Around the Beat: Confirmed Moves, Debated Roles, Unconfirmed…

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Saturday, September 26

Beat outlets and the transaction log agree on this week's roster churn, but coverage of Phoenix's biggest questions — who starts, who gets moved, who saves the season — is running well ahead of anything confirmed. The clearest evidence still favors patience over prediction, with usable minutes data cutting against two of the loudest takes.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Camp churn, confirmed. RealGM and Hoops Rumors both logged the same moves that already sit in the transaction record: Duop Reath, Kennedy Chandler and Phillip Wheeler signed in, while John Camden, Corey Camper and Sam Hoiberg were waived. Beat reporting and roster paperwork match here, without any gap between what outlets wrote and what actually happened.

Frontcourt previews. Bright Side of the Sun ran player previews arguing Miles Bridges has plenty to prove, that Dillon Brooks improves by taking fewer shots, and that Mark Williams could still carve out a role. Williams remains out following shoulder surgery, with a projected comeback in February, so a real role for him is still months away.

Ighodaro's underrated case. Valley of the Suns pushed Oso Ighodaro's case as the roster's most underrated big. Last season's numbers back it up: over his final three games, his minutes rose by 12 a night whenever a teammate sat, the exact bump a bigger role would require.

Backcourt fit questions. Valley of the Suns argued Booker and Green can't share a starting five, and separately floated that waiving Ryan Dunn someday 'isn't as crazy as you might think.' Recent evidence cuts against both: Green's biggest minutes jump, +13 a night last season, came off the bench, and Dunn remains one of twenty players still in camp.

Trade names, no moves. Valley of the Suns floated D'Angelo Russell as a fit next to Booker and Lonzo Ball as an option once Williams returns. Neither name shows up in this week's actual transactions or in any rumor tied to a named source — both are outlet speculation, not reporting on a move in progress.

Maluach's outside bet. Arizona Sports relayed ESPN's Golliver calling Khaman Maluach the club's best hope of escaping mediocrity. He's one of two healthy centers on the depth chart right now, alongside Ighodaro, while the position's likely long-term starter recovers from surgery — which is exactly why that outside bet carries weight.

On deck Preseason opens October 5 at the Pistons, the first real chance to test these previews and pairings on the floor, with the regular-season opener set for October 21 at the Trail Blazers.

Did the Suns actually sign Duop Reath?

Yes — Reath signed September 26 alongside Kennedy Chandler, a day after Phillip Wheeler joined, while John Camden, Corey Camper and Sam Hoiberg were waived to clear room.

Will Devin Booker and Jalen Green start together?

That's outlet speculation, not a settled plan; last season's minutes data shows Green's biggest jumps came off the bench, not next to Booker in a starting five.