Suns trade for Center Mark Williams

[Yuma]

I am OK with both Centers. Williams was starting over Richardson, and will do it again here. Upgrade. Maluach is better tha Oso. Upgrade. Are people going to be mad we upgraded our starting center and back up center in one night? It seems it's more like the price of Williams being two low first rounders that's stuck in everyone's craw.

 

[Folster]

Nobody wanted the suns to draft a center after they got one at 10.

I was referring to predraft.

 

[Finito]

So don't get any new centers? Commit to Richards and Oso? C'mon we needed to upgrade in that area and we did so with relative low cost.

We literally have 5 shooting guards and 3 centers on the roster. Spending 3 1st on two centers is it a low cost.

This isn’t a massive huge upgrade I think Suns fans need to come to grips with reality. I love the Maluach pick I really do but make no mistake he’s very very much a project the other guy like it’s been beaten to death has never played in more than half a season, has an injury list a mile long on top of that he’s in the last year of his contract.

Acting like we are just set with these two guys moving forward isn’t reality

 

[SunsTzu]

My only concern is my suspicion the Suns agreed to trade for Williams before Maluach fell to them.

While pretty stupid(like trading out of the '04 draft thinking Igoudala would be gone), I'd at least be encouraged that they still stuck with drafting the player they thought was the best available.

Overall I am indifferent to the trade regardless. His contract status may complicate things a bit but if he stays healthy and productive they could more than recoup their cost at the trade deadline, and if not the investment wasn't that much for me to be upset about it.

I'm far more worried about the idea of having a Booker/Green backcourt, which it sounds like they are inexplicably content with.

 

[Finito]

I am OK with both Centers. Williams was starting over Richardson, and will do it again here. Upgrade. Maluach is better tha Oso. Upgrade. Are people going to be mad we upgraded our starting center and back up center in one night? It seems it's more like the price of Williams being two low first rounders that's stuck in everyone's craw.

If they traded 5 second round picks for Williams cool, I’d they traded 29 for Williams cool. If they traded 29, 3 2nd rounders for Williams cool

It’s the future 1. Like dude we are so strapped for assets. Good teams are hoarding them and we are giving them away like no one else in the NBA

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

what were the lukas going to trade for williams?

 

[SunsTzu]

what were the lukas going to trade for williams?

Dalton Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round draft pick and a 2030 pick swap

 

[Mainstreet]

ESPN's updated mock suggests Alija Martin at #52. Seems a poorman's Jace Richardson.

Thinking the Suns will draft a point guard unless they use second round picks, now or future, to sweeten a trade.

Suns gotta bring back one of Gillespie or Washington.

 

[95pro]

We literally have 5 shooting guards and 3 centers on the roster. Spending 3 1st on two centers is it a low cost.

This isn’t a massive huge upgrade I think Suns fans need to come to grips with reality. I love the Maluach pick I really do but make no mistake he’s very very much a project the other guy like it’s been beaten to death has never played in more than half a season, has an injury list a mile long on top of that he’s in the last year of his contract.

Acting like we are just set with these two guys moving forward isn’t reality

Allen, Book and Green yes.
No one considers Beal a part of our future.
Brooks and Oneal can play up, and play the 3 mostly already.

Using words like "massive huge upgrade" is putting words out there that no one has said.
Very simply put, Maluach and Williams are better than Plum and Oso.

And 'acting like' we are done making moves by settling for 5 shooting guards and 3 centers for our roster is short sighted.

 

[Mainstreet]

Allen, Book and Green yes.
No one considers Beal a part of our future.
Brooks and Oneal can play up, and play the 3 mostly already.

Using words like "massive huge upgrade" is putting words out there that no one has said.
Very simply put, Maluach and Williams are better than Plum and Oso.

And 'acting like' we are done making moves by settling for 5 shooting guards and 3 centers for our roster is short sighted.

I know it's massive overkill, but I'd like to keep Nick Richards until the Suns get the Suns the center position figured out.

Although, not related, keeping Cody Martin would help solidify the Suns at forward.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I know it's massive overkill, but I'd like to keep Nick Richards until the Suns get the Suns the center position figured out.

Although, not related, keeping Cody Martin would help solidify the Suns at forward.

As a third center Nick Richard’s is fantastic. That said, I’ll be surprised if we keep him. We really need to get under the apron.

 

[Mainstreet]

As a third center Nick Richard’s is fantastic. That said, I’ll be surprised if we keep him. We really need to get under the apron.

