The Phoenix Suns are heading into the 2026-27 season with high hopes after winning 45 games a season ago.

Much of this resides in rostering two players that are seen in a positive light. Devin Booker is seen as a top 20 player in the league according to the consensus, while Dillon Brooks sneaks in somewhere between 70-100.

The two stars lift Phoenix's floor into a likely placement into the play-in tournament, but they may need others to make requisite leaps to raise the ceiling.

Gillespie has the potential to earn Most Improved Player of Sixth Man of the Year shouts depending on the volume he receives.

The Villanova product isn't an exceptionally explosive athlete or big for the guard position, but makes up for it with elite shotmaking, an uncanny feel for the game, and a gritty mindset comprise one of the more underrated players in the NBA.

Is there another gear that the third-year Sun can reach after setting a single-season three-point make record for the franchise? Time will tell, but there's a realistic path to Gillespie taking another jump forward with more opportunity at hand.

Green is a top-100 level player - at his best that is at least. 

The main issue that continues to plague Green heading into year six is consistency, particularly in the scoring department.

Meanwhile, the 2021 top-five draft pick is working under the premise of making major strides as a playmaker. He is also working with a cleaner bill of health in year two with the Suns after missing 50 games a year ago. 

This all comes together under context of growing alongside Booker, as well as more comfortability in head coach Jordan Ott's system.

The second-year center making a jump is possibly the difference between the Suns earning a play-in spot and potentially earning home-court advantage in the first round of April's playoffs. 

Maluach is making clear strides across multiple areas of the game, further showcasing this in last Saturday's preseason game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

A full year of serving as an impact defensive player, a reliable floor-spacer, and an elite rebounder would catapult Maluach into conversations that didn't seem possible just a few months ago.

It's sure that the opportunity to take off in this manner will be present - now the onus is on the 7-footer to take advantage.