The Phoenix Suns continue to fine-tune every aspect of their roster in preparation for the 2026–27 season. They’ve brought in Duop Reath on a two-way contract, waived Haywood Highsmith, extended Oso Ighodaro, and picked up the option on Ryan Dunn. And now? They’ve waived second-year sharpshooter Koby Brea, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Brea was selected 41st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, following an illustrious collegiate
career in which he established himself as one of the best three-point shooters in the NCAA. Unfortunately, that shooting ability hasn’t consistently translated to the NBA level.
He appeared in 12 games for Phoenix last season, connecting on 13-of-30 attempts from beyond the arc, good for 43.3%. The hope was that he’d build upon that production through Summer League and the preseason, continuing his development as a reliable perimeter threat. But during Summer League, Brea shot 8-of-28 from deep, good for 28.6%. That was followed by a preseason in which he connected on 3-of-10 attempts, shooting 30% from beyond the arc.
When your primary translatable skill is shooting, and you’re struggling to consistently knock down shots, you become vulnerable. You become expendable. And for an organization that values flexibility throughout its roster, that’s a difficult position to find yourself in.
Unfortunately for Koby Brea, the Suns have opted to move on, leaving one two-way contract spot available as the team continues making its final roster adjustments ahead of the regular season.
The bigger picture here is roster flexibility. Brea showed that he could knock down shots in limited NBA opportunities, but his struggles in Summer League and the preseason put his greatest strength into question. With the regular season approaching, the Suns have decided to open that two-way spot rather than wait for his shooting to come around. It’s a tough business, particularly for a young player. But in Phoenix, every roster spot needs to serve a purpose.
