Suns 2025-26 Roster Breakdown

[Split T]

Just wanted to run through some things and have a discussion on what we think this team looks like…let’s start with the money:

Total Salary: $187,863,551
Plus unlikely bonuses: $189,363,551

Unlikely bonuses are used for apron purposes, but don’t count against the cap(or luxury tax) unless they are met. For our purposes, Royce and Brooks have 1.5 million in bonuses for making the playoffs, which is deemed unlikely.

These numbers include a 14th vet min player as we are required to have 14.

Salary Cap: $154,647,000
Luxury Tax: $187,895,000

As you can see, we are $31,449 below the tax…that seems intentional and tells me we aren’t going over.

But let’s do the 1st Apron anyways:

1st Apron: $195,945,000
That leaves us $6,581,449 under the 1st apron. That’s how much salary we could technically add if we signed a player via the MLE or in a S&T. So if you’re thinking about Giddey or Kuminga, add 6.5 million to whatever players you send out and that’s the most we can pay.

Starters:
Booker/Green/Brooks/Dunn/Williams

Bench Rotation Guys:
Allen/Royce/Oso/Maluach

Deep Bench:
Gillespie/NHD/Fleming/Richards

Two-Ways:
Brea/Livers/Huntley

This is my guess at least. I think one of NHD or Gillespie will start in the rotation as well, but I’m not sure which. Also possible the guard we add with the vet min will be in the rotation ahead of them.

The roster seems very much set up to see if Booker can be the man…he’s the clear best player and only star on the team. He’ll need to be the lead playmaker and scorer…the counting numbers are likely going to be career highs…I’m thinking we could see 28-30 points and 8-10 assists per game.

The offense might just work if Dunn, Brooks, and Green can all catch and shoot. Book needs to learn how to play with a rim runner though. That or we might see more of Dunn screening with Williams in the dunker spot.

I have flipped back and forth on what we do at the 4, but I think right now I assume we play Oso there. Especially if Maluach can space the floor next to him in 2nd units. Oso would provide some much needed playmaking when Booker is on the bench and hopefully can develop a nice high post 2-man game with Jalen Green.

I would like to keep Grayson, but if we could move Royce to help bring in a starting PF, I think that would be smart. Slide Dunn to the bench and let him and Brooks platoon at the 3. A more trustworthy guard off the bench seems like a big need to me as well.

I think we’re probably not a playoff team, but here are my top 5 things to watch that might make us a playoff team:

1. How does Booker handle the Harden role? He’s probably gonna drop 30/8/5, but is that on a .560 TS% or .600 TS%? Is that with 3 TO or 5 TO?

2. Is the leap Oso and Dunn seemed to have made in summer league real? Or does Dunn revert back to 30% shooting while Oso plays timid.

3. Can Maluach shoot? Will he keep firing in the regular season and hit around 33% from 3? Or will he be more like Nurkic as a shooter? I think this is kind of key for Oso working.

4. Is there enough shot creation outside of Booker? Can Jalen Green run 2nd units? Will Oso be able to stay on the court to help? What happens when teams just trap Booker over and over? I have some worries about how the offense will work in these situations.

5. Is there a surprise breakout on the roster? Mark Williams shooting 3s? Ryan Dunn creating shots? Jalen Green leap forward? Euro-league MVP Nigel Hayes-Davis? Fleming? Maluach ROY?

Bonus item: Do we surprise and make a big splash via trade? I think this is unlikely, but could change the course of the team this year.

[O_Gardino]

I think we will see a lot of fluidity in the rotation as Ott figures things out and as players miss games.

[Split T]

For sure..Grayson and Royce + the starters are probably safe for rotation minutes when healthy, but I can see a lot of mix and matching happening with the rest of the roster.

[JJ Slim]

I think we will see a lot of fluidity in the rotation as Ott figures things out and as players miss games.

I'm expecting this to be a learning year for both Ott and the players. Even the veterans are going to have new roles and the rookies need to learn everything while Ott will be figuring out not only his plans and how to best utilize the players he has to work with. I'm prepared to give them a ton of leeway as long as we see progress and to change things up if things aren't working.

[Kryptonic]

I think we will see a lot of fluidity in the rotation as Ott figures things out and as players miss games.

I'm expecting this to be a learning year for both Ott and the players. Even the veterans are going to have new roles and the rookies need to learn everything while Ott will be figuring out not only his plans and how to best utilize the players he has to work with. I'm prepared to give them a ton of leeway as long as we see progress and to change things up if things aren't working.

Yea, I totally agree and personally as long as they're giving 100% effort and showing progress, I'll be happy. Rome wasn't built in a day..

