The Suns’ ceiling in 2026-27 might not hinge only on the names everyone already knows. Depth and development could wind up being the real swing factors, and Phoenix has a few young pieces who might make that happen.
One of the most interesting names is Fleming. After showing some good flashes in his rookie season, he’s positioned for a bigger role in year two, especially with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale gone.
At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Fleming has the kind of frame that jumps off the page, but the next step is more about function than tools. He’ll need to hold up as a 3-and-D player first, then build from there and show more of the full package.
If his late-season shooting carries over and he reins in the moments when he got too aggressive defensively, there’s a real ceiling here - particularly if Jordan Ott puts meaningful minutes in front of him.
Goodwin is another player who figures to stay under the radar. He was already labeled the Suns’ most underrated player last season, and he may end up overlooked again now that he’s headed back to the bench after playing only five minutes in Phoenix’s first-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder because of a calf injury.
Still, his value was obvious. Goodwin was Phoenix’s best defender last season, and his knack for forcing turnovers and crashing the offensive glass at 6-foot-3 fit perfectly in Ott’s system and helped the Suns win games.
If he keeps doing that and knocks down threes at a strong rate, he should have another major impact.
Then there’s Maluach, who might have the highest upside of the group. He’s entering his second year after barely seeing the court as a rookie, but the talent is there.
If he can carve out minutes in a crowded center rotation, his work around the rim, shot-blocking, and 3-point touch could matter a lot for Phoenix. He may need another year or two to really settle in, especially with the way the rotation is set up, which is why he lands third here.
But after an impressive Summer League, he at least has a clear path to building momentum if the opportunity opens up.
In Other News...
Suns Just Turned Devin Booker Criticism Into A Public Statement
A recent podcast take on Devin Booker quickly spilled beyond the usual noise cycle, and the Suns made sure it did not hang in the air unanswered. On Players Choice, Suns Valley Podcast co-host Gabe Guerrero questioned whether Bookers game impacts winning enough to carry a team to a championship, and the reaction from within Phoenix was immediate. The Suns own social media team followed by highlighting Bookers playmaking, a clear nod to the value he brings beyond scoring.
Collin Gillespie also chimed in by reposting the clip in support of Booker, giving the pushback a little extra weight from inside the locker room orbit. Guerrero later offered a clarification on his comments, saying he was talking about Booker in the context of playing point guard, even though that framing was not explicit in the original segment. For a player whose role keeps expanding, it turned a debate about style into a broader reminder of how closely Phoenix is watching the conversation around its star. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Just Drew A Firm Line On Devin Booker
Mat Ishbia used a fan Q&A to make one thing clear about Devin Booker: the Suns are not treating their franchise scorer like a name to be shopped around. The team owner, who is originally from Michigan, said he has no interest in moving Booker despite a fan request, reinforcing how central Booker remains to Phoenix after being drafted in 2015 and becoming the face of the clubs long-term plans.
The exchange also carried a little extra edge because of the destination involved, with the Pistons mentioned in the request and Ishbia drawing a firm line in response. For a team trying to keep its identity anchored around Booker, the message mattered less as a headline-grabber than as a reminder that Phoenixs most important player is still being treated as untouchable from the owners seat. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Fans Know The Center Gamble Miami May Be Making
Nick Richards latest workout has put a familiar name back in the center conversation, this time in Miami, where the Heat are sorting through a shallow group of big men. Richards, who most recently appeared with the Chicago Bulls, spent time starting for Phoenix and gave the Suns a look at a position that needed stability, even if the fit never quite felt ideal.
For Suns fans, the optics are easy to read because the team moved on by trading for Mark Williams as a clear upgrade in the middle. Miami is now weighing whether Richards can fill a similar gap, but the question hanging over the situation is the same one Phoenix already answered in its own way. [Read more 🡒]