Yeah, I know (especially with Oso), but if the Suns can trade/buyout Beal and then trade Allen or O'Neale it relieves some financial stress.

Richards if nothing else would be an insurance policy on a salary almost similar to a veteran minimum. They could always trade him later on.

I'm hoping the Suns find a way to keep Cody Martin. He can play some spot power forward.

 

[95pro]

I know it's massive overkill, but I'd like to keep Nick Richards until the Suns get the Suns the center position figured out.

Although, not related, keeping Cody Martin would help solidify the Suns at forward.

I didn't include Martin in there but yes, he could fit in with the 3/4 spot as well. His iq on defense is good!

As a third center Nick Richard’s is fantastic. That said, I’ll be surprised if we keep him. We really need to get under the apron.

That was my thought, Richards was a backup we tried as a starter, hoping we keep him as our third center.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I didn't include Martin in there but yes, he could fit in with the 3/4 spot as well. His iq on defense is good!



That was my thought, Richards was a backup we tried as a starter, hoping we keep him as our third center.

Agree with all this.

Interestingly I think our opening day roster in 2026 looks massively different than our opening day roster in 2025.

 

[95pro]

Agree with all this.

Interestingly I think our opening day roster in 2026 looks massively different than our opening day roster in 2025.

Between two starting caliber centers and one backup we have less than 15M tied up with them this season (of course pending Richards team option).

 

[Hoop Head]

One thing I know after watching highlights of our two new centers. There is going to be way more dunks coming from the center position this upcoming season.

I actually thought of how you viewed Oso as a lob target last year and was curious how you viewed the new Center duo. It speaks to the Suns history with bigs when anyone views Oso as a dunker. Williams and Maluach are definitely dunkers though.

 

[outcent13]

Makes sense to keep Richards as a backup center and he can play some PF as well. If we can somehow find a legit starter at PF (not sure he is a quality starter but maybe a swap for someone like Robert Williams for Grayson Allen) and we would have a pretty nice rotation of big guys . That’s 4-5 guys that have some serious length. Obviously health will be important but the athleticism that this group has is way better than last years rotation.

Edit: I meant Patrick Williams not Robert

 

[Finito]

Allen, Book and Green yes.
No one considers Beal a part of our future.
Brooks and Oneal can play up, and play the 3 mostly already.

Using words like "massive huge upgrade" is putting words out there that no one has said.
Very simply put, Maluach and Williams are better than Plum and Oso.

And 'acting like' we are done making moves by settling for 5 shooting guards and 3 centers for our roster is short sighted.

Ok so you are right it’s not a massive or big upgrade. We mildly upgraded center. We are not better than trash.

Until something is done with his contract he’s here and that means he’s part of our future because a lot of what we can do is based on him and his contract. He’s here like it or not.

Oh I’m short sighted oh ok not the front office but me huh.

This is a 30 win team wow

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Loved the Maluach pick, but following it up with Williams was definitely puzzling.

What do the Suns know about his medicals that the Lakers don't? His track record for staying healthy so far has been abysmal.

 

[TRW]

Loved the Maluach pick, but following it up with Williams was definitely puzzling.

What do the Suns know about his medicals that the Lakers don't? His track record for staying healthy so far has been abysmal.

Beal needs some company on the bench I guess.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think anyone really has an issue with Malauch - it's the Williams deal that is stupid.

I don't think it is. Maluach is a very young rookie who will take years to develop. Two picks at the end of the first round is not that much to pay for a legitimate starting center.

 

[Chaplin]

Most pundits think that the Lakers failing Williams' physical was them trying to back out of a deal they had regrets making in the first place.

 

[leclerc]

Interestingly I think our opening day roster in 2026 looks massively different than our opening day roster in 2025.

Welcome to the revolving door that is the Phoenix Suns. How many players on average do you think carry over from year to year? How many different players have we had the last 5 years? Compare that with winning clubs. I might do the math later.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

They agreed on the Williams trade 4 days before the draft

 

[Proximo]

I don't think it is. Maluach is a very young rookie who will take years to develop. Two picks at the end of the first round is not that much to pay for a legitimate starting center.

Again you are only looking at the deal in isolation.

It is stupid not so much because 2 late firsts for Williams is a bad price - it's because we already had Nick Richards as a competent backup, and really only Ryan Dunn as a forward.

We need forwards and those 2 firsts were our best chance of getting them.