Phoenix Suns Standing Pat in NBA Power Rankings

The Phoenix Suns are roughly one month away from kicking off the 2026-27 campaign with training camp.

The franchise is expecting to reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season behind the likes of floor-raiser extraordinaire Devin Booker, but the perception from the outside is much more mixed. 

This includes Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report, who has the Suns at the same #22 spot in league power rankings as previously.

"By replacing Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale with Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard, the Phoenix Suns probably have a little more raw talent, but those departing wings were a big part of the gritty mentality that made Phoenix one of last season's biggest surprises.

And it remains to be seen whether Kennard and Bridges can buy into the defense- and team-first mentality that made the Suns what they were last season."

The rationale here is more than reasonable, as Allen and O'Neale were two of the most effective high-volume shooters in the NBA over the last two-plus seasons. They also lent more of a hand in Phoenix's newfound identity that centers around hustle, physicality, and consistency. 

It's no secret that the loss of effective, high-volume three-point shooters is a major point of contention for Phoenix. It's also quite simple to question whether Bridges is a more natural fit in comparison to those that are outgoing. The intangible grit that compliments what forward Dillon Brooks and head coach Jordan Ott are installing is something that will take work to recapture, but there is a very real chance that Bridges and Kennard both buy-in here.

Bridges is an exceptional athlete, above-average passer, and has the tools to be a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball. If the 2018 lottery pick buys into a defined role, there is a real possibility that the starting unit improves numerous metrics - particularly on offense.

The other major unaddressed topic is injury luck. Guard Jalen Green played in a career-low 33 games a season ago, while Brooks missed over a month at an untimely part of the season due to a broken hand. There is a world where key Suns rotation pieces are able to stay on the floor, which should only accentuate the versatility that the bench provides. 

The first opportunity to see the Suns in action ahead of the playoff hopeful season is on October 5 against the Detroit Pistons.