According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Phoenix Suns have picked up the 2026-27 team option on Ryan Dunn’s contract. Dunn enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Suns last year, and this season, he could earn significantly more opportunities on the new-look Phoenix roster.
Dunn came into the league as one of, if not the best, defenders in the 2024 NBA Draft, but his offensive game was projected to be pretty rough. However, his three-point shot looked solid throughout the year, and now, he could do more within the flow of the offense, should the Suns require it this season.
But will he be able to live up to the test?
What can Ryan Dunn do for Suns?
In his first NBA season, Dunn played a huge role in the Suns’ rotation, and they were a team looking to compete. Just because the season didn’t pan out that way doesn’t mean the intent wasn’t there.
On a roster that included Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, Dunn was getting real minutes, and Phoenix was trying to win as much as possible. That’s impressive for a rookie.
The 22-year-old forward appeared in 74 games for the Suns, starting 44 of them, and playing 19.1 minutes per contest. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting 43.0% from the floor and 31.1% from deep on 3.6 three-point attempts per contest. His three-point efficiency dipped as the season went on.
This upcoming season, things are going to look a lot different for Dunn and the Suns. Durant and Beal are no longer on the roster, and the expectations surrounding the team are much, much different.
Phoenix is projected to be one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, with some even pegging them as the potential 15th seed, despite them still having Booker.
Dunn should be a regular part of rookie head coach Jordan Ott’s rotation this season, especially with how well he can help them on the defensive side of the ball.
The Suns have a pretty young team heading into this year, though Royce O’Neale and newly-acquired Dillon Brooks will provide a solid veteran presence at the forward spot.
In addition to those two and Dunn, guys like Rasheer Fleming and Nigel Hayes-Davis can play the four, while Nick Richards, Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, and Mark Williams will hold down the center spot.
Still, Dunn should be a major factor in Phoenix.