Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
CJ Huntley
Power Forward/Center, 6’10”, 230 pounds, 24 years old, 2nd season
We start our annual player previews at the end of the bench, with second-year big man C. J. Huntley. At 6’10” and now 230 pounds, he provides an insurance depth piece up front. There is a real chance he sees more
NBA-level time this year, given Mark Williams’ health history, or that a mid-season trade affects the current deep frontline rotation.
Last Season
Huntley logged 42 total games at 27 minutes per game with the Valley Suns G-League team, combining the tip-off tournament and regular season. Per 36 minutes, he put up 21 points, 11 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 3.3 three-point attempts (making them at a 34% clip). That willingness to hoist three’s supported what the Suns scouts saw at Appalachian State, where he put up 3.8 per game. He played in four games (10 minutes per game) with the NBA club, with garbage-time minutes and a small sample size.
Worth monitoring: CJ was held out in the 2026 Summer League with hamstring issues, and those can linger or recur.
Contract and Roster Context
Under a two-way contract for this season, he becomes a restricted free agent in 2027-28.
What He Brings
There are things to like, explaining why the front office gave him another run at one of the two-way contract spots. Physically, he has good length (a 7.5” wingspan). As cited in draft profiles, he continued to demonstrate good hands, as shown by a better-than-average G-League big-man turnover rate of 8.8%.
Power hasn’t been a strong suit, but he’s now at 230 pounds after being listed at a lower weight range out of college. He moves well enough to provide some perimeter defense ability as a potential — albeit lesser — shadow of Oso Ighodaro’s role in this. CJ is better on the offensive glass (11% offesnive rebound rate, above norms for frontline players).
Last year’s player preview highlighted his need to develop offensive flow and spatial awareness. This has developed to some extent in Tempe and should remain a focus. Defensive rebounding is average at best. He is not a pure rim protector. The G-League coaching staff complimented him as a hard worker, as referenced in this short highlight video:
One Key Factor
When given an NBA opportunity this year, Huntley must fit seamlessly into the Suns’ offensive flow while maximizing the core strengths that earned him a chance. Can he move to the right spots at the right time while not disrupting the Suns’ offense?
Prediction
There is a good chance, better than 50/50, that one of the following occurs with effects on the frontline: injuries, trades, suspensions, or depth limitations from rest days. When that happens, CJ will get his chance to play some non-garbage minutes in 5-10 games or perhaps more. His work ethic and attributes will allow him to play at an NBA baseline level and force an interesting decision when it is time to discuss a contract for the following season.
