Suns Shouldn't Panic About Their Most Obvious Offensive Concern

Less than one week remains before the Phoenix Suns tip the 2026-27 season off against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The possible outcomes of the Phoenix season remain fairly narrow according to the wider NBA world, with questions (including three-point shooting) coming into fold when limiting the Suns' ceiling. 

Yes, parting with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale might sting at different points of the season. Despite this, there are still reasons to believe in the team as a shooting entity in the season to come. 

The chief of this train of thought resides in Phoenix's playmaking. Devin Booker, Oso Ighodaro, and Miles Bridges are already proven passers in pockets inside the arc. They simply do a strong job at redistributing the ball to teammates on the perimeter. This, along with the potential playmaking growth by Jalen Green, should generate an even more consistent flow in that regard.

Beyond this, there is clearly personnel in place to at least be an "average" shooting squad. Luke Kennard is considered by many to be a top-10 shooter in the NBA. If the 10-year-vet's role in preseason is a sign of what's to come, there shouldn't be much doubt that the volume increases within the offense. 

Booker is beyond the days of being in the top-10 three-point marksman conversation. However, he is still a quality shooter from behind the arc in catch-and-shoot situations. The margin for error in Booker's 2025-26 percentage is extremely slim as well. If the 29-year-old takes more stationary threes and ditches pull-up looks, there's real potential he exceeds the league average mark. 

In extension of the names above, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Dillon Brooks, Bridges, and Green all provide either a strong floor or a tantalizing ceiling. A bit more cohesion, consistency, and stronger shot IQ could very much lead to a similar output in comparison with last season.

Lastly, head coach Jordan Ott deserves much credit for how his offense operates. Ott is anything but a rigid coach. While three-point volume (and creating quality looks in a timely manner) is important, it's not the forever objective. 

Ott knows his personnel well. He can (and will) adjust accordingly. There's little doubt that he will be able to curate effective three-point centric lineups that generate more points for the Suns in major spurts of games that the team needs to win to reach the playoffs once again this season.