The Phoenix Suns are in a curious position early in the 2026-27 season. 

Between missing Mark Williams in the lineup and dealing with inconsistency on both sides of the floor, it's entirely conceivable that the team falls short of the ambitions they had heading into the year. 

This raises the question - is now the time for top decision makers within the franchise to swing big? Perhaps in the way of a former All-Star center that checks many boxes in Domantas Sabonis?

Follow both sides of the Sabonis debate below. 

Right off the bat, the Suns would receive a major boost to their rebounding exploits. Phoenix ranks at the very bottom of the NBA in rebounds per game (39.7), and are in the bottom 10% of the league in rebounding percentage. 

Sabonis is one of the great rebounders in the modern game, reshaping possessions on both sides of the ball behind a high level of physicality, premier positioning on the interior, and impeccable timing. The presence Sabonis provides would instantly boost Phoenix's possession control on a game-by-game basis.

Sabonis would also serve as a valiant co-star alongside Devin Booker. The multi-time All-Star is one of the very best in the business at initiating offense among bigs. He can operate out of the high post, draw defenses in with a skilled post game, and generate ample screen assists. He would also be able to play at power forward in lineups alongside Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach under certain circumstances. 

The two biggest drawbacks in this arrangement are clear. Sabonis' lack of lateral quickness can be exposed by quicker guards in high-leverage situations when opposing coaches draw up actions that force the center to guard in space. 

He also isn't a great rim protector, in large part due to a relatively small 6'11" wingspan that limits verticality in the lane. While he solves a few offensive questions, there's real reasons to be skeptical that the defensive shortcomings are worth committing to long-term.

The contract situation is a curious conversation to have in extension to the limitations. Sabonis is due roughly $94 million over the next two seasons, making this an investment that would be difficult for Phoenix to match asset-wise. It would also drive the Suns deeper into the luxury tax.

Many things must be under consideration in this conversation. At the end of the day, all options have to be on the table for an organization looking for greater stability.