Suns Off Season Changes for 2025-26

[Ronin]

Suns offseason review: A needed refresh with clashing vision

The Phoenix Suns completed their overhaul but ended it with two visions clashing against one another.

arizonasports.com

 

[Ronin]

Suns Preferred Marcus Smart Over Chris Paul Due To Coaching Staff Concerns

Suns Preferred Marcus Smart Over Chris Paul Due To Coaching Staff Concerns - RealGM Wiretap

basketball.realgm.com

 

[Phrazbit]

Phrazbit, hate to break it to you, but with Booker’s ridiculous contract and Green’s deal, we’re already one of those teams. And probably near the bottom of them.

If you think Booker's contract is underwater you don't understand the NBA at all. Booker is still eminently tradable, even with the new deal. He'd bring in a huge haul.

We also probably should trade him, because his value almost certainly isn't going to get increase, but it's clearly not going to happen.

Green on the other hand, that contract is garbage and it's embarrassing that it got dumped on us in the Durant trade.

If Maluach doesn't pan out we will have traded Durant for basically nothing.

 

[Raindog]

If you think Booker's contract is underwater you don't understand the NBA at all. Booker is still eminently tradable, even with the new deal. He'd bring in a huge haul.

We also probably should trade him, because his value almost certainly isn't going to get increase, but it's clearly not going to happen.

Green on the other hand, that contract is garbage and it's embarrassing that it got dumped on us in the Durant trade.

If Maluach doesn't pan out we will have traded Durant for basically nothing.

If the Suns get off to a very bad start next year (which I fully expect), they will be entertaining trade offers for Booker by the deadline.

 

[Phrazbit]

If the Suns get off to a very bad start next year (which I fully expect), they will be entertaining trade offers for Booker by the deadline.

I don't think they trade him until he demands it, and right now I believe him when he says he wants to be a one team player.

However... I would say that if we stink next season (which we almost certainly will) and we are stinking again the year after, at that point Booker might decide he doesn't want to spend the remainder of his prime surrounded by castoffs, struggling late round picks and min contract guys.

 

[Covert Rain]

If the Suns get off to a very bad start next year (which I fully expect), they will be entertaining trade offers for Booker by the deadline.

You think? I don’t see that happening unless Book demands it or is nearing the end of his contract.

 

[GatorAZ]

Book isn’t getting traded unless he requests it and if the Suns are bad enough for him to request a trade it means he’s not playing at an all-NBA for two years in a row. When you add the contract into the mix we’re stuck with him for better or worse.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If you think Booker's contract is underwater you don't understand the NBA at all.

Yeah… stopped reading here. Can’t have an objective convo with the biggest Booker Booster on the board who immediately goes on attack any time any part of Booker is questioned.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Book isn’t getting traded unless he requests it and if the Suns are bad enough for him to request a trade it means he’s not playing at an all-NBA for two years in a row. When you add the contract into the mix we’re stuck with him for better or worse.

Bingo.

 

[Ronin]

If you think Booker's contract is underwater you don't understand the NBA at all.

Stop with the digs.

Yeah… stopped reading here. Can’t have an objective convo with the biggest Booker Booster on the board who immediately goes on attack any time any part of Booker is questioned.

That means you too. Stop it.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah… stopped reading here. Can’t have an objective convo with the biggest Booker Booster on the board who immediately goes on attack any time any part of Booker is questioned.

Good lord dude... I literally in that post said we should trade him and his value is not going to get higher.

I expect our opinions on him are not far apart at all, but you do you.

 

[Hoop Head]

Book isn’t getting traded unless he requests it and if the Suns are bad enough for him to request a trade it means he’s not playing at an all-NBA for two years in a row. When you add the contract into the mix we’re stuck with him for better or worse.

Booker had better stats than a number of players who received votes for All-NBA but with the new league rules around games played he fell short of qualifying. He wasn't the only guy in that category either as Embiid was a recent MVP and didn't qualify and neither did KD. The production matters more than the recognition.


I do agree that Booker won't be dealt until he asks though. I don't see that happening this year. Calling for Booker to be dealt is like asking for Ishbia to sell. It's not going to happen so I don't see the point in beating that drum all season. Maybe he asks out but I'd be surprised if he does so this year.

 

[Covert Rain]

When I was younger I used to be one of those fans that would say you better hold on to my favorite player no matter what. As I get older, I just want to see a title before I kick this mortal coil. So, as much as I love Book, I don't get attached to players above the franchise. That's why I would like to see them trade Book while he has peak value (assuming they don't pull off some miraculous move to get a #1 to play with him).

 

[Raindog]

Booker had better stats than a number of players who received votes for All-NBA but with the new league rules around games played he fell short of qualifying. He wasn't the only guy in that category either as Embiid was a recent MVP and didn't qualify and neither did KD. The production matters more than the recognition.


I do agree that Booker won't be dealt until he asks though. I don't see that happening this year. Calling for Booker to be dealt is like asking for Ishbia to sell. It's not going to happen so I don't see the point in beating that drum all season. Maybe he asks out but I'd be surprised if he does so this year.

I don't know, man. Being bad and not selling tickets can change minds pretty fast. Depending on how dire both of those situations get and how soon, at the very least, next summer could be a jumping off point for both parties.

