The Phoenix Suns enter their second season with coach Jordan Ott at the helm.
Ott led the team to a playoff appearance in his first season but was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. It wasn’t the playoff run they were expecting after making it through the play-in tournament with a 1-1 record, after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers and beating the Golden State Warriors.
Devin Booker remains the focal point for the Suns, after leading the team in points (26.1) and rebounds (7.9) last season.
“He's the culture driver of what we've got going on,” Ott said about Booker during the play-in tournament. “He's a guy we are happy to have on our team. ... He's been through everything as a basketball player.”
The team will be without
center Mark Williams, who is recovering from shoulder surgery after suffering a torn labrum. He led the team in rebounds (7.9) and blocks (0.9) last season. The Suns will likely lean on Oso Ighodaro to start the season at center. Williams is expected to miss close to five months after having the surgery in early September.
Here's a breakdown of the Phoenix Suns' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Phoenix Suns offseason review
- Record last season: 45-37 (8th in Western Conference)
- Playoff finish: Lost in the first round
- Coach: Jordan Ott (second season)
- 2026-27 title odds: +15000 (per BetMGM)
- Projected record : 44-38
- Offseason grade : C
Key roster additions
- F Miles Bridges (trade)
- F Koa Peat (draft day trade)
- G Luke Kennard (free agent)
- C Duop Reath (free agent)
Key roster losses
- G Grayson Allen (trade)
- F Royce O’Neale (trade)
Biggest question entering training camp
How will Jalen Green perform for Phoenix when healthy?
- Green was acquired as part of a seven-team trade along with Dillon Brooks and Khaman Maluach, but Green was limited in his first season with Phoenix. He played a career-low 32 games after suffering hamstring injuries. The Suns will be tasked with incorporating Green back into the starting lineup for the upcoming season. He shot 42.2% from the field and 31.3% from the three-point line.Booker would greatly benefit from having Green back in the lineup. Green could serve as a secondary option as a shot creator, using his athleticism and ability to create separation off the dribble.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
- G Devin Booker
- G Jalen Green
- F Dillon Brooks
- F Miles Bridges
- C Oso Ighodaro
Rotation players
- G Luke Kennard
- G Collin Gillespie
- G Jordan Goodwin
- G Jamaree Bouyea
- F Koa Peat
- F Rasheer Fleming
- F Ryan Dunn
- C Mark Williams
- C Khaman Maluach
- C Duop Reath
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Ott helps break up a recent trend for the Suns, who had four different coaches in each of the past four seasons. The Suns still managed to reach the playoffs in five of the last six, including an appearance in the NBA Finals during the 2020-21 season.
While the Suns finished with a 1-5 record in the postseason last year, Phoenix is likely to be competing for a playoff spot again this season. Despite the offseason moves made across the league, the Western Conference remains stacked with several potential title contenders, leaving the Suns to fight for one of the final few spots.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phoenix Suns season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
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