The Phoenix Suns may go to the wilderness a few years ago as a result of the removal of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but every time they can get one on the Los Angeles Lakers it is worth celebrating. They are probably the biggest rival that the valley has in the competition, and it always feels like their happiness is in Los Angeles, something goes their way to change that.
Landing Luka Doncic on the Handelsdeadline The most recent example last season, while the Slovenian avoided a big knee injury while he played happily again in a way that the Suns would not have happened for his country. Instead, they have the next five years on their books, despite the gone of him, and a young schedule with more questions than answers.
Suns have the chance to prove Lakers with Mark Williams.
About the only thing that connects the rising Lakers and faltering suns at the moment is Center Mark Williams, who acted curiously in a curious way for almost immediately after drawing up the 18-year-old Big Man Prospect, Khaman Maluach. It was the Lakers who tried to land the former Charlotte Hornet for the first time around the time they waved to Doncic, but the 23-year-old failed a medical and packaging was sent.
However, the Suns did not seem to go on and they broke up with a first Rounder from 2029 Plus the 19th Pick in this year’s design in Liam McNeely to acquire him. This is clearly a risk, but it is one that has the potential to pay en masse in the valley, which in the process would deny that the Lakers could be the last part of their own puzzle.
Williams never played more than 43 games in a season, but that number was hit by the last time out. Looking at this optimistic, and perhaps the worst of his injury -standing behind him, even if that is wishful thinking when it comes to discussing centers. Their bodies after breaking off are rarely better, but there are exceptions to every line.
Marking. Williams.@ Markwi1liams | @drepeper | 📹 @Fdsn_hornets pic.twitter.com/fwuzop5bxv
– Charlotte Hornets (@Hornets) March 21, 2025
The Suns also don’t even need Williams to wear a huge charge – something that would not have been the case in Los Angeles – because they will give Maluach repetitions early to see if he can be something. Also worth remembering is Nick Richards, another center from Charlotte, who is still on this Roster if the third big and still an important role could play if Williams goes down again.
The failure of the Lakers to take a gamble on Williams also led them to pick up the former first general choice in the Valley Deandre Ayton this summer, which could be very counterproductive. Ayton’s time at the Portland Trail Blazers was underwhelming, and you could now make the business if Williams is healthy, he is the better big man you have in your rotation.
At least he wants to defend and uses his enormous framework to be a deterrent at the defensive end, which has rarely been the case for Ayton outside that run to the NBA Finals 2021. Williams is also the perfect lob threat to Devin Booker and Jalen Green, and the same would have been true if he besides Doncic and Lebron.
So at a time when the rich became richer in Hollywood, the Suns have a real opportunity to prove that the front office of Lakers blew it in rejecting Williams. If he can play 60 games, play a double-double on average and the suns of the fourth worst defensive team in efficiency can change to an average competition last season, then this will be a home run.
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