The Phoenix Suns are setting their sights on consistency as they gear up for the 2026-27 NBA season. After a respectable 45-37 finish last season, despite battling injuries, the Suns are opting for stability over sweeping changes. They've already secured long-term commitments from their top three free agents-Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams-signaling their intent to keep the core intact.
In the recent NBA Draft, the Suns made a strategic move by trading up to snag Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick. With free agency looming, the Suns' roster strategy is coming into sharper focus.
Once the deals with Gillespie, Goodwin, Williams, and Peat are finalized, the Suns will have filled all 15 standard contract slots. If they decide to exercise Jamaree Bouyea's team option, fully guarantee Haywood Highsmith's contract, and retain Koby Brea and CJ Huntley on two-way contracts, they'll have just one two-way spot left to fill. This approach suggests that Peat and a new two-way player could be the only fresh faces in the squad.
To open up roster spots, the Suns have a couple of straightforward options: they could choose not to exercise Bouyea's team option or opt to waive Highsmith. Financially, the Suns are treading close to the second salary cap apron, especially after their trade for Peat. Any new signings to fill potential open spots would likely need to be on minimum contracts to stay under budget.
Another financial maneuver could involve trading Royce O'Neale, who is set to earn $10.875 million in the upcoming season. Moving O'Neale could free up significant cap space, allowing Phoenix to pursue a free agent they have their eye on. Additionally, it would open up more playing time for younger talents on the roster.
While the Suns aren't in a rush to make trades, they've positioned themselves to act decisively if the right opportunity arises. The potential trade candidates include Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, O'Neale, and Ryan Dunn, though whether any deals materialize this offseason remains uncertain.
The most likely scenario is that the Suns will largely stick with their current roster, banking on the continuity to drive success. However, if a player who fits well with their strategy becomes available, the Suns' front office, led by general manager Brian Gregory, won't hesitate to make a move. The focus is clear: run it back, but stay flexible and ready for the right opportunity.
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Suns Still Have One Massive Move Left To Make
The Suns latest swing came with the addition of Miles Bridges from Charlotte, a move that only added to the sense that this roster is still being built in layers. Phoenix has been aggressive in trying to reshape its core, and every new piece seems to invite another question about how far the front office is willing to go to keep the push going.
One name that continues to linger in league chatter is Ja Morant, who has reportedly been available since the trade deadline and remains one of the more intriguing possibilities if Phoenix keeps hunting for another major upgrade. The fit would naturally raise bigger questions about the Suns backcourt rotation and what kind of guard-heavy package they might be willing to consider, but for now it remains a rumor with plenty of moving parts and no transaction to point to yet. [Read more 🡒]
Miles Bridges Arrival Could Set Up The Suns Move Fans Want
Miles Bridges arrival in Phoenix has already changed the board for the Suns, at least in a roster-building sense. The move opens up a spot and keeps the front office active at a time when the team still looks like its searching for the right backcourt fit alongside Devin Booker.
What makes this more interesting is that the Suns now have a little more flexibility to keep working the trade market, with several names suddenly back in the conversation. Not every big-name rumor around Phoenix carries real weight, but the Bridges addition at least gives the front office another pathway if it wants to chase a point guard upgrade and keep reshaping the roster around a tougher, more balanced identity. [Read more 🡒]
Miles Bridges Fallout Has Suns Fans Bracing For Ishbia's Next Move
The aftershocks of Phoenixs trade for Miles Bridges are still being felt, and the reaction around the move has only sharpened the focus on how Mat Ishbia likes to build his roster. Bridges has drawn criticism since arriving from Charlotte, and the conversation has quickly shifted beyond the deal itself to what it might mean for the Suns frontcourt mix and the kinds of players Ishbia may chase next.
Phoenix already has a forward group that looks crowded on paper, with Bridges and Dillon Brooks setting the tone on the wing, but there is also room for another change if the right opportunity comes along. Ishbias Michigan State ties have become part of the discussion, too, since they add another layer to how fans are reading his decision-making as they wait to see whether the Suns keep tweaking the roster or stand pat. [Read more 🡒]