The Phoenix Suns have several roster questions to address this offseason, and extending center Mark Williams should be top of that list.
Although some believe Collin Gillespie and even Jordan Goodwin are higher priorities, the franchise gave up a pair of firsts for the 24-year-old only last summer.
Joel Embiid has proven need for traditional bigs to win in NBA
In an unexpected turn of events, none other than Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has given the front office in Phoenix plenty to think about.
The former MVP is always injured, and has missed over 150 games across the last three seasons alone. Yet when the team needed him versus the Boston Celtics, he finally answered.
Boston having no answers for Embiid, who used his massive frame to ensure Nikola Vucevic and Luka Garza are never serious parts of a playoff rotation in the NBA again.
Joe Mazzula basically decided that Nikola Vucevic is unplayable in Game 7, going with 6’6” rookie Hugo Gonzalez & Jaylen Brown to try to guard Joel Embiid in the post. Have to wonder about Vuc’s future in the league. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer.
— Mark Schanowski (@MarkSchanowski) May 3, 2026
At this point we do have to pump the brakes some, as we can all accept that Williams does not operate in the same galaxy as Embiid when both are healthy.
Offensively he is not close to the same weapon, while on the other end of the court he's not nearly as imposing as the 32-year-old.
But both have had their fair share of injuries, and both are capable of helping their team win games when they are healthy.
We saw proof of this in the Suns' sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. They struggled so badly with size across their frontcourt, that they played rookie Khaman Maluach big minutes.
Embiid having a moment for the more traditional bigs out there will do wonders for Williams at the negotiation table, with rumors already swirling that he may be trying to create a bidding war for his services.
Also at play here is the fact the front office gave up two firsts to acquire Williams, and so letting him walk and getting nothing in return will make them look silly.
The Suns have done a brilliant job in the last 12 months of pivoting away from the Kevin Durant era, although the Williams deal was strange even at the time.
But if often-injured big men who can make a difference in a playoff series are suddenly in style, then the Suns have one of the few in the league in Williams.
If the alternative is being linked with this guy, then we may just have witnessed Embiid secure Williams the kind of extension he is looking for from the Suns.
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