The Phoenix Suns have locked in another year of Khaman Maluach, exercising the center’s third-year option on Thursday and keeping him under team control through at least the 2027-28 season.
There is still another decision ahead for Phoenix, which also holds a team option on Maluach for the 2028-29 campaign.
According to Spotrac, Maluach’s cap hit next season is set at $6.6 million. If the Suns pick up that fourth-year option later, the figure climbs to $8.4 million.
For Phoenix, the move keeps the focus squarely on a player the organization believes is still climbing fast. Maluach, known around the team as Man-Man, is heading into his second season after being selected No. 10 overall last year. He flashed his value in stretches as a rim protector, showing the kind of defensive presence that can change possessions.
His summer only added to the optimism. Maluach stood out in Summer League and gave the Suns more reason to believe a bigger leap could be coming.
That possibility matters even more now, with Mark Williams sidelined by injury for the foreseeable future. It creates a clearer path for Maluach to carve out a real role in Phoenix’s rotation in 2026-27.
Suns general manager Brian Gregory pointed to that growth at Media Day, praising the way Maluach has changed physically and mentally.
"His body's changed. He's gotten stronger.
He runs differently. He moves differently.
He still just turned 20 years old, so there's a huge growth potential there. But when we talk about the work ethic and putting in the time for that development, he's done it every single day, a lot of times twice a day," said Gregory.
Gregory also highlighted Maluach’s steadiness and the impact he already showed last season when he got extended run.
"He understands where he's at in the spectrum of where he wants to get to. I think that's a great trait for him because he's never going to get too high or too low because of that. I think last year when there was the stretch where he played, he showed his ability one on the defensive end to be a rim protector, to be an impactful defensive rebounder, and just the energy that he plays with is contagious.
"And then you saw the step this summer in Summer League as well, where his performance night in and night out was excellent. The good thing with him, it's all based on the energy and effort and intensity and concentration that he plays with.
Any mistake, anything that doesn't go according to plan will probably be due to age and lack of experience. We can live with that because he's going to continue to grow."
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 🡒]
Jalen Green Is Suddenly Squeezing One Suns Roster Hope
The Suns brought Kennedy Chandler into camp on a training camp deal, giving themselves another look at a crowded backcourt battle, but the picture has changed quickly thanks to Jalen Green's rise. Green has looked more comfortable handling the ball and running the offense, which matters in Phoenix because the team wants a reliable partner next to Devin Booker and is sorting through a group that also includes Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea and Pat Spencer.
For Chandler, the path has gotten steeper because the Suns are not just evaluating guards in a vacuum, they are also trying to map out how the rotation fits around Khaman Maluach, who is expected to have a meaningful role. The added wrinkle is whether any reserve guard can carve out a niche beyond simply surviving camp, and right now Green's growth is making that a tougher sell for everyone else in the room. [Read more 🡒]