The Phoenix Suns had a perfectly sensible reason for bringing Kennedy Chandler into training camp. Then Jalen Green walked in, started saying all the right things, and changed the math on the whole thing.
Green’s media day comments pointed to a different version of himself - one that looks more like a lead guard than a pure scorer. He said he has been working with Steve Nash, one of the best point guards of all time, to better understand pace of play. If Green can get more comfortable handling the ball, setting up teammates, and reading defenses for the right pass, the starting spot next to Devin Booker starts to look locked in.
That is a tough setup for Chandler to beat. The Suns brought him in because they already had enough defense-minded guards and wings to slow people down. But if Green is taking on more of the ball-handling load, Booker can slide into more of a scoring role, and Chandler’s path gets crowded fast.
Miles Bridges even added to that picture, which only strengthens Green’s case to remain with the starting group. With Green able to bring the ball up some possessions and also shift back into a score-first two-guard on others, there simply is not much room for Chandler in that mix.
The depth chart behind Green is crowded too. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are next in line, Jamaree Bouyea is still on the roster, and Pat Spencer is there on a two-way deal. Spencer has already said all of the right things about expanding his role before long.
Still, Chandler does have one possible opening. Khaman Maluach has received a major early push from the franchise and is expected to be the starting center before long. That means whichever guard can build an effective two-man game with Maluach during camp could give himself a real shot to stick.
Chandler’s speed and scoring burst could fit with Maluach’s hulking frame, and that combination is at least something the coaching staff can evaluate. Even so, the odds were already against Chandler lasting beyond training camp, and Green’s new, energized look - along with the sense that he is finally healthy - has made that road even steeper.
In Other News...
Dillon Brooks Is Already Bringing Something The Suns Need
Phoenixs training camp opened with Dillon Brooks already leaning into one of the quieter parts of his new job: helping set the tone for a roster that still has some young voices finding their place. Brooks singled out rookie Koa Peat as a player he plans to mentor this season, a notable detail for a veteran whose edge is usually the first thing people notice. In this case, the Suns are getting more than physicality and scoring punch from him. They are also getting a player willing to take an active role in shaping the locker room.
Brooks described Peat as shy and wants to help him grow into a more vocal, confident presence around the team. For Phoenix, that matters as much as anything he does on the floor, because building chemistry with younger players has to be part of the work from the start of camp. The early signs suggest Brooks understands that, and the Suns will be watching to see how that mentor relationship develops as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Miles Bridges Could Unlock A Suns Lineup They Desperately Need
Miles Bridges has already given the Suns something worth thinking about beyond the usual rotation chatter. His interest in teaming with Dillon Brooks on the defensive end, and even handling some small-ball center duty, opens the door to lineup ideas that could give Phoenix a different kind of edge. For a team looking for more versatility, that kind of two-way flexibility is the sort of wrinkle that can change how a roster fits together.
Bridges defensive growth may be the real swing factor here, because the Suns do not just need another scorer, they need combinations that can hold up when the game tightens. If he can take another step on that side of the floor, Phoenix could have more options for pairing him with Brooks and exploring smaller, more aggressive looks. The intrigue is less about one player alone and more about whether his defense can help unlock a lineup the Suns have been trying to find. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Bookers Mindset Gives Suns Fans A Real Reason To Believe
At Suns Media Day, the message from the top was steady and deliberate, with owner Mat Ishbia, executive Brian Gregory and new head coach Jordan Ott all projecting the same kind of continuity around the franchise. The organization spent the day stressing alignment, and Khaman Maluach drew especially strong praise from the front office, coaches and veteran players for the way he has approached his development and work ethic.
The more intriguing note for Phoenix fans came from Devin Booker, whose upbeat tone matched the larger reset in the building. Booker said hes carrying a positive mindset into the season and wants to play with a more aggressive edge, a combination that matters for a team trying to turn shared vision into real momentum. If that outlook carries over once the games start, it could be the clearest sign yet that the Suns believe their core still has room to push higher. [Read more 🡒]