What if I told you that the Suns could increase their production at the starting center position while simultaneously paying less money than it would take to re-sign Mark Williams? Is that something you might be interested in?
Despite the Suns’ injury management plan, reduced minutes, and scheduled rest days, Mark Williams ended another season hurt. This left the Suns with no choice but to turn to their young reserve centers as they struggled to gain traction against the overwhelming perimeter pressure of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Averaging 43.6 minutes over the course of four games, Khaman Malauch and Oso Ighodaro (KhOso) combined to average 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.
No bueno.
Going into the 2026-27 season, the Suns have a decision to make about whether to bring back Mark Williams, who played a career-high 60 games last season. The Suns, in a surprise move, acquired Williams via a draft day trade, swapping two first-round picks for the big, and then immediately turned around and drafted Khaman Malauch. As Holden Sherman pointed out in his Bright Side article, the Suns knew they’d need a starting center as 19-year-old Malauch developed his body and game. A necessity to compete, but still a high price to pay.
Some fans might wring their hands at the thought of moving on from a player their team just gave up two draft picks to get after one year, but the Suns would be well advised not to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy.
Mark Williams is a restricted free agent, so the Suns are in a position to match any offer made. Whether there will be interest in the Suns big remains to be seen, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that Mark could receive a possible contract of $42 million over 3 years, and there are real questions as to whether or not that fits the Suns budget and Khaman Malauch’s timeline.
So if Mark does hit the $13-15 million dollar a year range and the Suns decide to walk away, what options do they have? Replacements for Mark within the Suns’ budget are hard to find. The Suns will either have to spend more on or expect less from the starting center position. The Suns front office has been good at working with less, but when you go out hunting potential value contracts, it’s important to turn over every rock. And I think I found a familiar rock that may have some value on the backside of his career.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s my privilege to present to you today, for the approval of the fan base…
*Drumrolls on desk*
Deandre Ayton.
That’s right. Deandre Ayton, aka DA, aka DominAyton. The same Deandre Ayton we drafted ahead of Luka Doncic. Or is it? It’s been eight years since the Suns drafted DA and three years since he’s laced them up for the purple and orange. He’s no longer number one pick Deandre. He’s a new Deandre. He’s no longer max contract Deandre, he’s fighting to stay a starter in this league Deandre, and that comes with a price tag that should give the Suns pause when considering if they really want to creep closer towards the 1st apron to bring Mark Williams back at possibly northwards of $13 million dollars a year.
There are Suns fans who may hate this, but we need to remember, it was the Suns’ decision not to draft Luka, not DA’s. So haters get wrecked or just get over it.
The narrative around DA has gone from “he needs to be more physical” to “he needs to lock in and focus” to “DA doesn’t care.” I don’t know DA other than what he’s done on the basketball court and what he’s said in pressers or on social media. But I still remember Monty giving that incredible speech to DA when he was a young player getting worked by Giannis at the peak of his game. I remember the frustration, which was sliding into resignation as he struggled to compete with an all-time great. Monty knew he needed a pick-me-up, not a scolding.
Ayton needs to be managed properly. He doesn’t need ultimatums or call-outs in the media; he needs to be finessed. Some, if not most, of you might be thinking, “Exactly, that’s why I don’t want him on the Suns.” But hold that up to the mirror, and you’ll see, “.sunS eht no mih tanw t’nod I yhw s’taht, yltcaxE” which is Latin for, “That’s actually a good thing.” Let me explain why.
It’s the Dead Cap era. The Suns need to find players who overperform the price tag on their contract. This isn’t me making this up. Brian Gregory said it himself. Three of those players who had career years, Goodwin, Gillespie, and Brooks, are getting new deals. So the prices on their tags are going up. The Suns don’t have the money to go out and get a season trajectory-changing center like Sabonis without having to reconstruct the roster or move into those nasty aprons. They need to find someone who under-produced that they can get at a bargain and rehabilitate.
Deandre Ayton is coming off of a down year. Not just in the box score, but also in vibes and in media perception. Last year, DA recorded career lows in minutes, points, and rebounds. It was the first season Deandre Ayton has averaged under 10 rebounds. I don’t think the Lakers want him back, and either he opts into the last year of his contract and becomes a trade piece, or he declines his option and tests the free agent market.
Whatever his decision, all indications are that Deandre Ayton will be on a new team next year. Will he garner more than the $8 million left on his contract? Not everyone thinks so. Estimates range anywhere from $5-13 million if he were to enter free agency. If the Suns can sign DA at the right price, he might be the perfect fallback if they don’t want to spend that much money to sign Mark. But if it didn’t work in Portland, and it didn’t work in Los Angeles, why would it work in Phoenix on a team where it already hasn’t worked once?
Culture.
The Suns have defined their culture, and now it’s time for them to use it. You don’t build a culture to bring in only players cut from the same cloth. The power of culture is that teams can bring in players who aren’t cut from that cloth, but the culture currently carries them that way. It’s the advantage the Patriots have by bringing in Randy Moss and reviving him. It’s Head Coach Tom Osborne recruiting Lawrence Phillips and all the emotional dysfunction that came with him and them winning championships at Nebraska. It’s the Bulls signing Rodman. It’s the Pistons taking a bet on Rasheed Wallace. It’s the Heat bringing in Jimmy Butler and making the Finals, after it didn’t work in Philadelphia, who got him after his meltdown in Minnesota.
The Lakers had no established culture in 2025-26. There was no locker room chemistry. No alignment. Luka randomly fell into their laps, and then they had to figure out how to make it work with a team built around LeBron and AD. Oh, and LeBron was still on the team. I’m sure he was flexible.
The Lakers were not a fit for DA. JJ Reddick has to be a hard ass, that’s all he knows. So he made comments at pressers, tried to spike Deandre’s water with crunk juice, and cut his minutes to let him know he wasn’t happy with his performance. Luka and Lebron didn’t want DA on the team either. Anyone out there who has worked a job where the management isn’t happy with your performance and has already formed their opinion of your value knows it’s not easy to come in excited to work every day under that type of scrutiny.
Deandre doesn’t respond to the stick. He’s a carrot guy. Everyone is always so quick to say, DA, you need to play harder, DA, you need to focus, DA, you’re letting the team down. No one ever thought to ask DA what he needs. What’s wrong, Deandre? What can I do to help you, Deandre? Do we need to get you a couple more field goal attempts, Deandre?
¿Deandre, por qué estás tan triste?
It breaks my heart to see Deandre sad and on the Lakers. I want to see Valley-Oop DA. And I want to see the Suns get more production out of the center position. I know they can get that from DA who played 72 games in the regular season last year. 72 games before he got to the playoffs, where he added another 10.
Mark Williams has never played in a playoff game. Deandre Ayton has 55 under his belt. He’s won 31 of them. I don’t know what kind of offer Deandre will get if he hits free agency, but it’s a good bet Mark Williams gets offered more. Khaman looked at least another year away from being a starting-caliber center in this league, but we know he’s coming. Why sign Mark to three years at $42 million if you could get Deandre on a two-year prove-it deal for under 20 million, similar to his deal with the Lakers?
Would Deandre be interested in coming back to the Suns? Who knows? I won’t pretend to know Deandre Ayton. It didn’t end very well. But this is a new Deandre with a new contract that comes with new expectations. He didn’t live up to the number 1 pick, but he was far from a bust. The free agent options at center look bleak so if DA hits free agency or if he opts in and the Lakers are open to moving him, the Suns have to take a look. There aren’t very many rocks on the beach. They can’t leave any unturned.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Now form an orderly line at the top of the comments section to tell me why I’m wrong.
