The outlets covering Phoenix spent the last day on an unnamed starting center, a waiver claim and a Ja Morant hypothetical. The roster sheet and the payroll answer some of those questions more firmly than the columns do.
Center job still secret. Arizona Sports' Kellan Olson reported the Suns remain secretive about naming a starting center, and Valley of the Suns' Ben Leibowitz wrote Jordan Ott is taking the race down to the wire. Mark Williams is out until an estimated February 3, Oso Ighodaro is day-to-day with a hip issue and listed for Wednesday, and Khaman Maluach is 20.
Timme in, two out. Valley of the Suns' Luke Duffy wrote that Phoenix could not resist one more big man in Drew Timme, and Bright Side of the Sun's John Voita covered the waiver claim. The move is done: Timme joined Tuesday, CJ Huntley and Koby Brea left the same day, and Hoops Rumors reported Duop Reath is converting to a two-way contract.
Brea as a warning. Duffy also called Brea's exit a reminder not to overestimate every addition. The cap sheet backs him. Brea arrived in the Kevin Durant trade alongside Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming, and payroll still sits at $213.8M, past the $200.4M tax line and above the apron, with the 2027 first-rounder owed to Houston.
The Morant hypothetical. Leibowitz wrote the Suns may already regret not pushing for Ja Morant, who is now in Portland. Last season Morant averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games. The regret case is thin on the Phoenix side: Devin Booker averaged 26.1, Green earns $36.3M, and every Suns first-rounder through 2030 is either owed or tied to a swap.
Bridges and the bench. Leibowitz also wrote that Miles Bridges' faith in the bench should be vindicated soon. Last season's numbers help him: Collin Gillespie shot 40.1 percent from three over 80 games and Jordan Goodwin played 70. They cut the other way on Luke Kennard, still day-to-day with a knee issue, and on Green, who played 32 games.
Portland's opening five. Bright Side of the Sun's Holden Sherman asked who the Suns will face in Portland's opening lineup, and ESPN noted the Blazers open at home. Portland's list says plenty: Shaedon Sharpe is sidelined by a right knee injury, Jrue Holiday is day-to-day with a right hand issue, and Deni Avdija, who averaged 24.2 points last season, is not on it.
Who is starting at center for the Suns on opening night?
The Suns have not named one. Mark Williams is out until an estimated February 3, and Oso Ighodaro is day-to-day but listed to return for the October 21 opener.
Did the Suns claim Drew Timme?
Yes. Timme joined Phoenix on October 20, the same day CJ Huntley and Koby Brea left the roster.
