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One Suns Rotation Battle Is Key to Phoenix Finding Success
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- One Suns Rotation Battle Is Key to Phoenix Finding Success
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Less than two weeks remain until the Phoenix Suns open up the 2026-27 regular season.
While many roster/rotation questions are already answered, there are a small handful of loose ends to figure out.
Among those?
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The potential battle between wings Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming for the final spot in the core rotation.
The top nine in head coach Jordan Ott's rotation seem to be in stone. The starting unit has taken shape since the trade to bring Miles Bridges to Phoenix, while Collin Gillespie , Jordan Goodwin, Luke Kennard, and Khaman Maluach seem to be in the mix at the front of the bench.
While Ott doesn't seem to be keen on labeling this rotation-positioning a battle , this certainly seems to be the case at the surface.
This is incredibly significant for both the present and future of the organization, as both under-25 wings remain possible foundational pieces. They are also pining to make a difference on a second unit that is hopeful to be among the best in the NBA.
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It's unclear who holds the edge at the moment. The sign that points towards Fleming holding an edge is the simple gesture of Ott opting to start the Saint Joseph's product in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss in place of the injured Bridges.
Fleming is more dependable on the offensive side of the ball at this time, particularly as a floor-spacer. The 7'5" wingspan that Fleming provides also makes him an invaluable defensive piece inside the arc.
However, Dunn may simply be more dependable when it comes to eating minutes, defending the perimeter, and playing off-ball. The Virginia product needs this opportunity as well to carve out a future as an NBA rotation player.
The decision as to who earns the final spot in the core rotation will likely come down to three factors - who's more apt to defend on a possession-by-possession basis, who is more readily available to mix-and-match in different lineups, and who wins more consistently around the margins.
The battle will continue to be a major talking point over the Suns' final two preseason contests - one against the Spurs and one against the Utah Jazz.
