Rookie is the absolutely perfect fit for the Suns new identity

Fans are going to love him.
2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot
2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot | Harry How/GettyImages

The Phoenix Suns drafted three rookies this summer, and two of them already make a ton of sense on this new version of the roster. With the front office once again building around Devin Booker, they needed a young center to take them through the rest of the decade. That is where 18-year-old Khaman Maluach enters the picture, even if he looked incredibly raw at Summer League.

Then there is Koby Brea - who in his own brief stint in Las Vegas - drew comparisons to none other than Booker himself with some of his midrange scoring and how he carries himself on the court. Being compared stylistically to a franchise great brings with it a lot of pressure, but Brea is in the right place to learn from Booker and bring some scoring punch to the second unit.

Rasheer Fleming will bring defensive intensity.

The least fanfare to this point has gone to Rasheer Fleming - the forward out of St. Joseph's - but you can also make the case he is going to be the rookie who contributes the most right away. The Suns would love for Maluach to be the guy who does this - he both fills a position of great need and was their single lottery pick - but it is going to take time for him to find his feet.

Fleming recently spoke with Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, and it was encouraging to bring up defending when talking about how good a player he hopes to be as he said that "honestly, my main goal is obviously be the best player I can be, but I think I can do that by starting off on the defensive end."

The Suns have been dreadful on that end in recent seasons - they gave up 117.7 points per game last season, only three teams conceding more - and are now committed to building from that area of the court first. It is why Maluach was so enticing given his massive frame, but the addition of Dillon Brooks is going to do wonders both for the whole team and Fleming's development.

He's not going to start - that is Ryan Dunn's spot to lose right now and he is also a budding defensive menace - but Fleming could carve out a nice role for himself on the second unit. If he can combine banging with some centers while also successfully chasing smaller forwards around the perimeter, the Suns are going to have a player on their hands.

The fact Fleming himself knows this is where he is going to pick up minutes - even on a roster that is no longer trying to contend - is also a great sign. These are the players that the front office hopes will be key role guys in the future, while they also replace the kind of veterans that Phoenix let walk for nothing this offseason. Fleming is going to be a great addition to The Valley.