The Phoenix Suns were a nice surprise last season, winning 45 games and making the playoffs. They now have a new five-man lineup to again pile up regular season wins while being an absolute pain to play against with Goodwin, Booker, Brooks, Ighodaro, and Maluach.
Suns can lean into defensive identity with familiar faces
There is no doubt Miles Bridges was a talent upgrade at the four, even if the cost of doing business continues to make fans uneasy. But he doesn't fit in a lineup that can be an elite defensive outfit while also boasting a pair of 20-point scorers on the court at the same time.
The numbers already strongly favor Goodwin being the point guard of what could be the Suns' most potent five-man group, and he is obviously joined in the backcourt by Devin Booker. Sticking with Dillon Brooks at the three makes sense, particularly coming off a career year and having signed an extension this offseason.
Where it gets interesting is if Coach Jordan Ott puts Oso Ighodaro at the power forward spot, with Khaman Maluach next to him. On paper, that group looks incredibly difficult to score against and highlights the rapid rise of Maluach's stock in Phoenix and throughout the league.
Ighodaro was one of the more intriguing players for the Suns after the turn of the year last season, with the team looking much more cohesive defensively when he was on the court. Granted, he spent considerable time at center during this run, but there is no reason he can't continue to have a positive impact alongside Maluach.
The Suns ranked ninth in defensive rating (112.9) in 2025-26, with the trio of Goodwin (point of attack defense), Brooks (hounding elite scorers) and Ighodaro (springy big who can deter shots in the paint and chase smaller forwards around the perimeter) a large part of the reason why.
Putting them on the court together would make Booker's life easier from a defensive standpoint, while Maluach showed in Summer League that he is looking more comfortable by the day as an interior force.
Suns must continue embracing defensive identity
It won't always be pretty when it comes to scoring, but that is what Bridges and Jalen Green are on this roster for. Both will start games (although Green probably shouldn't), but when Coach Ott needs some stops and to suffocate the offense of a superior opponent, look for him to turn to the five-man group above.
The lineup has a combination of terrifying size inside (Ighodaro/Maluach), bulky and physical pressure on the perimeter (Brooks/Goodwin), and a superstar in Booker who can be hidden on weaker opponents.
If you thought The Valley was a difficult place to visit last season, just wait until the Suns unleash this group.
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