The Phoenix Suns are heading into training camp with a familiar mix of promise and pressure, and the center spot is suddenly one of the biggest things hanging over the roster.
Mark Williams’ torn labrum changed the picture fast. With Williams expected to be out at least five months, Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach now find themselves in a battle for the starting job.
Ighodaro has the early edge after the run he got last season, when he started 24 regular-season games and all four playoff games. Maluach, though, brings a different kind of case: his rim presence on both ends could make him the better long-term fit if he develops the way Phoenix hopes.
The Suns also added Duop Reath after Williams went down, and he’ll be in the mix for the third center role. That battle overlaps with the fight for the final roster spot, where Jamaree Bouyea and Haywood Highsmith are both on non-guaranteed contracts.
For Phoenix, this camp is about more than just filling out the depth chart. Last season, the Suns earned attention for the way they bought in, played hard and stayed connected through injuries.
After a 1-4 start, they went 30-16 and finished 45-37 under Jordan Ott, a debut that made him look like a strong hire. But the finish told a different story.
Phoenix went 14-17 after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the first round, leaving the team with real questions about whether it can hold that level over a full season.
The opening stretch will say plenty. The Suns face both of their play-in opponents, the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept them in the first round, in their first three games. That’s a fast test of whether Phoenix can rediscover the early-season version of itself.
There’s also plenty to sort out in the frontcourt and beyond when it comes to player development. Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are both candidates to take a bigger leap after playing limited minutes as rookies.
Jalen Green, who is 24, and Ighodaro could also be in line for career seasons, which would give the Suns a much higher ceiling. Ryan Dunn, rookie Koa Peat and Koby Brea are other names to watch, especially once the preseason starts.
The biggest offseason swing was the trade for Miles Bridges, a move that carried obvious risk because of his domestic violence history and because his game overlaps with pieces already in the starting lineup. Booker, Green and Dillon Brooks did not spend much time on the floor together last season, and now all four will have to figure out how to share touches while still bringing the defensive edge Phoenix wants.
Ott already showed last season that he can make something out of imperfect fits, and that matters here. Booker, Green, Brooks and Bridges all have enough talent to handle whatever role is asked of them, but how they blend with the starting center will be one of the main things to watch once the games begin.
The key questions for the Suns are simple enough to say and hard enough to answer: can they be more consistent, can they survive the injuries, and can they keep the defensive, high-effort identity that helped them take off early last year? Phoenix had enough depth to patch over problems before, but the team knows it cannot hit its ceiling if health keeps dragging it back.
Last season, the Suns had to keep adjusting on the fly because injuries never stopped coming, and that lack of continuity hurt them late and again in the playoffs. Now they’re hoping this is the year the breaks go their way.
In Other News...
Suns Are Asking Fans To Believe In A Core That Already Failed
After a rough finish to last season, the Suns are leaning into continuity with a roster that still looks very much in flux. The front office already made a series of moves around the edges, trading away Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale while bringing back Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, then adding Miles Bridges to the mix.
The bigger question is whether that collection can actually function better than the group that faded after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the playoffs. Injuries and fit issues have already raised concerns, and Jalen Green in particular stands out as a swing piece for how competitive this team can be going forward, which leaves Phoenix asking fans to trust a core that has not yet earned it. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Just Sent Suns Fans A Huge Message About This Team
Mat Ishbia used media day to send a clear signal about where he sees the Suns going, and how long he expects to be part of it. The owner said financial issues at his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, will not change his commitment to the franchise, and he reiterated his willingness to keep paying the luxury tax if that is what it takes to support a winning team.
For Suns fans, the bigger message was stability at the top. Ishbia said he intends to stay involved for decades, and he also plans to keep increasing his ownership stake with his family. In a league where ownership uncertainty can hang over a roster, Phoenix at least heard its biggest stakeholder say he is not looking for a short-term run. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face A Tough Frontcourt Choice After Mark Williams Injury
Mark Williams shoulder injury has left the Suns sorting through a frontcourt spot that suddenly feels a lot more important. Phoenix already has 15 players on standard contracts, so any addition has to fit neatly into a roster that is being managed closely as the team tries to stay competitive and keep enough size on hand.
One option under consideration is Duop Reath on a two-way contract, a move that would give the Suns extra center depth while letting him split time between Phoenix and the G League affiliate. The appeal is obvious for a team trying to patch a position without creating bigger roster ripples, and the Suns are weighing that route alongside the other two-way pieces already in place. [Read more 🡒]