3 Suns who will outperform expectations next season

There is no doubt that the Phoenix Suns are about to enter a re-tooling phase that will define the rest of their decade. If they are able to see improvement around Devin Booker quickly - and that will mean rookies contributing sooner than expected and this guy having a big defensive impact - then the over/under of around 31.5 wins for them is going to look very foolish.

That is the optimistic viewpoint however - and although the likes of Koby Brea got people talking at Summer League with their play - there is no guarantee that will translate to a long regular season that on most nights will feature the Suns playing superior opponents. The Valley is on board with this though, because they know this version of the team at least cares and will try.

These three Suns will outperform expectations in 2025-26.

No two players in Phoenix have the same expectations thrust upon them for obvious reasons, and we've made the case nobody will have more pressure on them to perform than Jalen Green. That's the price for being the main name the Suns got back in a Kevin Durant trade, although there's plenty to like about the 23-year-old's offensive game.

3. Ryan Dunn

If you thought last year's version of the Suns was set up for a rookie Ryan Dunn to excel, you haven't seen anything yet. He came out of the blocks hot because he couldn't miss from 3-point range - which had not been on the scouting report - but once he cooled down from beyond the arc, so too did his production.

Dunn was still among the best wing and man-to-man defenders that roster had, and it was highlighted all the more because of the lack of effort from basically everybody else. The Suns allowed 117.7 points per game - the fourth worst mark in the league - but with Dunn out there it shrunk some to 115.1.

So while Dunn looked impressive because of his 6'8" frame and the fact that he was trying defensively every night, he'll be even better in year two because the team as a whole is now committed to defending each night. Head coach Jordan Ott is going to ensure that happens as well, which could see Dunn start some games and help the Suns' defensive rating come down even more.

2. Devin Booker

You might be surprised to see the Suns' best player on this list - but when you look back on last season - the only way is up for a superstar (which is what Booker still is) bang in his prime. We've already seen some in the media peg Booker for a massive season next year, and it makes sense as everything is once again all about him.

Even the point guard dilemma that the organization has may have been solved without Booker's involvement, with rumors that Green could be the one to start the campaign. Whether that is true or not, the franchise cornerstone is going to get as many shots, touches and minutes as he wants in order to will this group to some wins.

He'll be an All-Star again, and we think he'll make All-NBA even if the Suns as a group don't make the play-in tournament. Having Durant and Bradley Beal in Phoenix made a lot of people forget just how electric a scorer - and serious a competitor - Booker is, and he is going to remind everybody while probably averaging 30 a night in the process. He is going to be so much fun to watch again.

1. Dillon Brooks

We're going all the way in on believing that Brooks can be the defensive lynchpin that the franchise has been missing for a long time. Comparisons to Draymond Green as a player are obviously well wide of the mark, but he can have that kind of impact in The Valley next season. The defensive quarterback talking his younger teammates through possessions.

Rookie big Khaman Maluach for example is going to love having Brooks to coach him through situations on the court, while he can be the Green to Booker's Stephen Curry in that he can be the bad guy that rival fans love to hate. We know how much he thrives in that role anyway, and he'll have a point to prove having been so readily shipped out of Houston by the Rockets.

Everything is set for Brooks to completely outperform expectations, and in truth outshine Green while he's doing it. The only way is up for the Suns as a defensive team, while he shot 39.7 percent on 6.3 attempts from deep last season, both career highs. There are some concerns in Texas that Brooks was the heart of their team - and now that he is gone - it is the Suns who will profit.