The Phoenix Suns appear to have their roster for the 2025-26 season ready to go, with only a couple of minor adjustments to be made. It is likely one of Jordan Goodwin or Jared Butler won't make their final roster, as both are point guards playing on minimum deals. With neither good enough to start and Collin Gillespie in place as the backup, having a pair of third string guys doesn't make sense.
The franchise would also surely like to move on from Nick Richards, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, although actually doing this is much easier said than done. The market for all three doesn't currently exist - but as fringe contenders look to bulk out their rotations once the season begins - look for all three to suddenly be of interest.
Suns have chance to reunite with Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Suns have also - thanks to buying out Bradley Beal - managed to get themselves under both aprons, which means they can aggregate salaries and take on some money in potential trades. Which is exactly why they should be targeting Kelly Oubre Jr. of the Philadelphia 76ers, to bring a cult hero back to The Valley and save him from his current situation.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the 76ers - in trying to bring back Quentin Grimes for a number both player and team are happy with - might just be willing to let go of the 29-year-old Oubre Jr. for cents on the dollar to make it happen. Center Andre Drummond is mentioned as another guy they could be looking to move off of, but he doesn't interest the Suns anymore.
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Back to Oubre Jr. though and if they were to send Richards to Philadelphia - assuming they also sent Drummond elsewhere too - then the 76ers would be saving at least $3 million from the Oubre Jr. deal alone and could also pick up a second round pick for their troubles. A move that doesn't sound terribly exciting, until you remember how fun Oubre Jr. was to watch in The Valley.
He would also kind of fill a position of need as a power forward, with Nigel Hayes-Davis and Oso Ighodaro hardly the deepest rotation at that spot. Really though the prospect of reuniting Devin Booker with a guy from the good old days when they were on the come up sounds appealing, plus the pressure to win isn't going to exist either.
To have a veteran who actually means something to the Suns suit up for them again in what will be a down year makes sense, especially if he's available for next to nothing. The Suns could even be talked into moving on from O'Neale in this scenario to save money themselves, but that surely doesn't appeal to the 76ers. General Manager Brian Gregory needs to pick up the phone.