The Phoenix Suns are engaged in a dramatic rebuild. As a result, their current and still-evolving roster is shaping up to be a gold mine for fantasy basketball. The failed 2023-24 season of forming a “Big 3” with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal was so epic that it cannot be overstated. The organization has moved on and has shifted its direction. They’ve been aggressive while staying mindful, and the team is looking good so far.
Suns Emerging as a Gold Mine in Fantasy Basketball
The Suns trading Durant paved the way for the arrival of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. This left the Suns with a roster chocful of shooting guards and a void at the center position. Yes, they still had Nick Richards, but he has shown to be a lackluster option at that position. He finished the 2023-24 season ranked 183rd in 9-cat per-game rankings. The former Hornet averaged a meager 9.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 36 games with the Suns. At best, he was an underwhelming streaming option for rebounds in fantasy.
Draft Night Moves
The Suns moved swiftly to rectify their issues of having a paper-thin frontcourt. Not too long before their pick at 10, the Suns made a big swing by trading for Hornets center Mark Williams. In exchange for the 23-year-old center, Phoenix parted with Vasilije Micić, the 29th pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
It appeared that Lady Luck was smiling on the Arizona franchise that night. They had the good fortune of former Duke Blue Devil Khaman Maluach falling to them at 10. He profiled as the top center option in the draft class. He’s a potential double-double threat with elite shot-blocking abilities. Maluach could easily make a splash in fantasy basketball on Day 1.
Mark Williams is Set Up for a Big Season as a Sun
Is Mark Williams the answer to the Suns’ problems at the five spot? He has the talent to play well, finishing 42nd in 9-cat rankings. While he started 2023-24 injured, Williams was able to finish strong, posting around top-30 value down the stretch. Last season, Williams posted averages of 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 60.4% FG while with the Hornets.
Unfortunately, he has a lengthy and problematic injury history. Williams has failed to play over 44 games in any of his first three seasons in the league. Understandably, his inability to stay on the court creates a red flag for fantasy basketball. His health is supposedly so suspect that a trade with the Lakers was rescinded.
If there’s any franchise to trust with nurturing injury-prone players back to health, it’s the Suns. They worked wonders for injury-battered players like Grant Hill, Channing Frye, and even Chris Paul. All of them experienced improved health and played more games per season during their tenure with the team.
Williams, along with combo guard Devin Booker, are the best options on the Suns to produce top-30 value or better. Booker, who is already primed to inherit the team, will command an ADP in the top 10 to 12 neighborhood. Thanks to Williams’ injury history, he can be drafted at a discount, likely closer to the top 50, despite his statistical upside.
The Suns are already positioned to move on Bradley Beal and are just waiting for the right trade partner. As an option, the Suns can also buy him out. Regardless of the method, the tea leaves read that Beal’s days in a Suns jersey are behind him.
Jalen Green Needs Improvement
Beal’s inevitable departure will open up the door for Jalen Green to help Booker carry the scoring load. Green, unfortunately, has holes in his game and is more of a target in the latter part of the middle rounds. His low field goal percentage (career 42.2%), high turnover rate (2.4 TO), and underwhelming steals (0.8 career SPG) leave fantasy managers wanting more. To his credit, the high-flying guard is relatively durable. He was able to play in all 82 games for two seasons in a row. Green finished just outside the top 100 (107) in 9-cat per-game rankings last season.
Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Flier Picks
The younger Suns players have some intriguing appeal. The aforementioned Maluach will surely get some run from Day 1. His fantasy value will depend on how well he adapts to pro play and how well he can avoid foul trouble — an issue rookies often face. He’s worth a last-round pick in 12-team leagues for a boost in rebounds and blocks categories.
Ryan Dunn could be in line to fill the void left by Durant. He was briefly a streaming option late in the season. As a 3-and-D project, Dunn can potentially flirt with becoming a 1-1-1 threat (one 3-point shot, one steal, one block). He’s still raw and needs to work on both his confidence and shot selection. But with a season already under his belt, things could fall into place for him to make some noise in the game of fantasy basketball.
Lastly, Rasheer Fleming, whom the Suns traded up to grab in the second round of the 2025 draft, could be a sneaky second-half stud. As things stand, the Suns aren’t looking like a playoff contender. This could lead them to focus on developing promising talent in Maluach and Fleming after the All-Star break.
*Fantasy Basketball rankings were taken from Hashtagbasketball.com
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