Ryan Dunn's breakout could change everything for the Suns

The Phoenix Suns have been a ton of fun to watch at the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas, and their incoming rookies have been a large part of the reason why. With Koby Brea giving us his best Devin Booker impression, there have been real reasons for optimism, and that also includes a promising showing from center Khaman Maluach as well.

Just as important has been the continued development of second year players Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn, who we already know were taking part in two-a-day sessions in Phoenix almost as soon as last season ended. Both have looked like they are ready to take on more responsibility, and Ighodaro has looked dominant at times in Vegas.

An improved Dunn does wonders for Suns' 3-and-D depth.

With Kevin Durant now gone and Bradley Beal sure to follow soon, there is suddenly a lot more pressure on Dunn to be the 3-and-D wing next to Booker in order for this team to thrive. In truth that was a role that was thrust onto Dunn from the get go last season, and he even managed to exceed all expectations early by shooting the lights out from deep.

He started 2024-25 shooting a scorching 44 percent from 3-point range, and broke the 35 percent barrier in two more months after that. The shot became streaky, but if anything his defensive abilities both on and off the ball only improved. Dunn has taken all of that and put it together at Summer League, feasting on less experienced players and looking every inch the two-way player.

New head coach Jordan Ott is surely going to instil more of a defensive system in Phoenix this coming season, and giving up 117.7 points per game as they did last year out is simply unacceptable. A number that was over two points better (115.1) when Dunn was on the court, although even that is going to have to improve considerably if Dunn wants a regular spot in the rotation.

But with Durant and Beal gone, the Suns have a chance to build a better defensive identity around Dunn, Ighodaro and Maluach. Then there is new recruit Dillon Brooks, who looks like just the kind of teammate Dunn can learn the darker arts from on the court. Thinking of Booker as an elite defender is not the best use of his talents, but we have seen him do just that for Team USA in the past.

All of this is born out of the obvious improvement Dunn has shown, and it could yet lead to a starting berth come opening night. He would be doing well to push one of Brooks or Green out of that lineup - but given the early glimpses we have seen at Summer League - his energy and style of play is going to win him a lot of fans next season.

Dunn's improvement alone doesn't change the big picture in Phoenix yet, but at the rate he is going he could turn into this team's version of Mikal Bridges. Suns fans don't need any reminding that failure to replace his unique skill set after losing him in the Durant trade is one of the reasons they haven't had any success in recent seasons.