Small Forward, 6′6″, 226 lbs, 2 years old, 8 years of NBA experience
So far, the Phoenix Suns are keeping Royce O’Neale on their roster heading into the 2025–26 season. There may have been a few trade feelers floated in hopes of landing draft picks in exchange for him, but for now, he remains a Sun. The question is whether he truly aligns with the direction and the fight that this team is expected to display next season.
For me, it feels like Royce is the odd man out in a rotation that’s shaping up to be sharper and more aggressive. While he brings value as a floor spacer and a versatile defender, his more relaxed style doesn’t quite match the intensity this Suns team will need to contend in the Western Conference. Whether he adapts and finds his place, or eventually becomes trade bait, will be one of the quieter but telling storylines to follow.
From catch-and-shoot threes to grabbing rebounds that sparked fast breaks, Royce gave the Suns a legitimate threat as a versatile wing. He played bigger than his size in key moments, keeping the Suns alive with timely production off the bench.
He was a solid piece to add alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but the Suns never managed to get out of the mud, sinking quickly toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings as the season wore on. Shooting over 40% from three, Royce was deadly at times from beyond the arc, but as the season spiraled, his role became more one-dimensional, often reduced to simply standing on the perimeter and launching threes.
Royce had his moments but struggled to maintain consistency throughout the year, though he did deliver a few huge games for the Suns when they needed it most.
Playing anywhere from the two through the four, he was shifted between starting and coming off the bench so sporadically that it’s no wonder he could never really find a rhythm. That constant role change made it difficult for him to build momentum, leaving his impact more scattered than steady.
On July 6, 2024, Royce O’Neale secured a 4-year, $44 million fully guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns, a contract that includes no player or team options. The agreement came shortly after Phoenix traded three second-round picks to acquire him from the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the year. O’Neale’s prior contract was a 4-year, $36 million pact signed in 2020.
A knockdown shooter from the perimeter and a power forward in a small forward’s body, Royce is a valuable asset as a plug-and-play option off the bench. He can knock down threes off the catch-and-shoot while also holding his own defensively against opponents several inches taller.
Increasing his three-point percentage to over 40% last season, Royce delivered exactly what was asked of him in catch-and-shoot situations. He also stepped up when needed to secure key rebounds. A high-IQ player, he brings energy and toughness, though his impact is somewhat limited when it comes to ball-handling and playmaking.
What makes Royce even more valuable is his adaptability in different lineups. Coaches can trust him to fit seamlessly alongside star players without disrupting offensive flow. His ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions gives him staying power in tight playoff rotations, where versatility and efficiency often separate role players from true difference-makers.
The big question is whether O’Neale truly fits into the Suns’ current plans. Are the Suns content with being a scrappy, middle-of-the-pack team, or are they still operating under a championship-or-bust mentality? Royce is the type of player who thrives in a winning environment — a perfect fit for a team with established stars that needs reliable role players to glue things together. That was exactly the logic two seasons ago when the Suns went out and acquired him.
If the organization is serious about chasing a title, O’Neale’s shooting, defense, and toughness make him an ideal complementary piece. But if the Suns are simply looking to compete and hang around the play-in picture, his skill set may be more valuable to a contender than to a team in transition.
I don’t see Royce finishing the season with the Suns. It really comes down to how competitive this team can be in securing a top-four seed out West, a goal that feels close to impossible right now. O’Neale will be a better fit on another roster, and the Suns are likely to look for draft capital in return.
According to trade machine scenarios, the Suns could potentially land a first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks. That would be an intriguing move, as Dallas could use O’Neale’s shooting and defensive versatility to fortify their playoff push. For the Suns, recouping a first-rounder would provide a much-needed asset to balance the books and plan for the future. A midseason move like this seems realistic — and possibly inevitable — if Phoenix fails to establish itself among the West’s elite early on.
Stat Prediction: 32 games played with Suns before trade, 7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 42.3% from three
If Royce sees a future in Phoenix during the opening weeks of the season and the team’s chemistry feels right, he has the tools to be a high-level contributor off the bench.
That said, being realistic, the situation may not align with his long-term goals. If the Suns struggle to establish themselves and the vibes shift, it’s reasonable to think O’Neale will eventually ask out when the time is right. In that case, Phoenix would likely pivot toward moving him for draft compensation or depth at another position, rather than risk losing him for nothing.