The Phoenix Suns got a modest bump in the latest NBA power rankings, and it came after an offseason that was busy more than it was flashy.
Phoenix handled its own business first, bringing back Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin before adding Koa Peat in the draft, Miles Bridges via trade and Luke Kennard in free agency. With the team already operating in the luxury tax and a string of past trades having stripped away much of its trade capital, the Suns didn’t have many clean paths to a major overhaul heading into the 2026-27 season.
ESPN nudged them from No. 21 to No. 19, with Dave McMenamin pointing to the way Phoenix kept its core intact while making one notable swing:
"Phoenix followed up its solid 45-37 season under first-year coach Jordan Ott with a string of transactions that kept the core in place while swinging for one major new addition in Bridges. The 28-year-old forward averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Charlotte last season," wrote Dave McMenamin.
"The Suns, however, parted with two rotation players in Allen and O'Neale to acquire Bridges, but the 2-for-1 pact could help Ott find minutes for everyone this season, especially if Jalen Green is back healthy from his hamstring injury that sabotaged his first season with the team."
That kind of movement doesn’t suddenly catapult Phoenix into the title race, but it does give the roster a little more juice around the edges. The bigger hope is that added talent, along with continuity and better health, can help the Suns take another step after their surprise run to the playoffs last season.
Even with the upgrade, the flaws are still easy to spot. Phoenix remains light on size across the lineup, and the lack of a true point guard continues to be a concern for fans watching the offense.
Zoom out, and the path in the West still looks steep with San Antonio and Oklahoma City rolling the way they are. That’s part of what makes the Suns such an interesting team to watch: they won 45 games last season, but the ceiling still feels unsettled.
With Booker, Green and Brooks forming the center of the conversation, Phoenix enters the year with a mix of hope and uncertainty. The championship talk can wait. For now, the Suns look like a team with enough upside to be dangerous when next season arrives.
In Other News...
Suns Already Facing Big Miles Bridges Question After Bold Trade
Miles Bridges is already giving the Suns a new kind of offseason dilemma, because the trade that brought him over from Charlotte looks like more than a one-year rental. Phoenix moved to add the power forward with an eye on what comes next, and league chatter has already turned to whether the team wants to keep him around long term after this upcoming season. General manager Brian Gregory has publicly highlighted Bridges competitiveness and energy, while Bridges has said his focus is on helping the Suns chase a championship.
The contract situation is what makes this so interesting for Phoenix. Bridges is on an expiring deal, which means the Suns have to decide quickly whether this is just a bold swing for immediate help or the start of a deeper commitment. After sending Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen, and draft-pick swaps to Charlotte, the front office has made clear it sees real value here, and the next step will tell the story of how far it wants to go. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Ott Looks Like The Coach The Suns Desperately Needed
Jordan Otts first season in Phoenix gave the Suns something they had been missing for a while: stability with a clear identity. After a summer of low expectations, the team pushed its way back into the playoffs and did it with a top 10 defense, while also finding ways to fold new pieces into the rotation. Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams were among the additions that had to be absorbed on the fly, and Otts ability to keep the group organized through the inevitable bumps was a big part of why the season did not go sideways.
The bigger reason the year matters for Phoenix is that Ott appears to fit the structure above him as much as the roster around him. Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia have been looking for a coach who can turn a perceived weakness into a strength, and Otts first run suggested that might be exactly what they found. The next test is whether that same approach holds when the roster changes again, especially with the Miles Bridges acquisition looming as the kind of move that can reshape the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]