The Phoenix Suns gave it their all in Game 4, but the tall task of being the Oklahoma City Thunder even once proved to be a bridge too far for them.
Mark Williams among Suns who should not be back next season
Now comings the hard part in Phoenix. Yes they exceeded expectations in 2025-26, but these four players need to move on if the Suns are to take the next step and become playoff regulars again.
Grayson Allen
The time has come for the Suns to part ways with Allen, and this brief postseason appearance only confirmed that. As has often been the case during his tenure with the franchise, the 30-year-old was injured when the Suns really needed him.
As important as Allen has been to how they play on both ends of the court, including impressively guarding Victor Wembanyama during the regular season, the Suns shouldn’t be thinking long-term with him in mind.
He is currently the Suns’ second longest tenured player after Devin Booker, while his trade value remains somewhere near its peak. Time to cash in for something real and go in a different direction.
Mark Williams
It says it all that we put forward the idea that Mitchell Robinson was actually the big man the Suns should have taken a chance on this season. If nothing else he would have been available in these playoffs.
Like Williams he also would have matched up well with the Thunder, only we never got to see that as Williams never made it onto the court for the series. Now extension eligible, the Suns are onto more heartache if they bring him back long-term.
The Knicks really load managed Mitchell Robinson all season just to not use him in a series where you need him the most. Can't make this up. https://t.co/aqkjaAfV0V
— The Knicks Recap (@TheKnicksRecap) April 25, 2026
The 24-year-old is rightly going to want financial security given his injury history, and the Suns should not be the team to give it to him. Doing so will push them closer to the dreaded aprons as well.
Better to cut their losses on this one, eat the fact they gave up a pair of firsts for him and move forward with what they’ve got. Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro looking like a fine place to start, before hopefully adding a cheap veteran this summer.
Haywood Highsmith
You can see why the Suns took a chance on Highsmith, the former Miami Heat player deserves to be in the league, it just didn’t happen for him in Phoenix.
A combination of being injured when he arrived and not quite fitting into the ideal of what head coach Jordan Ott would want leading to limited opportunities. If there is one fringe spot up for grabs next season, then Isaiah Livers is the guy who should get it.
With Collin Gillespie surely coming back, as well Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea and even Amir Coffey, there just won’t be the opportunities for Highsmith to have the impact he would like on this roster next season.
Phoenix must beware letting him go however, as Highsmith looks like the perfect player to have a notable playoff moment for a contender down the road and in doing so would make them look silly for never giving him a real chance.
Ryan Dunn
The toughest decision of all, but one that has to be made by the Suns. Getting rid of a first round draft pick after two seasons feels premature, but offensively there has been zero development from Dunn.
Just look at these stats from the Thunder series; 35 minutes played, four shots attempted and zero points scored. Zero. In fact Dunn had more turnovers (three) in Game 1 (in which he played 25 of those minutes) than he had rebounds, assists and steals combined for the series.
The Mikal Bridges comparisons because of his defensive flashes remain fair, although it is not like he made much difference against the Thunder on that end either. That might seem harsh, Oklahoma City is looking like a dynasty, but if he’s not one of your best defenders and can’t score then what is Dunn doing?
The return for the 23-year-old will underwhelm Suns fans, but in Oso Ighodaro they at least got one pick from that draft class right. A necessary change ahead of next season.
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