Jalen Green has one season to change the Suns’ long-term plans

When you look at the Phoenix Suns, their current roster construction, and how it impacts both the short term and the long term, one thing is clear. This upcoming season is going to be a make-or-break year for 24-year-old Jalen Green.

Green came to Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant trade, bringing the youth and athleticism the Suns desperately needed. Unfortunately, he played only 32 games last season. That’s right, his superpower of health instantly evaporated once he experienced the Phoenix sun. Last season was supposed to be the dating period, the time when we learned about his fit and skill set within the confines of who the Suns are and what they are. Alas, injuries pushed that timeline back. Now, 2026–27 becomes the dating period. That being said, the Phoenix Suns are facing an interesting dilemma when it comes to Green.

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He’s owed $36.3 million this upcoming season, the second-highest salary on the team, and holds a $36 million player option for the following year. With extensions beginning to kick in for players like Dillon Brooks and potentially Miles Bridges, committing additional long-term money to Green could become financially irresponsible. So he enters this season with something to prove. If Green doesn’t show that he’s worth being part of the long-term plan, then the clock starts ticking on when and how Phoenix moves off his contract. 

That leads to the real question. How long do you give Jalen Green? Do you let the entire season play out and make a decision next summer, knowing there’s a strong possibility he opts into that $36 million player option? Or, if he struggles, do you start shopping him early and potentially move him before or at the trade deadline?

That’s the dilemma Phoenix will have to navigate. The front office has to weigh all these factors while also trying to understand exactly how Green fits within this team’s ecosystem. Is he someone you use as a primary playmaker, allowing Devin Booker to thrive more in an off-ball role? Or is Green the off-ball guard, the player who benefits from the gravity Booker naturally creates?

The early indications suggest the Suns may…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jalen-green-one-season-change-202836399.html

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Publish date : 2026-08-26 20:28:00

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