{"id":744429,"date":"2026-05-26T12:46:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/744429\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T12:46:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:46:37","slug":"suns-mailbag-part-2-fans-strong-opinions-on-booker-green-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/744429\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns mailbag, Part 2. Fans’ strong opinions on Booker, Green and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joanne Zwicker\u00a0of Sun City\u00a0is fine with her Phoenix Suns<\/a> staying\u00a0largely where they are\u00a0after a 45-win season and return to the NBA playoffs after missing it last season\u00a0with Kevin Durant<\/a>, Devin\u00a0Booker\u00a0and Bradley Beal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this team this year was wonderful,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cI just love watching them develop.\u00a0They seem to get along with each other so well,\u00a0they’re\u00a0enthusiastic, and I hope\u00a0(Suns team owner)\u00a0Mat\u00a0Ishbia\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0mess with them and\u00a0start\u00a0moving them around.<\/p>\n

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“He needs to give them another year anyway, to see what happens.\u00a0The ones that are injured,\u00a0they’ll\u00a0get better.\u00a0They’ll\u00a0be back.\u00a0Like Mark Williams<\/a>.\u00a0He’ll\u00a0be back\u00a0in.\u00a0It’ll\u00a0be good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Arizona Republic asked readers for their opinions on what the Suns should do this offseason.<\/p>\n

This is the second installment, as fans discussed what the team should do moving forward\u00a0with Jalen Green<\/a> and the center position\u00a0in the first mailbag<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

1 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

2 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

3 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

4 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

5 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

6 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

7 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

8 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

9 \/ 9<\/p>\n

Suns’ Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)<\/p>\n

Ishbia\u00a0addressed the roster at his end-of-season news conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we take calls about opportunistic trades and ideas, of course we do,\u201d\u00a0Ishbia\u00a0said\u00a0last month. \u201cHowever, our massive, massive\u00a0lean is I like this team, I like where we’re going, I like the direction of the organization, I like the culture that we built, I like the identity that we\u00a0have\u00a0and we’re not going to do anything silly to mess that up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Zwicker,\u00a0Suns fan Mark Perkins\u00a0of Phoenix\u00a0is\u00a0cool\u00a0with the team building continuity and focusing on player development, but\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0looking for Booker\u00a0to raise his level of play.<\/p>\n

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The franchise\u2019s all-time leading scorer\u00a0averaged a playoff career-low 21.3 points, 4.8 assists, and a playoff career-worst four turnovers in the first round against\u00a0defending NBA champion\u00a0Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Suns.<\/p>\n

\u201cPersonally, I think Devin Booker is a great guy and is a great face for the Suns franchise,\u201d Perkins wrote. \u201cProblem though,\u00a0he’s\u00a0absolutely not\u00a0worth his most recent contract extension of $75M a year and not even worth his current contract of $50M a year.\u00a0Being the face of the franchise, I\u00a0would have expected Booker to carry the team against Oklahoma City. He was schooled by\u00a0Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander)\u00a0and\u00a0didn’t\u00a0show up when the Suns needed him most.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s\u00a0apparent\u00a0that their newest owner\u00a0(Ishbia)\u00a0is\u00a0attempting\u00a0to win a championship at all costs. Look at the mess of a team they\u00a0attempted\u00a0to create with Booker,\u00a0Durant\u00a0and Beal. Why would you pay Beal $50M a year for a guy who had a history of being injured? I loved Kevin Durant and wished we could\u00a0have kept\u00a0him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Phoenix<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and teammate Jalen Green (4) smile after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 3 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 25, 2026.<\/p>\n

Perkins\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0calling for\u00a0Ishbia\u00a0to trade Booker or Green, though.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMoving forward, I think the Suns need to continue to work with their young team and hopefully they can continue to mesh better,\u201d Perkins wrote. \u201cIt would be great to see a few of their young players step forward and be more dominant.\u00a0It\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0make sense at this point to\u00a0deal\u00a0Booker or Green. They really need a healthy team, especially their star players. It was very disappointing to see Jalen Green and Grayson Allen<\/a> miss so many games with injuries.\u00a0Hopefully,\u00a0next season those injuries are\u00a0a thing of the past.”<\/p>\n

A right hamstring injury limited Green to 32 games in the regular season while Allen dealt with multiple injuries, playing just 51 games.<\/p>\n

\"Phoenix<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott yells out to his team as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

