Phoenix Suns media day had its spotlight moments, and Khaman Maluach drew plenty of attention, but Luke Kennard and Pat Spencer also left with the kind of buzz that suggests both may have landed in the right place.
Kennard, in particular, sounded ready to lean into the role the Suns want from him. He said the coaching staff has already given him the freedom to let it fly from deep, and he sounded thrilled about it.
"Ever since I got here, teammates, coaches, everybody, you know: 'Shoot more. Shoot more.
And more difficult shots.' I'm excited for that."
That mandate fits the roster construction. Phoenix lost Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, who combined for 15.7 three-point attempts per game last season, and Kennard is being counted on to help cover that ground. He averaged 3.1 attempts from deep between his time with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers, so there’s clearly a bigger load waiting for him in Phoenix.
Miles Bridges will take some of those shots, and Jalen Green has never been reluctant to fire away, but the Suns still need Kennard to be the clean floor spacer who helps everything else work. If he does that, his value rises quickly.
If he doesn’t, the path ahead gets much less comfortable. He’s on a $6.5 million salary this season and next, and this stretch could shape what comes after that.
Spencer also made a strong first impression. The two-way guard said Phoenix’s style of play drew him in, and he was clearly energized by the opportunity.
“Really excited about having more of a foundation. Excited from what I saw from afar and one of the reasons I wanted to be here.”
Spencer understands what he needs to do to carve out a bigger role in Phoenix, and the blueprint is right there in Collin Gillespie. The Suns value guards who defend with relentless energy and bring a physical edge, and those are traits Spencer already has. He also spoke highly of Maluach and the energy he brings every day, and that connection could matter too, especially if Spencer can build a workable two-man game with the center.
The fit feels natural, and the roster math could open a door. Jamaree Bouyea is in danger of being waived if one of the training camp invites, Duop Reath or Kennedy Chandler, is signed to a standard deal, which could create more room for Spencer.
For now, both players have started life in The Valley on the right note. Training camp will tell the bigger story.
In Other News...
Rasheer Fleming Is Giving The Suns A Reason To Believe
Rasheer Fleming is starting to look like one of those prospects who earns his keep the old-fashioned way, by showing up, putting in the work and letting his body and tools do the talking. For the Suns, that matters. Head coach Jordan Ott and teammates have taken notice of the second-year forwards physical gifts and the steady growth that has followed, and there is a growing sense that Phoenix may have something worth developing for the 2026-27 season.
Flemings path only adds to the appeal. He was not a heavily recruited high school player, which makes his rise feel less like a sure thing and more like a player who has had to build his way into the conversation. His ceiling is still hard to pin down, but the Suns have reason to believe he can grow into a useful rotational piece if the development keeps trending in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Are Asking Khaman Maluach For More Than They Wanted
With limited future assets and a mandate to stay competitive around Devin Booker, the Suns are treating Khaman Maluach less like a slow-burn project and more like a player they may need sooner than planned. The second-year center logged only limited minutes as a rookie, but his Summer League showing offered enough promise to keep him in the middle of the conversation as Phoenix maps out its frontcourt plans.
Booker has already been supportive of Maluachs development, and the Suns appear willing to bet on the young big man in a larger role if he can handle it. The question now is whether Maluach can absorb everything that comes with starting on a team trying to win right away, because Phoenix does not have much margin for error if he is not ready. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Should Avoid One Backcourt Mistake Around Devin Booker
Training camp has already nudged the Suns point guard picture into focus, and the front office has at least added another name to the mix with Kennedy Chandler on a training camp deal. Around Devin Booker, Phoenix is trying to sort through a backcourt that still needs to make sense on the fly, with the roster carrying more questions about fit than certainty as the season approaches.
Rob Dillingham has been floated as a possible answer in some circles, but the more practical path for Phoenix appears to be staying with the guards already in the building and avoiding a move that does not clearly raise the level of the group. Jordan Goodwin fits that conversation better, while Collin Gillespie remains part of the backup mix, and the Suns can only benefit if the next decision is about clarity rather than chasing another name that complicates the rotation. [Read more 🡒]