Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Move 1 - Extend Mark Williams
Following their ‘out of the blue’ trade with the Charlotte Hornets on the night of the 2025 NBA Draft where Phoenix acquired Mark Williams.
The former Duke man has looked like his former self pre all the injury struggles.
In 60 games, Williams averaged 11.7 points and exactly 8 rebounds per night while using his elite frame and size to bully his opponents on both ends of the floor.
Following his famous rescinded trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, the question with the 24 year-old is always going to be “can he stay healthy?” but Phoenix needs a young, athletic center who can protect the rim, rebound consistently, and finish efficiently in the paint.
Williams provides all of those things when healthy so extending him to a sensible contract seems like the best course of action.
If the Suns still believe in Williams’s upside long term, securing his future to a ‘team friendly deal’ when a number of other franchises are still focused on his availability but ability. Jordan Ott’s side could get what looks like a steal of a contract this summer.
Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)
Move 2 - Trade Oso Ighodaro and focus on the development of Khaman Maluach
Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball over Kenrich Williams #34 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)
Understandably when you don’t own your first round pick, the extremely raw rookie center’s game time is not the priority - winning is but Phoenix have a real talent on their hands in Khaman Maluach so I believe moving on from their current back up center Oso Ighodaro despite his productivity in the name of giving Maluach his minutes is in the franchise's best interests in the long term.
As we have seen with the likes of Collin Murray-Boyles and Derik Queen from the same draft class is that an uptick in playing time often correlates to a faster development.
Regular NBA minutes would allow Maluach to adjust to the speed and physicality of the league faster.
The Suns need to think about their future, not only short term success, and developing a talented young player like the 7ft1 big man could yield fruit for the franchise in the long term
The South Sudan International averaged just 8.9 minutes per game during the regular season but saw an increase in playing time to 11 minutes on average during his Suns team’s 4 game series with the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder.
Move 3 - Don't trade Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green
Jalen Green #4 talks to Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Alongside Maluach, the two main pieces the Suns got in last summer’s Kevin Durant trade with the Houston Rockets both made an impact far larger than many were expecting.
Dillon Brooks provided a much needed toughness and defense, which visibly helped his team when the Canadian was on the floor.
Brooks averaged an impressive 20.2 points per game last season while often guarding the opposing team’s best player.
The 30 year old also shot 43.5% from three-point range, making him valuable on both ends of the court. His energy, physical defense, and competitiveness help set the tone for the team and seemed like a real culture shifter for Phoenix since his arrival.
When Brooks was not on the floor, the energy and dynamic felt off for Phoenix proving how integral he was throughout the regular season.
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
As for Jalen Green, the heavily criticised Guard only featured in 32 games for his new team due to a lengthy hamstring injury at the start of the season.
Green’s disappointing post season with the Rockets in 2025 was the main catalyst why the team that drafted him #2 overall in 2021 wanted to move on but in Phoenix’s series with the Thunder a different Green showed up.
The 24 year-old shone as Devin Booker’s ‘right hand man’ averaging a post season best 21.7 points over the series and while playing over 37 minutes per night.
With only one more year until a reported $36 million ‘player option’, there is no need for the Suns to make any moves including Green at this moment.
Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the first half in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Let the dynamic guard have a full off-season and see if you get the same player you saw in the playoffs.
Could Green be the long term answer to the 2 spot in Arizona, I guess only time and luck with injuries will tell.
Move 4 - Test the Waters on the Grayson Allen Trade Market
Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Four on April 27, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Coming into his eighth season in the NBA, it’s safe to say expectations were not particularly high for Grayson Allen as a real contributor.
But despite a couple of injury setbacks the 30 year-old enjoyed his best season by a country mile all while helping his side beat the odds to make the post season after a year away in 2025.
Allen averaged 16.5 points per game and even chipped in with 3 rebounds and 3.8 assists to boot.
So why trade him? the former Duke sharpshooter is making an extremely tradable $18.1 million next season and would be the perfect piece to plug and play for a contending team.
Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
If Phoenix explore the trade market and discover that a team with ambitions at the pinnacle of the sport are willing to part with a valuable First Round Pick then I think it’s best to ‘sell high’ on Allen and try to rebuild what small amount of draft capital the Suns front office still have access to.
Also, despite putting up a career best in points outlay, the 30 year-old’s calling card - behind the arc shooting was at its lowest level since he arrived into the league in 2018.
To drop from 42.6 to 34.9% from three is concerning and could signify a problem if Allen’s percentages don’t improve and the impressive production also slows down.