PHOENIX -- The Suns may have gone 1-4 in the preseason, but the record only told part of the story. Over five games, Phoenix showed more reasons for optimism than concern, with both the first unit and second unit appearing far more settled after spending much of the offseason together.
One of the clearest takeaways was Miles Bridges’ fit. Phoenix brought him in as its biggest acquisition this offseason, and he looked comfortable doing whatever the team needed.
The full version of this roster still needs work, especially with Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Bridges all trying to share the floor as four scorers, but the early signs were encouraging. In the three games they played together, all four showed a willingness to adjust and find ways to complement one another.
Coach Jordan Ott appears to have a defined approach for making that group work, along with whichever center ends up starting between Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro. For that setup to click, everybody involved is going to have to sacrifice something or add new layers to their game.
The biggest individual bright spots came from Luke Kennard and Ryan Dunn. Kennard showed he’s ready to let it fly and provide more offense, which is exactly what Phoenix is looking for from him. Dunn, meanwhile, looked far more comfortable and brought energy every time he checked in, and that seems to have helped him carve out a rotation role.
Maluach also gave the Suns some encouraging moments. He’s still a work in progress, but Phoenix is going to need a strong season from him, and he continued to show that he’s willing to learn and improve.
The battle between Maluach and Ighodaro for the starting center job was the most interesting competition of the preseason. The Suns still have not named a starter, but the bigger picture is clear: they’ll need both bigs, no matter who opens games and who comes off the bench.
That depth gives the second unit a much better look, especially with Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin already in place. Add Kennard, Dunn and whichever center wins the backup role, and the Suns’ bench appears to be in solid shape.
Just as important, Phoenix played with the kind of edge Ott wants. Even in preseason, the Suns were attacking possessions with full effort, defending hard, trying to create turnovers and relentlessly crashing the offensive glass. Those are two of the central pieces of Ott’s system, and the team took positive steps toward sharpening its identity.
That identity is still being built, and it will likely include playing faster and improving on the defensive boards. But if the preseason was any indication, the Suns are moving in the right direction.
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Suns Entering The Season With Doubts They Cant Ignore
The early buzz around Phoenix this preseason has been hard to ignore, and not in the way the Suns would prefer. The Ringers latest NBA power rankings slot them outside the leagues top tier and project a finish near the middle of the Western Conference, a step back from where they stood a year ago. Even with the addition of Miles Bridges, the broader read on the roster is that there are still more questions than answers.
Mark Williams situation only adds to the uncertainty. Phoenix was counting on the starting center to stabilize the middle, but surgery has put that plan on hold and left the team scrambling to cover a major hole before the season fully gets going. For a club trying to prove last year was more than a one-year spike, the doubts are already coming from everywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Bench Battle Is Just Beginning With Opening Night Rotation Set
The Suns have settled on their opening-night 10-man rotation after preseason roster cuts, clearing the board for the start of the regular season and giving the coaching staff a first real look at how the group will fit together. The roster now has a more defined shape, with the starters and main bench pieces set for the early going as Phoenix moves from evaluation mode into games that count.
Even so, the back end of the rotation is hardly locked in for long. Players such as Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming remain in the mix, but the Suns still have some flexibility if performance changes or injuries force a shuffle, and there are a few more names waiting just outside the first group. For a team trying to balance development and results, the real competition may be less about making the roster and more about holding onto a nightly role once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Open With One Big Question About Their New Look Around Booker
The first look at Phoenixs reshaped roster comes in Portland, where the Suns and Trail Blazers meet for the first time since their Play-In Tournament clash in April. This is the kind of early-season test that can tell you a lot about what a team thinks it fixed over the summer, and the Suns spent the offseason trying to add more size and sturdiness around Devin Booker.
Phoenixs changes were built around that idea, from swapping out Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale to bringing in Miles Bridges and moving up in the draft for Koa Peat. Even so, the most immediate question is less about the shiny new pieces than the middle of the floor, where the Suns are still sorting out who is going to handle the starting center role while Mark Williams is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]