Hanifan’s offseason outlook: Evaluating the Phoenix Suns' 2026 offseason

Heat Suns — (Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)

The calendar has turned to September. You know what that means, right?! Our offseason outlook series is back for the third-straight year!

Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! We will be going in alphabetical order, beginning with the Eastern Conference. To continue along, we will be diving into the Phoenix Suns’ summer.

Previous offseason outlooks:

Evaluating the Phoenix Suns’ 2026 offseason:

Additions: Miles Bridges, Luke Kennard, Pat Spencer

Subtractions: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale

Re-signed: Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin

Draft: Koa Peat (No. 30 overall)

Hanifan’s outlook: Heading into the summer, owner Mat Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory had one focus: Continuity. There has been plenty of flux in the organization beforehand, and those two keyed on this summer to build off last year’s 45-win season, which saw them squeak into the postseason (only to be swept by OKC).

Thus, there wasn’t a lot of activity.

The biggest shoe to drop was trading Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale plus an unprotected 2033 first-round pick for Miles Bridges and a 2029 first-rounder, which is the least favorable between Utah, Minnesota and Cleveland. First off, I have no idea why Bridges was worth a first; secondly, I think trading a 2033 first, even under this new lottery structure (for the time being; it expires after 2029), given Devin Booker’s uncertain future, is mind-boggling. Obviously, a lot can happen between now and then, but even if Booker stays, he will be entering his age-36 season when that summer rolls around.

The Suns haven’t done a poor job acquiring less-than-favorable swaps, but those are far less valuable. Their 2032 first is currently frozen, and they now don’t control their own first for the next eight seasons. For a fringe playoff team, yikes! Phoenix did save roughly $20 million with this trade, but at what cost? I don’t love Bridges’ fit, either, even though he’s a more productive commodity than Allen and O’Neale, who’s entering his age-33 season.

I’m also a wait-and-see on Peat; I love his intersection of size, strength and athleticism. I think he can be an effective above-the-rim finisher and rebounder. I am still terrified about his jumper, though; his mechanics are horrible and his unwillingness to shoot anything outside of 15 feet was even more concerning. He’s still young, but those concerns will exist until proven otherwise.