3 way too early free agents for Suns to target next summer

The Phoenix Suns made a whole host of moves this offseason, with the focus now shifting towards building a contender once again around Devin Booker in the coming years. The path to achieving this will be difficult, although the franchise are at least off on the right foot by bringing in Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and three rookies.

Whether by future trades or each of these players hitting in Phoenix, the Suns now have options and flexibility to improve. With Booker having signed his two-year, $145 million extension to stick around through the rest of the decade as well, in theory there is a longer runway than fans could have imagined before Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal left in order to get back to contention.

Suns should be eyeing up these 2026 free agents.

You're unlikely to see the organization make any major moves next season - unless they can get Josh Giddey or Jonathan Kuminga for a steal - so that they can go after some bigger names next summer. The Suns are now below both aprons, while they have promised to get back to winning ways with Booker as quick as possible. These three players make a ton of sense to keep tabs on.

3. Mikal Bridges

They couldn't, could they? Giving away Mikal Bridges in the Durant deal still hurts fans in The Valley to this day, and he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. He seems happy with the New York Knicks by all accounts, but next season is a massive one for that team. With the Eastern Conference wide open, the time is now for the Knicks to take their chance.

If that doesn't happen - and should the Suns somehow bounce back in a better way than expected this coming season - could Bridges be tempted back to Phoenix? He's a more complete player than he was back then, but it's also fair to point out that no other city has ever embraced him as much as Phoenix has.

Bridges will be 30-years-old by that point, while Booker will be 29. Maybe this was always how it was supposed to be, Bridges leaving for a while before coming back as the definitive co-star alongside Book. It makes for a nice storybook ending - and although that rarely happens in this league - it is not as crazy as you might think.

2. De'Aaron Fox

Another player that is firmly in the "dream target" category for the Suns, but on paper there's at least a reason why player and team could have mutual interest a year from now. It has been well documented that the Suns don't have a long-term option at the point guard position, with guys like Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler holding it down currently.

But in De'Aaron Fox, could the organization land a former All-Star who is of a similar age to Booker. The front office might have gotten considerably younger this summer, but that doesn't mean the whole roster has to be moving forward. From the perspective of Fox - an unrestricted free agent in 2026 - the move could make sense for him as well.

Although he looked like the perfect addition for the San Antonio Spurs when they traded for him, that's not quite the case anymore. They also boast reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, while they just drafted Dylan Harper. This is a great problem for them to have - but if the runway is extended as Victor Wembanyama continues to improve - don't be surprised if Fox looks for pastures new.

1. John Collins

John Collins topping this list isn't meant to end on a downer, but rather bring a dose of reality to the Suns' plans for next summer. Although they're still in the mix for Kuminga, if their rumored package doesn't move the needle and the Golden State Warriors opt to keep him, Collins could end up being a consolation prize of sorts.

He's one of the most polarizing players in the league, and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer as well. Collins was traded to the L.A. Clippers this offseason - where he will team up with former Suns Beal and Chris Paul - and he's still only 27-years-old. But playing alongside those two guys, plus James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and even Brook Lopez, Collins will struggle to shine.

Which makes a possible move for him down the road all the more likely. He's not going to command a five-year, $125 million deal like he received from the Atlanta Hawks in the past, while the Clippers will have some big decisions to make if their all-in season doesn't pan out. This might not be the name you want to see, but there's plausible reasons why both Collins and the Suns could end up together.