Phoenix Suns Mailbag: Preseason Expectations, Projected Rotation, and More

The 2026-27 Phoenix Suns season is approaching in rapid fashion, as the first preseason game is a mere eight weeks away. 

This summer has been a mixed bag for GM Brian Gregory, head coach Jordan Ott, and company. While hopes are high that Phoenix tangibly improved as a basketball squad, echoing criticism about the trade for forward Miles Bridges hasn't ceded in weeks. 

Follow Suns Roundtable's offseason mailbag below, where key questions are being answered. 

Should the Suns be Expected to Increase Win Total?

The perception around the Suns' win total in the upcoming season is relatively split, as there are some that believe that the team won't reach 40 wins in the follow-up to a 45-win campaign. 

The Suns upgraded in some ways on paper (passing, athleticism, etc.), but also downgraded in other areas - particularly three-point shooting. The team might reel from the loss of guard Grayson Allen and forward Royce O'Neale, but there are avenues to hovering around the top 10 of the three-point leaderboard this season. 

The biggest hurdle the team faces is likely in the health department yet again. Sixth-year guard Jalen Green only played in 32 games last season, while center Mark Williams and wing Dillon Brooks missed extended time themselves. 

A combination of Phoenix defeating teams that they should, overcoming inevitable injuries, and finding footing with the integration of Bridges will likely result in an uptick of the 45-wins that was previously seen.

Who Will be the Top 10 Players in Phoenix's Rotation?

The top five players in the rotation should be seen as absolute shoe-ins. Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges, and Williams is the overwhelmingly likely group to begin the season as the starting unit.

The next five are up-for-grabs to an extent, but Gillespie is likely going to be the sixth man of the team. The do-it-all Jordan Goodwin has an inside track to receive a sizable role in his own right. While second-year forward Rasheer Fleming has some distance to cover when it comes to development in certain areas, he is polished enough in specialized parts of the game to earn a role. Second-year center Khaman Maluach and the third-year Oso Ighodaro will likely be duking it out for minutes behind Williams. 

Expect shrapshooter Luke Kennard to round out the top 10 in the rotation - at least to start the year.

What Player is Most Crucial to Phoenix's Success in 2026-27?

This answer can go so many different directions. The role players are more functionally set to be effective as a unit based off of their statistical profiles and fits next to one another, but each faces a limit that keeps them from being a starting player. 

Brooks, Green, and Bridges all have reasonable arguments to being the x-factor in Phoenix in the season ahead as well - for different reasons.

Ultimately, Booker seems to be the the x-factor and the de-facto leader of the team. While the aforementioned factors are essential to expanding on last season's win total, a season of elevated play from Booker has potential to push Phoenix into home-court advantage contention in the first round of April's playoffs.