Suns News: Week 10 (12/22 - 12/28)

[Superbone]

[Mori Chu]

The 3PM is the only reason Dillon is on top of the list. I'm sure plenty of new Suns have reached 500 pts faster than him if you take away that restriction. Scoring so many of one's points via 3s is a relatively recent phenomenon in league history after all. But props to Dillon for having an impact this year.

[Mori Chu]

Some trade ideas to try to upgrade at PF. Most of these are unlikely and not even sure I'd want to do them. But I like the Yabusele one; he'd be amazing. And I have to admit, I hadn't considered trying to acquire Jalen "Stix" Smith, but maybe that'd be an option if he were available. Salary ($9m+) seems a bit steep though.

[Superbone]

https://www.nba.com/suns/news/khaman-ma ... -rep-count

Very good article. I hope he makes a big impact on the Suns in the future.

[The Bobster]

So it's been six months since Brian Gregory's first transaction last June, so far, so good.....

25Jun25 - Trade Vasilije Micić, the draft rights to Liam McNeeley and a 2029 1st round pick to Charlotte for Mark Williams - WIN

2Jul25 - Re-sign Colin Gillespie - WIN

3Jul25 - Sign C.J. Huntley to 2-way contract - MEH

6Jul25 - Trade Kevin Durant to Houston, Alex Toohey to Golden State and 2026 and 2032 2nd picks to Minnesota; received Deaqwon Plowden from Atlanta [who was subsequently waived]; the draft rights to Koby Brea from Golden State; Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and 2026 and 2032 2nd round draft picks from Houston; and the draft rights to Rasheer Fleming from Minnesota - WIN

8Jul25 - Signed Isaiah Livers to a 2-way contract - MEH

9Jul25 - Signed Nigel Hayes-Davis - MEH

23Jul25 - Claimed Jordan Goodwin from Los Angeles L. on waivers - WIN

24Jul25 - Signed Jared Butler - MEH

17Oct25 - Waived Jared Butler - MEH

18Nov25 - Waived C.J. Huntley, signed Jamaree Bouyea to a 2-way contract - WIN

[The Bobster]

https://www.nba.com/suns/news/khaman-ma ... -rep-count

Very good article. I hope he makes a big impact on the Suns in the future.

He's really young (19) and inexperienced, so he's bound to improve. He's playing pretty well in the G-League, so as long as he continues to get better we shouldn't be worried.

[BKinSJC]

So it's been six months since Brian Gregory's first transaction last June, so far, so good.....

25Jun25 - Trade Vasilije Micić, the draft rights to Liam McNeeley and a 2029 1st round pick to Charlotte for Mark Williams - WIN

2Jul25 - Re-sign Colin Gillespie - WIN

3Jul25 - Sign C.J. Huntley to 2-way contract - MEH

6Jul25 - Trade Kevin Durant to Houston, Alex Toohey to Golden State and 2026 and 2032 2nd picks to Minnesota; received Deaqwon Plowden from Atlanta [who was subsequently waived]; Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and 2026 and 2032 2nd round draft picks from Houston; and the draft rights to Rasheer Fleming from Minnesota - WIN

8Jul25 - Signed Isaiah Livers to a 2-way contract - MEH

9Jul25 - Signed Nigel Hayes-Davis - MEH

24Jul25 - Signed Jared Butler - MEH

17Oct25 - Waived Jared Butler - MEH

18Nov25 - Waived C.J. Huntley, signed Jamaree Bouyea to a 2-way contract - WIN

I don't know the dates, but the Butler waiver was directly tied to choosing Jordan Goodwin over him. I feel like that signing should definitely go down as a WIN (maybe even a GOOD WIN?)

Gregory has done a pretty decent job finding playable primary and secondary ball handlers on the margins, which was my biggest worry about the team coming into the season. I was concerned that Booker would be the only creator who could stay on the floor, and then he'd constantly get blitzed and guys who couldn't really do the job would end up trying to do most of the playmaking. Gillespie's improvement seems to have solved a lot of that issue, and finds like Goodwin and Booyea, and players already on the roster embracing a bigger role (like Grayson when he's been healthy) have gone the rest of the way. That's not even counting Jalen Green, if/when he sees playing time again.

