Despite harsh power rankings and salary cap constraints, internal development and rising prospects could spark a resurgence for a franchise fighting to reclaim its championship window.
The 2026-27 season is sizing up to be a crucial one for the Phoenix Suns.
General manager Brian Gregory and governor Mat Ishbia are looking to further establish Phoenix as a reliable playoff team, while also setting up an opening for the window of true contention.
The opinion around the NBA surrounding how the Suns' future is viewed tends to be quite pessimistic.
Among those is Stephen Noh of Sporting News, who ranked the Suns #26 in a futures power ranking.
The Suns only rank above the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and New Orleans Pelicans - serving as a sobering reminder of the perception facing the franchise.
Noh's arguments are fairly straightforward - franchise player Devin Booker will be among the most overpaid players in the NBA three years down the line. The other argument is rooted in the lack of supporting star-level talent and the lack of control over draft capital.
In adding a twinge of optimism, Noh also pointed out that second-year center Khaman Maluach and rookie Koa Peat are promising prospects moving forward.
The negatives are absolutely valid to point out. Phoenix is still in the first apron despite being more than a year removed from moving past the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal era. The financial ramifications of waiving Beal are still being felt, and the franchise won't have much flexibility to make a potential splash signing within the next year.
While shooting guard Jalen Green isn't a star player, he has a star-level ceiling. This is a crucial season for the development of the 2021 lottery selection, as he will either establish himself as a viable, long-term pairing next to Booker, or will go into the 2027-28 season as a lame duck on the roster.
The lack of draft capital is a point of concern, but shouldn't be a deal-breaker when comparing them to teams frequently tabbed as lower-half franchises moving forward. Gregory is doing a phenomenal job at evaluating talent and making bold moves to acquire it via any means possible.
It's not a secret that internal development, coaching, and a superstar-level resurgence from Booker are key to returning to contention. This also isn't as unattainable as one may think, especially with prospects such as Maluach and Peat in the fold.
The Suns are roughly one month away from ushering in the lead-up to the season, as media day is being held in late September.