What other realistic possibilities for improvement will the organization be looking at come this time next year? It's quite possible (and even likely) the Suns will be coming off a sub 30 win season, without a draft pick or any meaningful cap space.

 

[Proximo]

I dunno man. Viable young 7 footers with talent are very hard to come by.
I am pretty happy with what we got...and we dont have stress later when ownership trades away the unprotected pick for some 30 year old wunderkid on his last legs....and watch it turn into a top three pick

I wasn't that excited with the pick in the first place, because to me Maluach's most likely outcome is mid tier starter. He just isn't that great an athlete. I like that he seems really motivated and is just turning 19, so improvement may continue.

Top 4 picks next year are supposed to be star type players, no guarantee that pick turns out to be that - but I think odds of it turning out that way and getting a star are probably a bit better than Maluach becoming a star, and we would have got the 23rd pick to boot.

 

[Proximo]

If the Suns get off to a very bad start next year (which I fully expect), they will be entertaining trade offers for Booker by the deadline.

No, not by the deadline. Maybe at year end if it goes really badly.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wasn't that excited with the pick in the first place, because to me Maluach's most likely outcome is mid tier starter. He just isn't that great an athlete. I like that he seems really motivated and is just turning 19, so improvement may continue.

Top 4 picks next year are supposed to be star type players, no guarantee that pick turns out to be that - but I think odds of it turning out that way and getting a star are probably a bit better than Maluach becoming a star, and we would have got the 23rd pick to boot.

I'm surprised. I think his most likely outcome is somewhere between bust and Bol Bol. "Mid tier starter" would be way down on the outcomes list IMO. Honestly we should be thrilled if he becomes a mid tier starter but his allure is that if he hits in all areas he could be the next great big man. Granted, very few ever reach their peak but he has some impressive physical gifts and work ethic in his favor.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm surprised. I think his most likely outcome is somewhere between bust and Bol Bol. "Mid tier starter" would be way down on the outcomes list IMO. Honestly we should be thrilled if he becomes a mid tier starter but his allure is that if he hits in all areas he could be the next great big man. Granted, very few ever reach their peak but he has some impressive physical gifts and work ethic in his favor.

Right now, Maluach is a step slow. Whether he can overcome it by increasing his basketball IQ remains to be seen. Other big men have done it and he is young.

I think his upside is better than Bol Bol because Bol isn't built to play inside.

Now, we see why Khaman was setting lots of screens at Duke.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't know, man. Being bad and not selling tickets can change minds pretty fast. Depending on how dire both of those situations get and how soon, at the very least, next summer could be a jumping off point for both parties.

What other realistic possibilities for improvement will the organization be looking at come this time next year? It's quite possible (and even likely) the Suns will be coming off a sub 30 win season, without a draft pick or any meaningful cap space.

That's reasonable but that's next summer. I don't see any chance Booker is moved this season, now through the deadline. Maybe I'm wrong but all signs point towards the Suns retooling now and reassessing the future next off-season.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm surprised. I think his most likely outcome is somewhere between bust and Bol Bol. "Mid tier starter" would be way down on the outcomes list IMO. Honestly we should be thrilled if he becomes a mid tier starter but his allure is that if he hits in all areas he could be the next great big man. Granted, very few ever reach their peak but he has some impressive physical gifts and work ethic in his favor.

I'm surprised by the Bol Bol mention. I think Maluach is Alex Len at worst and a better version of Ayton at best. Time will tell, of course. Since Maluach is essentially all defense now though the Bol Bol mention doesn't make sense to me.

 

[boisesuns]

This coming suns season already left the bench and the ghost of David stern suspended it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm surprised by the Bol Bol mention. I think Maluach is Alex Len at worst and a better version of Ayton at best. Time will tell, of course. Since Maluach is essentially all defense now though the Bol Bol mention doesn't make sense to me.

I was talking more about impact level than style of play. I think Maluach will be an impactful player if we can keep him on the court but right now, his reactions and awareness are too slow for him to be playable at this level. He has to think his way through everything (I'm assuming) so maybe with coaching and some experience he can improve his reaction speed. But right now he's a project that wouldn't see the court for a winning team.

 

[Proximo]

I'm surprised. I think his most likely outcome is somewhere between bust and Bol Bol. "Mid tier starter" would be way down on the outcomes list IMO. Honestly we should be thrilled if he becomes a mid tier starter but his allure is that if he hits in all areas he could be the next great big man. Granted, very few ever reach their peak but he has some impressive physical gifts and work ethic in his favor.

It's not that hard to be a mid tier starter at center, we just got one for 2 late 1st's.

So I assume then you agree we should have made the trade.

 

[Phrazbit]

Bol was in many ways his own worst enemy. He foolishly thinks he is a ball handler while being utterly terrible at it. He wants to play away from the rim when physically it’s the only part of the court where he can be competitive.

Watching him during warmups before the game and at halftime gave me the general impression that he is a goofball, very childish. He basically only did trick shots and would miss them all, the only player I recall goofing around so much during warmups and taking deliberately stupid shots was Ayton, and he probably did it half as often as Bol.

As for Mauach… it seems like his head is screwed on right, the fact remains he is raw and he’s 18 and the bust rate on players like him is extremely high. When you’re too raw to get on the court, it’s hard to develop. I hope we are patient enough to play him through a lot of growing pains.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I’ve got high hopes for Khaman. But I’m also extremely aware he could be the next yinka dare or Kandiman