That's been a big deal. So has Williams fixing the paint for 25-30 minutes most nights. So has the improvement in vibes by getting rid of checked-out big-name players, and bringing in scrappers and team-first guys. The coaching improvement, both planning and execution, seems like it's massive. Even Brooks, who was maybe my second biggest concern going into the season, has mostly been the good kind of crazy and is unquestionably one of the guys who's helping to pull things together; his teammates seem to love him.

It's been a much better season than I anticipated, and I'm very glad to have been wrong.

[The Bobster]

Basketball-Reference didn't include Goodwin in their transactions for Gregory because he was claimed off waivers. But that's a good call, I added him to the list.

Also, I added the rights to Kobe Brea to the Durrant trade.

The development of Maluach, Fleming and Brea and a healthy Green will determine the long-term success of that trade,but it's looking good so far.

[Mori Chu]

6Jul25 - Trade Kevin Durant to Houston, Alex Toohey to Golden State and 2026 and 2032 2nd picks to Minnesota; received Deaqwon Plowden from Atlanta [who was subsequently waived]; Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and 2026 and 2032 2nd round draft picks from Houston; and the draft rights to Rasheer Fleming from Minnesota - WIN

I don't mean to nit-pick your list, but I think this writing is a bit misleading about the draft assets. We didn't trade for the draft rights to ManMan and Fleming; we traded for the picks, and then we picked those players. It's not like Houston picked them for us and included them in the trade. I think Gregory and the FO deserve credit for picking those guys at the spots where they had the picks.

I also think a few signings might be missing from the list, such as Jordan Goodwin (which was a WIN signing imo)? Edit: OK, you added him.

[Superbone]

[Kryptonic]

8-2

[The Bobster]

6Jul25 - Trade Kevin Durant to Houston, Alex Toohey to Golden State and 2026 and 2032 2nd picks to Minnesota; received Deaqwon Plowden from Atlanta [who was subsequently waived]; Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the draft rights to Khaman Maluach and 2026 and 2032 2nd round draft picks from Houston; and the draft rights to Rasheer Fleming from Minnesota - WIN

I don't mean to nit-pick your list, but I think this writing is a bit misleading about the draft assets. We didn't trade for the draft rights to ManMan and Fleming; we traded for the picks, and then we picked those players. It's not like Houston picked them for us and included them in the trade. I think Gregory and the FO deserve credit for picking those guys at the spots where they had the picks.

I also think a few signings might be missing from the list, such as Jordan Goodwin (which was a WIN signing imo)? Edit: OK, you added him.

The trade which got the Suns Maluach, Fleming and Brea didn't take place until the Durant trade took place on July 6. Basketball-Reference.com and Sportac.com both list the transaction that way. We all knew they were being picked FOR the Suns, but they technically weren't being picked BY the Suns.

[Mori Chu]

Predict their record.

I think 6-4 sounds right. Losses to OKC, HOU, and NYK for sure, and maybe to CLE or one other random loss.

[MightyMoog]

For what it is, a 2 way signing. I think Livers has been great. Not popping the same way as bouyea, but better than any 2 way player we had in the James Jones era.

[pickle]

I’m also a fan of Livers. I’d give him a two year contract because I guess he won’t take a four year deal process Sixers style.

[ShelC]

[Kryptonic]

Can we pick the game and make it one he's gonna rest anyway?

[Split T]

The wizards is a good game to rest for him

[MightyMoog]

I really hope some sneaky team uses this tactic come playoff time. So the NBA finally fixes this issue. Just have your 14th guy come off the bench, pick a fight with the other team’s star player. Swing at him, and if said star player happens to look like he swings back, bam, suspended.

[Superbone]

The wizards is a good game to rest for him

That's the game he's missing. Hopefully we can overcome them without him. Maybe even Maluach gets a few real minutes.