By prioritizing roster continuity over a superstar overhaul, Brian Gregory secured key extensions for analytics darlings while navigating the polarizing trade for forward Miles Bridges.
The 2025 offseason was one that presented many trials to the Phoenix Suns, with the eventual departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal being something that the entire front office had to answer for.
The 2026 offseason has been much more tame in comparison - the organization has largely stuck to continuity and the formula that won the team 45 games during the 2025-26 season.
This initially reflected positive in Zach Kram of ESPN's grading of the Suns' offseason, gifting them a B-plus for the re-signings of Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams.
The process behind praising these moves is quite simple at the surface. Three impact players from a playoff team were paid roughly $30 million annually between each to stay in Phoenix. The retention of Williams allows more runway for Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro to develop, while Williams also costs less per season than Mitchell Robinson.
Beyond the surface rests the simple truth that the Suns couldn't let any of the three walk for nothing. The asset pool that is at Phoenix's disposal is slowly revamping, but the franchise still can't afford to abandon continuity or penny pinch at this juncture - especially in the case of Gillespie, who set the single-season franchise record for three-point connections a season ago.
Gillespie in particular is an analytics darling, although Goodwin grades out incredibly well as a three-point shooter and defender in his own right.
Bringing back two starting caliber players and another legitimate rotation piece for that price tag should undeniably reflect well on GM Brian Gregory's offseason, but there is one move that has led to a more tepid approach to the success of the offseason.
The trade for Miles Bridges has divided the media world, the Phoenix fanbase, and fans of the NBA at-large. Trading away a first-round selection and two valuable high-volume shooters is already a palpable amount of sacrifice, but gifting Bridges a multi-year extension is the dealbreaker for many.
It remains to be seen how the trade for Bridges will age for the Suns, but the trio of standouts that were brought back were retained in a more than justifiable manner. Roughly two months remain until the onset of training camp, which will lead into the regular season opener in late October - the ushering in of another season that the team will be a playoff hopeful in.
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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.
