3 Suns who are already fighting for their spots in rotation

The Phoenix Suns might be in a rebuilding phase around superstar Devin Booker - but if you look long and hard at the roster they have assembled - then you will eventually come to a positive conclusion. Although talk of a championship is now a long way off once more - this team will be looking to get to 35 wins this coming season - the franchise suddenly finds itself with a little bit of depth.

Part of the reason for this is because expectations have changed, and so they don't need every player on the roster to be the best version of themselves in 2025-26. There are three rookies in Phoenix this season, while Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are going to be given every opportunity to show they are part of the long-term plans here.

3 Suns already fighting for spot in Suns' rotation.

With preseason action now underway, we already have some idea of how exactly head coach Jordan Ott plans on using the players at his disposal. It was interesting to see Tom Thibodeau take in a couple of practices in The Valley recently, yet another indication that this team will be one built on the defensive end. Already these three guys are on the outside looking in.

3. Royce O'Neale

The preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers may not make this feel apparent just yet, but Royce O'Neale is going to struggle to get consistent minutes in the near future. The Suns were missing two of their five starters in Jalen Green and Mark Williams in that win, yet O'Neale still only managed 14 minutes of action.

Grayson Allen started the contest, which is not going to be the case when Green does return. That will have a knock-on impact on the court time that O'Neale sees, with the similar skill set between the two players well documented. The only way O'Neale breaks this cycle is if he can regularly shoot better than 40 percent from deep, but he has to be on the court to do so.

Which makes him the perfect trade candidate for a bunch of other teams once the season begins. It is clear coach Ott is leaning into that aforementioned defensive mentality - that was also on display versus Los Angeles - and although O'Neale can defend certain players, it is not an area he truly excels. A tough spot for the 32-year-old to be in.

2. Nick Richards

You would have thought at the absence of Williams would be good news for third string center Nick Richards, and in some ways it was. He played better than expected versus the Lakers, and saw 12 minutes of action. Putting up nine points - the second most off the bench - was a nice bonus for the Suns.

But you read between the lines - even if Williams is out for a period of time - Richards is going to find minutes hard to come by. Coach Ott started second year forward Oso Ighodaro at center, while rookie Khaman Maluach was also given some run. His massive frame was evident right away, while outscoring Deandre Ayton was plain funny.

The reality is that Richards isn't nearly as physically imposing as Maluach - and while you can make the case he has more in his bag offensively than both the rookie and Ighodaro - it is not so good that he can be ignored. The Suns are going to get their points from elsewhere, and need large and mobile bigs to clog the paint. Richards isn't quite that, which is why he won't see the court much.

1. Jordan Goodwin

A surprise to see here given how popular a figure point guard Jordan Goodwin is in The Valley, but the situation has changed in Phoenix since he was last on the roster. Already Booker looks as comfortable as ever playing as the playmaker for this group, and he's finally got some athletic big men to play with which also helps.

But Goodwin's path to a steady role as the third choice floor general is now being impeded by new recruit Jared Butler. You can't base an entire season off one preseason game, but it was telling that coach Ott played Butler 16 minutes, giving Goodwin only 10. The same amount that David Duke Jr. managed, proving Goodwin is only trending in one direction in this rotation.

The trip to Macau is a great opportunity for Goodwin to change the narrative here, and of the three players mentioned his path back into a more regular role is the easiest to see happening. If Booker goes back off ball more - and if Butler falters even a little - Goodwin will be given more of a chance. We've seen from his time in Phoenix and Los Angeles before, that he can take those opportunities.