Watching the Suns this past season, there were noticeable holes on the roster, especially in their matchup against the Thunder. The priority this offseason, as with any NBA team, should be to fill those holes as best as possible.
Most notable was their lack of size: among their top 5 players in minutes per game, the average height is 6' 4", far below the NBA's average of 6' 7". Size is a premium in the NBA, and all the best teams in the NBA have it.
Another prominent hole was their lack of offensive creation beyond Devin Booker. In the playoff series against OKC, it was the overbearing reliance on Booker that ultimately led to their demise. To put it simply, they need another star, a player who can outperform Booker and allow him to take a back seat in winning efforts.
The rookies can resolve the lack of size
Suns management has already emphasized their focus on continuity, so they're hoping their answers are already in-house, with the development of the young players already on the roster.
For size, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming showed promise in their rookie seasons. They had their rookie mistakes, but there were already areas of their game that looked NBA-ready.
Maluach already looks like a premier rim-protector, posting a league-best (min. 50 DFGA) DFG% of 44.3 within 6ft. in the second half of the season (post All-Star). For reference, the Suns, on the season, ranked 23rd in opponent FG% within 5ft (and they can partially thank Khaman for even being that high).
Fleming, in fact, basically looked NBA-ready in his rookie season, posting a team-best NETRTG of 6.1 this past season. At 6' 9" with a monstrous 7' 5" wingspan, he also looked like a proper 3-n-D wing. Post All-Star, he showcased the 3, shooting 40.3% from 3 on 3.4 attempts. On the season, he showcased the suffocating D, holding a team-best DFG% of 41.2 on the season, which also ranked 9th in the NBA (min. 200 DFGA).
Their rookie seasons didn't go without its ups and downs (especially in terms of minutes played each game), but they're exactly the model of players the Suns need more of (which is why they drafted them). They showed legitimate NBA talent in Year 1 that should give reason for hope going into Year 2, setting them up to be major contributors next season.
Jalen Green can be the co-star the Suns need
The solution to the offensive issues is where it gets more difficult to justify internal development, although it certainly is possible.
When looking internally for another offensive creator, the obvious answer is Jalen Green. He's already an uber-talented scorer, so, at 24 years old, it's fair to believe he has room to grow into being a more complete offensive player.
With all the injury woes on a new team this past season, it's easy to overlook his 2025-26 showing, but he's still been essentially the same player since he entered the league. In the 4 seasons before 2025-26, his TS% has only ranged from a mediocre .538 to a mediocre .547. In the last 3 seasons prior, his PPG has ranged from 19.6 to 22.1, and APG from 3.4 to 3.7 (TPG from 2.3 to 2.6).
He can score in bunches and in a variety of ways, but his decision-making is questionable, and his efficiency is below average. It's hard to be confident he's producing good offense when the ball is primarily in his hands.
Maybe, as the team's chemsitry develops, they can find a balance with him that works. A full offseason together and (hopefully) a healthy regular season might be all they need, and there's certainly at least some value in trying.
And if the Suns believe so strongly in him, the onus is on them to implement the change they wish to see in him. The talent is there; it just needs to be more finely put together.
Even the most steadfast Suns fans hoping for change can see the potential with the core the Suns currently have. The acquisition of another bona fide star and some veteran wings would be ideal, but may not be necessary if all goes according to plan.
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