Suns must steal ideal blueprint to unlock Mark Williams

Of all the new additions that the Phoenix Suns brought to the valley before the 2025-26 season, few have the kind of pressure on their shoulders that Mark Williams does. The 23-year-old considered one of the more impressive Bigs in the competition, the problem so far is his inability to stay on the field.

This was the reason that his trade in the Los Angeles Lakers broke at the deadline last season, and also why the Suns could pick it up at a reduced price. Because Phoenix also needs Williams to give real minutes for them – it will take Rookie Kaman Maluach some time to adapt to the competition – the pressure is on him to stay healthy and to contribute immediately.

The key to unlocking Williams can be a weak side destruction.

While many consider Williams as the physical center that will hide the paint against opponents – and he will be – what if the Suns decide to go with him in a different direction? Although not the most mobile, he certainly has athletics when he is healthy to dispute shots outside of the paint, although it is smoked by faster guards of the bouncer.

But if he slimming a little to save his lower limbs from the stress where they have already been imposed, under which it has led to all that missed time, it could create a new wrinkle in the defensive diagrams of the Suns. Last season they allow a horrible 117.7 points per match, so the only way for this group is to that end.

But with teammates such as Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn and Oso ighodaro – as well as a few colleagues in Maluach and Nick Richards – the Suns will not need Williams as traditionally as in Charlotte. Instead if he could patrol the weak side and play plays and put on action on that side of the court, it would correct the action against Brooks and Dunn.

They could then use their height and much better perimeter defending skills to lock up opponents, and in some cases it would also enable Williams to go back under the basket to protect it. This may seem like a stupid use of his capacities, but this season is an empty canvas for the Suns. They have to look at all the options to try to improve, and Williams is still so young.

It is a huge question to believe that he can be just as effective as Giannis Antetokounmpo in this role, but now it’s time to try it. He has never been considered a large -star level large – but if the suns want to start with this rebuilding – then they need certain boys to exceed their coverage. Changing Williams into a dual defensive threat seems an ideal place to start. Certainly worth considering.