[Ring_Wanted]

Outstanding post man.

1st Apron: $195,945,000
That leaves us $6,581,449 under the 1st apron. That’s how much salary we could technically add if we signed a player via the MLE or in a S&T. So if you’re thinking about Giddey or Kuminga, add 6.5 million to whatever players you send out and that’s the most we can pay.

I am actually interested in Giddey. Would gladly offer them Green to do a sign and trade, plus/or any combination of Brooks-Allen-Royce-Richards, but these pieces don't look great considering Chicago's roster. If it's true that they are interested in Kuminga, there might be something to be worked out with GSW in a three way with CHI getting Kuminga, PHX acquiring Giddey and GSW adding depth and/or Green from us.

The roster seems very much set up to see if Booker can be the man…he’s the clear best player and only star on the team. He’ll need to be the lead playmaker and scorer…the counting numbers are likely going to be career highs…I’m thinking we could see 28-30 points and 8-10 assists per game.

That's the clear approach for this new iteration considering the roster they have assembled, but honestly I am not buying it. Booker is not as well suited for this role as a Harden, Luka or others, because of his physical profile and also because he has limitations as a playmaker for others; on the other hand, has elite capabilities as a traditional SG. So my point is, you can use Booker in a heliocentric offense, sure, but why put him in this situation by design? Give me this as a nice to have, but not as the default, because this way you are not maximizing your best player (and now we don't have any other relevant talent to make the sacrifice worthwhile, like Durant was in theory).

The offense might just work if Dunn, Brooks, and Green can all catch and shoot. Book needs to learn how to play with a rim runner though. That or we might see more of Dunn screening with Williams in the dunker spot.

I have flipped back and forth on what we do at the 4, but I think right now I assume we play Oso there. Especially if Maluach can space the floor next to him in 2nd units. Oso would provide some much needed playmaking when Booker is on the bench and hopefully can develop a nice high post 2-man game with Jalen Green.

Lots of ifs, which is what happens when you have a questionable roster composition with gaps at PG and PF with several of your rotation players best suited for similar roles.

I would like to keep Grayson, but if we could move Royce to help bring in a starting PF, I think that would be smart. Slide Dunn to the bench and let him and Brooks platoon at the 3. A more trustworthy guard off the bench seems like a big need to me as well.

Yeah, I'd work hard to turn any combination of Green-Brooks-Allen-Royce-Richards into a PG and a PF. Problem is, I don't think it's very realistic at this point in the offseason, which is another concern because it reveals a lack of proper planning (or even worse issues, if they actually believe this roster/rotation makes sense). In this regard, needing so much time to execute the Beal buyout has been a big handicap to our offseason.

I think we’re probably not a playoff team, but here are my top 5 things to watch that might make us a playoff team:

1. How does Booker handle the Harden role? He’s probably gonna drop 30/8/5, but is that on a .560 TS% or .600 TS%? Is that with 3 TO or 5 TO?

2. Is the leap Oso and Dunn seemed to have made in summer league real? Or does Dunn revert back to 30% shooting while Oso plays timid.

3. Can Maluach shoot? Will he keep firing in the regular season and hit around 33% from 3? Or will he be more like Nurkic as a shooter? I think this is kind of key for Oso working.

4. Is there enough shot creation outside of Booker? Can Jalen Green run 2nd units? Will Oso be able to stay on the court to help? What happens when teams just trap Booker over and over? I have some worries about how the offense will work in these situations.

5. Is there a surprise breakout on the roster? Mark Williams shooting 3s? Ryan Dunn creating shots? Jalen Green leap forward? Euro-league MVP Nigel Hayes-Davis? Fleming? Maluach ROY?

Again, a ton of ifs, but I'll concede that the overall talent is high-ish (obviously more depth that top heavy), including youth and guys with something to prove, and under a new coach this could mean people playing hard and surprising during the regular season.

[Superbone]

I think we will see a lot of fluidity in the rotation as Ott figures things out and as players miss games.

I'm expecting this to be a learning year for both Ott and the players. Even the veterans are going to have new roles and the rookies need to learn everything while Ott will be figuring out not only his plans and how to best utilize the players he has to work with. I'm prepared to give them a ton of leeway as long as we see progress and to change things up if things aren't working.

Yea, I totally agree and personally as long as they're giving 100% effort and showing progress, I'll be happy. Rome wasn't built in a day..

