The Phoenix Suns have lost starting center Mark Williams for what will be an extended period of time, and they don't have the resources to get another big to replace him.
Enter Koa Peat.
Rookie Peat could be intriguing solution to minutes at the five
This year's first-round draft pick has been compared to Aaron Gordon, a player the Suns would surely love to have. One area where Gordon improved his game once he moved from the Orlando Magic to the Denver Nuggets was his physicality and willingness to play as a small-ball five in certain lineups, and Peat might be asked to do the same job in Phoenix.
Although his most natural position is at forward, it will be hard to dislodge either Miles Bridges or Dillon Brooks and take minutes from them. Even if he is the better long-term fit with this group at the four over Bridges, which may become apparent as soon as training camp begins, Peat will not play over a piece the Suns gave up a significant haul for.
Sneaking into the starting lineup as a center could be his most realistic way of earning unexpected game time out of the gate.
Sophomore big Khaman Maluach has a ton of potential, but the Suns must not throw him in the deep end and destroy his confidence after a promising Summer League display. It would be better to see what Peat can do, considering he is playing with house money right now, and when the roster is back to full health, he can return to his preferred role as a forward.
Suns must embrace smaller lineups to be competitive
Losing Williams before the season has even begun is a massive blow, and the franchise may have to resort to playing smaller in order to mask their frailties at the center position.
Oso Ighodaro is the obvious choice to get minutes in place of Williams if that is the case, but Peat could have a part to play as well. The only other alternative to Ighodaro/Maluach currently is two-way player CJ Huntley, who managed four appearances last time out.
That's not exactly the kind of plug-and-play individual Head Coach Jordan Ott hopes to play alongside Devin Booker in pursuit of winning games. Peat may not end up being that either, but the organization did trade up into the first round to acquire him, and he's got the skills to take some of those center minutes when needed.
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