenixs frontcourt depth took an early hit before the season even begins, with center Mark Williams facing an extended absence after shoulder surgery. The injury happened during an offseason workout, and it immediately complicates the Suns plans at a position they were counting on to stabilize as they head into the 2026-27 campaign.
The team has not yet put a timetable on Williams return, leaving a clear opening at center in the meantime. Coach Jordan Ott said Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach will be asked to handle those minutes to open the season, a setup that puts added pressure on two players who now have to help cover one of the rosters biggest question marks. [Read more 🡒]