Oso Ighodaro came off the out list on Oct. 27 and has an estimated return of Oct. 30, the night Denver visits. The more pressing problem is a defense allowing 124.5 points per 100 possessions.
Ighodaro back in sight. Ighodaro's oblique moved from out to a game-time status on Oct. 27, with an estimated return of Oct. 30. That injury has changed status repeatedly since Oct. 22, so treat the date as a target. If he plays, Jordan Ott gets back a frontcourt body he has been forced to replace with experiments.
The number that hurts. Across three games Phoenix has allowed 124.5 points per 100 possessions and scored 111.6, a net rating of -12.9. Bright Side of the Sun called the defense "disconnected," and Valley of the Suns wrote that it sets off alarm bells early in the season. Star scoring cannot cover a gap that wide.
Center by committee. Mark Williams and his left shoulder have an estimated return of Feb. 3, 2027, so the middle belongs to Khaman Maluach, Duop Reath and lineup tinkering. Valley of the Suns' Luke Duffy criticized Ott for trying Miles Bridges at center in Oklahoma City and made the case for Ryan Dunn as a small-ball option.
Heat check on Booker. Devin Booker is averaging 23.0 points and 5.3 assists but shooting 22.2 percent from three. Jalen Green is at 14.0 points and Dillon Brooks at 14.7. Phoenix has the scorers for a shootout. Until Booker's jumper comes back, it has nobody to bail out a defense that bleeds points.
What the roster costs. Payroll sits at $213.8M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line, with Booker at $57.1M and Green at $36.3M. Houston owns the 2027 first-round pick, so a slow start brings no lottery consolation. Power rankings have dropped Phoenix from 15th to 25th in a week.
When is Oso Ighodaro expected back for the Suns?
His estimated return is Oct. 30 against the Nuggets. His oblique has changed status several times since Oct. 22, so that date could still move.
When will Mark Williams return from his shoulder injury?
Williams has an estimated return of Feb. 3, 2027. Until then the Suns are using Khaman Maluach, Duop Reath and smaller lineups at center.