Yep, this is a great post, @JJ Slim. It's going to be fun (I hope) seeing how everything progresses from rookie head coach to rookie players as well as integration of 2/5 of the Rockets' starting lineup. It will also be interesting to see how Book looks with this team. It's been a while now since he's been "the man." Will he become more of a vocal leader or will he continue to be the lead by example type. Will he look more like a star than he has the last couple years? Sorry, I got off on a little tangent, but all of this season should be very interesting. But yes, like JJ says, we're going to have to be patient.

[O_Gardino]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what NHD play. I hope he forces his way into the rotation as our 3rd scorer.

[Superbone]

Yeah, I love that he's battle tested.

[Gladiator]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what NHD play. I hope he forces his way into the rotation as our 3rd scorer.

I’d be tempering expectations a little. I think he’s got a role to play for sure but not sure it’s as a 3rd scorer. I was a bit concerned about how easily Fournier was able to score on him as well. But definitely looking forward to seeing what he can bring. It’s the kind of move the Suns need to keep making - and hopefully hit on- to get them out of the roster hole they dig for themselves.

[O_Gardino]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what NHD play. I hope he forces his way into the rotation as our 3rd scorer.

► Show Spoiler

I'm pretty sure he plays basketball? I blame the technical issues for any weird phrasing or typos.

[O_Gardino]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what NHD play. I hope he forces his way into the rotation as our 3rd scorer.

I’d be tempering expectations a little. I think he’s got a role to play for sure but not sure it’s as a 3rd scorer. I was a bit concerned about how easily Fournier was able to score on him as well. But definitely looking forward to seeing what he can bring. It’s the kind of move the Suns need to keep making - and hopefully hit on- to get them out of the roster hole they dig for themselves.

Oh, I'm not expecting him to be that good. I'm just hoping for it.

But let's be honest, 3rd scorer on this team is kind of a low bar. He has to be a better scorer than Royce, Grayson, and Dillon. It's more a question of if he can defend well enough to earn Ott's trust. As you say, he doesn't look like a great defender.

[Gladiator]

It would be amazing if he could hold up defensively and pop as that 3rd scoring option. I think Brooks is going to end up being our 3rd highest scorer which as you say is not great.
The other option is Williams stays healthy and is that guy, which would be better (obviously not as a shot creator but finishing and cleaning up on the offensive boards)

[Split T]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

[TOO]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

He's a very smart basketball nerd.

[O_Gardino]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

How is it disingenuous to say that he should have a smaller role and a smaller salary? That seems like a pretty sincere and reasonable take. I don't think it's that simple, but I also don't think people with that take are bullshitting or trolling.

Anyway, I can't read the thread because I'm not on X. So what does he say about Booker's late game turnovers under pressure?

[specialsauce]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

How is it disingenuous to say that he should have a smaller role and a smaller salary? That seems like a pretty sincere and reasonable take. I don't think it's that simple, but I also don't think people with that take are bullshitting or trolling.

Anyway, I can't read the thread because I'm not on X. So what does he say about Booker's late game turnovers under pressure?

Also, the two have nothing to do with each other. Book was better when he played full time 2 and actually closer to a top 10 player, so his logic is missing entirely

[Split T]

Here’s the rest:

[Split T]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

How is it disingenuous to say that he should have a smaller role and a smaller salary? That seems like a pretty sincere and reasonable take. I don't think it's that simple, but I also don't think people with that take are bullshitting or trolling.

Anyway, I can't read the thread because I'm not on X. So what does he say about Booker's late game turnovers under pressure?

Also, the two have nothing to do with each other. Book was better when he played full time 2 and actually closer to a top 10 player, so his logic is missing entirely

I think he’s almost always played full time at the 2. He was at his best when he did that next to another pg that was a mastermind at dictating what he wanted the defense to do. He spent a lot of time the last two years playing 2-guard to Bradley Beal and Tyus Jones.

I think the point is we haven’t really seen the Point-Book role played out in entirety.

[Split T]

Figured this would be a good spot for a thread on point Book. David is even more pro point-book than me, but he covers a lot of things I agree with here(full thread if you click into it)

How is it disingenuous to say that he should have a smaller role and a smaller salary? That seems like a pretty sincere and reasonable take. I don't think it's that simple, but I also don't think people with that take are bullshitting or trolling.

Anyway, I can't read the thread because I'm not on X. So what does he say about Booker's late game turnovers under pressure?

I can’t speak for David and I don’t necessarily agree here…it’s just the 1st tweet in the thread haha. But to me it seems clear the suns are setting up for point book(well it did until Gambo said point Jalen, lol) and saying Book needs a smaller role and smaller salary before we’ve seen how it works does seem a bit unfair. I don’t think it’s unfair to think it won’t work, but I do think the idea that point book has already proven not to work is wrong. We were at our best the last two years when we put Book on ball.