Michael Ulfers of Phoenix\u00a0also believes\u00a0the Suns\u00a0should\u00a0place an emphasis on\u00a0continuity\u00a0and player development.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat will be instrumental in the program\u2019s success over the next 3-5 years,\u201d Ulfers wrote. \u201cThe core of this team needs an entire offseason and training camp together that will carry over into October. They were the biggest surprise in the league last season and\u00a0essentially came\u00a0together on-the-fly. … The window is open.\u00a0Don’t\u00a0slam it shut with unnecessary turnover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulfers\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0against the Suns making a trade if it means addressing their lack of size at the power forward position.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Suns need a power forward who aligns with their identity and spaces the floor to open up the offense,\u201d Ulfers wrote. \u201cIt would require parting with a fan favorite in Grayson Allen, but if they can turn him into Bobby Portis<\/a> (also\u00a0Taurean\u00a0Prince to match salaries), it instantly gives the Suns more size\/length,\u00a0defense\u00a0and rebounding.\u00a0They\u2019d\u00a0be losing one of the best 3-point\u00a0shooters in the league over the last few\u00a0seasons, but\u00a0gaining a legitimate floor\u00a0spacing big who also makes sense next to Booker and\u00a0(Dillon)\u00a0Brooks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Phoenix<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.<\/p>\n

Ulfers is all for the Suns re-signing unrestricted free agents Collin Gillespie<\/a> and Jordan Goodwin<\/a>, but wrote they\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0\u201cstarters on a contender.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mark Williams is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match any offer sheet from another team.<\/p>\n

Ulfers has an idea of how much\u00a0Phoenix should pay Williams, who averaged 11.7 points and eight rebounds in a career-best 60 games, but\u00a0the 7-footer\u00a0missed the playoffs with a recurring\u00a0left foot third metatarsal stress reaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cMatch selectively,\u201d Ulfers wrote. \u201cWilliams’ injury history is impossible to ignore. He missed the playoffs when the team needed him\u00a0the\u00a0most. The Suns\u00a0shouldn’t\u00a0exceed $12-15 million annually on a player who can’t be counted on in high-leverage moments. A three-year, $36-45 million deal reflects his value: high upside with significant risk. Anything more is betting against the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooks\u00a0and Green are up for extensions.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.<\/p>\n

(BRYAN TERRY\/THE OKLAHOMAN)\"\"<\/p>\n

1 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.<\/p>\n

(BRYAN TERRY\/THE OKLAHOMAN)\"\"<\/p>\n

2 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Joe Rondone\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

3 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

4 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward (3) Dillon Brooks reacts after being called for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Joe Rondone\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

5 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the floor after their 131-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing out the playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Joe Rondone\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

6 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Gary A. Vasquez\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

7 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Joe Rondone\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

8 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (left) watches the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

9 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) slam-dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

(Rob Schumacher\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

10 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Jan. 7, 2026, in Memphis.<\/p>\n

(Petre Thomas\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

11 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll (left) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) prepare for the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Rob Gray\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

12 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Jan. 13, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Sam Navarro\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

13 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) battle for a loose ball in the first half at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

14 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Brooklyn Nets’ Zeng Fanbo, Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker react at Venetian Arena in Macau, China, on Oct. 10, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Tyrone Siu\/REUTERS)\"\"<\/p>\n

15 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Nov. 29, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Mark J. Rebilas\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

16 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns guard\/forward Dillon Brooks (3) looks to pass the ball back inbounds against New Orleans Pelicans guard\/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Dec 27, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.<\/p>\n

(Stephen Lew, Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

17 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

(Mark J. Rebilas\/Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

18 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) complains to an official during a game against the Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Patrick Breen\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

19 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker, left, and Dillon Brooks chat on the sidelines during their game against the Miami Heat at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 25, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Joe Rondone\/The Republic)\"\"<\/p>\n

20 \/ 20<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos<\/p>\n

Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Knicks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 9, 2026 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107.<\/p>\n

(Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The max\u00a0extension\u00a0Brooks can land is\u00a0four\u00a0years\u00a0for $125.4 million after the 2026 NBA Finals.\u00a0As for Green,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0eligible for a max extension of four years, $195.2 million Oct. 1.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWait on both,\u201d Ulfers wrote.\u00a0\u201cBrooks is going to be 31 years old next January, and\u00a0committing to\u00a0players in their early 30s should require proof the production will age gracefully. Jalen Green\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0shown enough to\u00a0warrant\u00a0a lucrative extension either,\u00a0and\u00a0locking him into one now could make him untradable (similar to\u00a0the Beal dilemma) if he has another season like his first in Phoenix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulfers also gave his opinion on whether the Suns should start\u00a0Rasheer\u00a0Fleming and 7-footer Khaman Maluach<\/a>\u00a0next season.<\/p>\n

Maluach and Fleming had\u00a0some positive\u00a0moments as\u00a0rookies\u00a0last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they both\u00a0can\u00a0start next season, but they\u00a0shouldn\u2019t,\u201d Ulfers wrote.\u00a0\u201cThey both have the\u00a0talent, but\u00a0starting them\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0bridge the gap from 45 wins to 50-55 games next season. That jump requires veteran reliability,\u00a0not potential. Let them earn minutes through competition, and not by default.\u00a0Development happens best when young players\u00a0have to\u00a0take jobs instead of inheriting them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Support local journalism.\u00a0Start your online subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns mailbag 2. Patience for Booker, Green; money for Williams<\/a><\/p>\n