The Phoenix Suns have had a poor start to the 2026-27 season, and the main reason for the inability to win games has been the combination of players Head Coach Jordan Ott has at his disposal. Gone is the scrappy group that competed hard every night last time around, replaced by forward Miles Bridges, who so far hasn't gelled with this group and the team's baffling decision not to play an actual point guard next to Devin Booker.
Suns now have to make big changes in order to save future
Fans have been crying out for owner Mat Ishbia to do something, anything, to help the ailing Suns change course, and that is surely going to happen in the coming weeks, as we already know for certain that this team, as currently constructed, does not work. The smallest of these changes, which would still be extremely welcome, would be moving Jalen Green to the bench.
Collin Gillespie starting alongside Booker makes sense, and it would bring better balance to their offensive game plan. The Suns have dragged themselves off the bottom of the defensive efficiency table, with the Chicago Bulls now languishing behind them. But giving up 121.4 points a night on average is nowhere near good enough, and that coincided with the introduction of Bridges.
His own trade value is unfortunately as low as it has ever been, so the Suns are stuck with him for now. But the tandem of Bridges and Dillon Brooks has been a disaster defensively, and perhaps moving Bridges to the bench for a period could return the group to winning ways. Brooks is the franchise's most valuable and realistic trade candidate at this point, so don't be surprised if the organization fields phone calls for his services as well.
The Head Coach is often the fall guy when a situation does not pan out as expected in the NBA, and although Jordan Ott built up a ton of credit after a wonderful first season in charge, he is facing pressure for the first time in his career. This isn't entirely his fault; he was landed with Bridges and has to make it work with Green, but he hasn't developed any younger players to help.
Suns return to big name hunting could help reverse fortunes
With Ishbia seemingly not interested in trading Booker, going after another big name to pair with the 30-year-old might be the panic move the Suns make to try to improve. Domantas Sabonis is a name that has begun to appear with being unhappy with his situation over in Sacramento with the Kings, and he would bring with him the bonus of taking the pressure off Khaman Maluach to produce.
There are sure to be other big names who become disgruntled as the season unfolds, and the Suns have proven they will pay players they trade for to keep them around long-term. They don't have any future assets to get a deal done, but names like Green, Brooks, Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and even Oso Ighodaro are fine starting points. Change is coming, and the direction will define the rest of this decade of basketball in The Valley.
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