The Phoenix Suns may be in a reconstruction phase around superstar Devin Booker – but if you look for the schedule that they have collected long and hard – then you will eventually come to a positive conclusion. Although talking about a championship is now a long way away – this team will be looking for 35 wins this coming season – the franchise is suddenly with a little depth.
Part of the reason for this is because the expectations have changed, and so they do not need every player on the Roster as the best version of themselves in 2025-26. There are three Rookies in Phoenix this season, while Ryan Dunn and Oso ighodaro have every opportunity to show that they are part of the long -term plans.
3 Suns are already fighting for place in the rotation of Suns.
With now action on the action of the preseason, we already have an idea of how head coach Jordan Ott is planning to use the players at his disposal. It was interesting to see Tom Thibodeau recently included a few exercises in the valley, another indications that this team will be a built on the defensive end. These three boys are already on the outside and look inside.
3. Royce O’Neale
The win of the preseason at the Los Angeles Lakers may not make this clear, but Royce O’Neale will struggle to get consistent minutes in the near future. The Suns missed two of their five starters in Jalen Green and Mark Williams in that victory, but O’Neale still only succeeded 14 minutes of action.
Royce. HOW. pic.twitter.com/gtbxjdmsuh
– Phoenix Suns (@suns) October 4, 2025
Grayson Allen has started the game, which will not be the case when Green returns. That will have a Domino impact on the court period that O’Neale sees, with the similar skills between the two well-documented players. The only way O’Neale breaks this cycle is if he regularly can shoot better than 40 percent of deep, but he must be on the field to do this.
That makes him the perfect trade candidate for a number of other teams as soon as the season starts. It is clear that coach Ott leans to that aforementioned defensive mentality – which could also be seen in relation to Los Angeles – and although O’Neale can defend certain players, it is not an area that he really excels. A difficult place for the 32-year-old to be in.
2. Nick Richards
You would have thought that in the absence of Williams, good news would be for the third string center Nick Richards, and in some respects it was. He played better than expected versus the Lakers and saw 12 minutes of action. Nine points up – the second most of the bank – was a nice bonus for the sunbathing.
But you read between the lines – even when Williams has been out for a while – Richards will find minutes difficult to come by. Coach Ott started the second year ahead of OSO ighodaro in the middle, while Rookie Kaman Maluach also got some run. Are massive Frame was immediately clear, while the scoring of Deandre Ayton was just funny.
The reality is that Richards does not have to be as physical as Maluach – and although you can make the business, he has more offensive in his bag than both the Rookie and ighodaro – it is not so good that he can be ignored. The Suns get their points from elsewhere and need large and mobile bigs to hide the paint. Richards is not entirely that, therefore he will not see the court much.
1. Jordan Goodwin
A surprise to see here, considering how popular a figure -Point Guard Jordan Goodwin is in the valley, but the situation has changed to Phoenix since he was last at the Roster. Booker looks as comfortable as always playing as the playmaker for this group, and he finally has a number of athletic big men to play with which helps.
But the path from Goodwin to a steady role, because the third choice of the floor is now hindered by new Recruit Jared Butler. You can’t base for a whole season on one pre -season match, but it said that coach Ott Butler played for 16 minutes and gave Goodwin only 10. The same amount that David Duke Jr. has managed, which shows that Goodwin is only in one direction in this rotation trending.
The trip to Macau is a great opportunity for Goodwin to change the story here, and of the three players called his path back in a more regular role to see the easiest happening. If Booker goes back more with the ball – and if butler even staggeres a bit, Goodwin gets a better chance. We have previously seen from his time in Phoenix and Los Angeles that he can use those opportunities.
#suns #fighting #places #rotation