Pat Spencer stands to benefit the most if the Phoenix Suns bring Duop Reath aboard.
Reath’s invitation to training camp has already sparked plenty of attention because of what he might do for Phoenix’s frontcourt problems. But there’s another ripple effect here: if Reath ends up taking the 15th roster spot, Spencer’s route to playing time gets a little cleaner.
That’s because the Suns would then need to move on from either Jamaree Bouyea or Haywood Highsmith. Whoever gets squeezed out, Spencer would be in line for more minutes whenever he’s with the club on his two-way contract.
Phoenix would be deeper in the big-man rotation with Reath joining Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro, and it would also mean the Suns could lean on Spencer instead of Bouyea or Highsmith. That makes the roster stronger all the way around.
Spencer is not about to jump Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin on the depth chart, but he brings the kind of edge coaches notice. He’s a tough defender, and his energy fits the type of player Head Coach Jordan Ott is likely to appreciate.
If Reath’s arrival leads to more reps for Spencer, that would be a major win for him. It could even set him up for a larger role later on. Gillespie and Bouyea both started their time in The Valley on two-way deals before earning spots on the 15-man roster, so Spencer at least has a path to prove he belongs in that same conversation.
And even if Reath doesn’t end up changing the numbers game, Spencer still has a real chance to make an impression. At 30 years old, he understands the urgency. The Suns have spent years trying to settle the point guard spot for good, and that opens the door for someone like him.
There’s also the question of Jalen Green and what Phoenix does with him. If Green is traded mid-season, that could create even more room for Spencer to become a regular part of the rotation.
Bouyea has already been strong for the Suns, while Highsmith hasn’t had the chance to show his best because of injury. Someone would have to go if Phoenix wants Reath to stay for the long haul, and Spencer looks like the player who could gain the most from that decision.
In Other News...
Suns Suddenly Have A Training Camp Battle That Really Matters
Mark Williams shoulder surgery has turned the Suns last roster spot into a real camp storyline, with Phoenix now carrying three players in the mix as training camp opens on September 29. Duop Reath, Jamaree Bouyea and Haywood Highsmith all head into the fall with something to prove, and the early preseason schedule gives them little time to make their case before the roster starts to tighten.
The Suns must trim down to 15 players by October 19, which means every practice and exhibition run carries added weight for the end of the bench. First impressions in camp often decide these kinds of battles, and with the first preseason game set for October 5, Phoenix will get a quick look at who can separate himself before the front office has to make the call. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Still Have One Defensive Problem New Faces Must Fix
Phoenix spent last season building a defense that could hang with the better teams in the league, and the formula was clear enough: pressure the ball, force turnovers and keep opponents from getting comfortable from beyond the arc. The Suns ended the 2025-26 season with a top-10 defense, and the additions around the roster this summer suggest they want to keep that identity while adding more size and versatility to the mix. Miles Bridges should help there as a new starter, bringing a broader defensive profile to a group that already has several rotation pieces capable of contributing on that end.
Still, the bigger question for Phoenix is whether the front line can solve the interior issues that have shown up at different points, especially as the season wore on and turnover creation became less reliable. The Suns do have depth at center with Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, both of whom gave the team encouraging defensive minutes last season, and that gives the coaching staff options as it tries to shore up the middle. For a team trying to stay among the better defenses in the West, the next step is making sure the new faces do more than blend in - they have to clean up the one area that still leaves the Suns exposed. [Read more 🡒]