Mark Williams knows he has to be healthy.
The still very raw Khaman Maluach can complain that he fell to the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft or that he has three vets who very well could earn playing time ahead of him on this version of the Phoenix Suns. He probably won’t feel that way because he is already certified as the most positive player on this team.
Nick Richards should be upset Phoenix traded for Williams and drafted Maluach within minutes of each other — months after dishing out a platter of second-round picks to acquire him from Charlotte.
Oso Ighodaro, um, might have to become a power forward.
The Suns’ center rotation represents a few things.
For one, it’s deep. But it’s four-deep of players in prove-it years.
That’s sort of the theme for most members of this version of the Suns.
“Obviously, the change of scenery was good, especially with how last year played out,” said Williams, who was initially traded from Charlotte to the Los Angeles Lakers before an apparently bad physical nixed the trade, awkwardly returning him to the Hornets. “I think I just want to prove, you know, my availability.
“I think my performance speaks for itself, but I just … got to be on the floor more. A lot of guys on this team have things to prove.”
Williams, the likely starter to begin this season, is in the final year of his rookie contract, and his career thus far has been spent either being intriguingly productive or on the sideline due to a variety of injuries.
Williams has appeared in 106 of 246 possible games through three seasons with the Hornets, with time missed most notably due to back and foot issues. It was reportedly not any lingering back problems but “multiple” issues that crashed the deal with the Lakers last season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Williams and his agent disputed he had anything physically wrong with him.
He admitted last Wednesday at Suns media day that the sequence of events and a change of scenery have given him an easy mainline of motivation.
“I mean, Charlotte was ultimately where I was drafted to, so there was a belief in me at some point,” he said. “But yeah, once you tried to trade me the first time, it was only a matter of time before I was gone. So, I kind of knew that (a trade in the offseason) was coming. So I just intend to, you know, make them regret that decision every time I’m on the court.”
When healthy, the 23-year-old was productive last season, averaging 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in just 26.6 minutes per game.
Phoenix has limited his use at the jump of camp, with coach Jordan Ott calling it an “intentional” plan to prepare the center for the rigors of the regular season.
Suns general manager Brian Gregory stressed that he believes his performance staff can move Williams past that injury history. The center has focused on building strength in his core and lower body, according to the GM.
“I think with Mark, one of our biggest and number one objective was to get his body to the point in terms of strength, mobility, flexibility, where he could perform consistently at the level that he’s shown in an inconsistent manner during his first three years,” Gregory said. “He’s been with us every day since July 1.
“His strength gains in the lower body have been off the chart. His work ethic on a daily basis, off the chart. His attitude — he understood where he was at and where he needed to get to and he’s worked every single day on that.”
Mark Williams isn’t the only intriguing player on the Suns center depth chart
What else makes this version of Phoenix’s center rotation unique?
The options, depth and variety represent the new front office’s commitment to make this wonky roster competitive from a physical and defensive standpoint. If you’re going to beat them, you will have to do it by attacking against large, agile guys like Williams and Maluach, who will limit rim attacks.
But the Suns can throw change-of-pace guys at opponents, like the ball-moving, bouncy Ighodaro. Or by chasing Devin Booker and Jalen Green across screens from large-bodied men like Richards.
“I think just being versatile on defense, you know, being able to guard one through five, being able to play a drop, being able to show (is important),” Williams said. “I think it kind of is a game-by-game basis … So I think just being versatile, being able to do a little bit of everything makes it a lot tougher for other teams when they play us.”
Especially in recent times, the Phoenix Suns have longed for a game-changing center.
With all the respect to Mark West, Oliver Miller, Scott Williams, Jake Tsakalidis, Jake Voskuhl, Mason Plumlee and down the line, it has been an ongoing search for that dude.
The Suns have been blessed with small-ball successes in Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, stretch bigs like Channing Frye or quality traditional centers like Robin Lopez, Luc Longley and Kurt Thomas.
Deandre Ayton and Marcin Gortat were double-double machines with desires for finesse that made them hardly feared as defenders.
Shaquille O’Neal was still an All-Star but a little old when he came to Phoenix in 2008, and Tyson Chandler arguably made more of an impact being a vet to guys like Booker than he did on the court (shouts to the original Valley-Oop, though).
Ayton was the No. 1 pick over Luka Doncic and Trae Young in 2018 because finding a giant human with nimble feet, a jumper and a 7-foot-plus wingspan is so rare. Alex Len’s defensive prowess and nimbleness were linked to his gymnastics resume as a child.
Yeah, there have been big stretches to find that dude.
It’s the same reason Maluach falling to Phoenix at No. 10 this season was surprising to many, as raw as he is with one up and down year at Duke on his resume.
Ighodaro must prove he can bang with true centers or shoot it to make up for the lack of size.
Richards’ contract looks like a trade chip, and his age puts doubt on his ceiling beyond being solid on the glass.
Williams has youth on his side, some passing chops and enough athletic juice to be quite interesting as a rim-roller that Booker’s never had.
Maluach is the future, and Ott’s success as a developmental coach will be tied to him.
“He’s got an incredible way about him because of his experiences,” first-year coach Ott said of Phoenix’s first-round pick. “And then at the same time we have to understand he’s 19 years old. … He’s going to have incredible plays that only he can make, and then he’s going to have some spots where he has a long way to go.
“Part of that is off the court in the weight room, and he’s done a great job in the last couple of months, adding strength to a spot now where he’s getting there. But we do have to have some grace with Khaman. And for that reason, we’re happy with our center depth, led by Mark, you know, Nick and Oso, all have had really good summers. We’re in a good spot with our center depth. Extremely excited to see how it all plays out in camp and into the regular season.”
But in the immediate times, it appears the Suns will weigh all their options and let training camp sort out what they want and need.
