Suns Leave Promising Young Big Man Stranded After Offseason Moves
The Phoenix Suns’ offseason reshaping of their roster has unintentionally created a problem for one of their most intriguing young players, Oso Ighodaro. After showing strong signs of growth in his rookie year, the 6-foot-10 center now finds himself without a clear path to minutes following the team’s aggressive remodeling of its frontcourt.
At just 23 years old, Ighodaro offered flashes of a player who could develop into a valuable long-term contributor. His size, athleticism, and efficiency gave Suns fans something to be excited about. But with new acquisitions like Mark Williams through trade and Khaman Maluach via the draft, alongside the retention of Nick Richards, Phoenix has essentially pushed Ighodaro down to the fourth spot on the depth chart. For a young big who needs minutes to refine his game, that’s as close to a basketball dead end as one can get.
A Glimpse of Promise in Year One
Ighodaro’s rookie campaign contained plenty of indicators that he could stick in the league. In games where he played 30 minutes or more, he averaged a solid 9.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, shooting over 60 percent from the floor. He showcased soft touch around the rim, mobility on defense, and the kind of instincts that make a young big man worth investing in.
While his counting stats weren’t earth-shattering, they were efficient, and efficiency often translates into steady growth with the right development path. Even more telling, the Suns were statistically better with Ighodaro on the court: they outscored opponents by 0.5 points per 100 possessions with him playing, compared to being outscored by 3.9 points when he was on the bench. For a rookie in a limited role, those are impressive signs.
Phoenix’s Reset Leaves Ighodaro Behind
This offseason, the Suns chose to completely retool their center position as part of their broader restructuring effort following the departure of Kevin Durant. Durant’s trade signaled a pivot toward reshaping the team with youth and more balance, but the front office clearly didn’t prioritize Ighodaro in that vision.
Instead, Phoenix swung for Mark Williams, a promising 24-year-old center with size and defensive presence, and then invested a lottery pick in Khaman Maluach, a teenage prospect touted as a future franchise anchor at the five. The decision may set up long-term stability at the position, but it simultaneously squeezes Ighodaro out of the equation.
It’s not a matter of fit either. Ighodaro is strictly a center, and his skill set doesn’t allow for an easy transition to power forward. He doesn’t space the floor—he attempted only two three-pointers all of last season, missing both—and the Suns can’t afford to pair him with another non-shooter without compromising their spacing and offensive balance. The idea of playing him at the four is more of a patch than a real solution.
The Market for Ighodaro
What Phoenix doesn’t seem to value, other teams surely will. Ighodaro’s basketball IQ, passing ability from the post, and efficient interior scoring are the kinds of tools that make him an attractive backup big man. His size at 6’10 and 235 pounds means he’s not undersized for the role. While he’s not a generational unicorn like Victor Wembanyama, he doesn’t need to be in order to carve out a meaningful NBA career.
Teams looking to shore up their frontcourt depth—like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers—would be smart to inquire. For a franchise with championship ambitions, Ighodaro could be the type of under-the-radar pickup that provides immediate impact. He doesn’t need a starring role to contribute; he simply needs a chance to play consistent minutes.
A Misstep That Could Haunt the Suns
The Suns’ decision to stack their depth chart at center may look good on paper, but it risks creating a case of déjà vu for the franchise. Over the years, Phoenix has developed a reputation for letting young talent slip away, only to watch them flourish elsewhere.
Fans don’t have to look far back to remember the likes of Mikal Bridges or Cam Johnson, whose departures left Suns supporters wondering “what if.” Ighodaro may not carry that same pedigree just yet, but the potential for him to blossom into a reliable, if not impactful, big man is real. If he’s traded or waived and finds success with another team, it will add to the growing list of regrets under team owner Mat Ishbia’s tenure.
Summer League Spark
To add to the frustration, Ighodaro once again impressed during summer league play. His energy, defensive activity, and offensive efficiency all popped against young competition, reinforcing the belief that he’s ready for an expanded role. Summer league isn’t the end-all, be-all for evaluating talent, but it’s a stage where you want to see young players dominate their peers—and Ighodaro did exactly that.
Instead of serving as a launching pad into year two, however, his performance seems destined to attract trade suitors rather than earn him a bigger role in Phoenix.
The Bigger Picture
The Suns’ offseason strategy was clear: lock down the center position for the future with both a proven player (Williams) and a high-upside draft pick (Maluach). On the surface, it’s hard to argue with the logic. But basketball is also about asset management, and in this case, the Suns may be mishandling one of their most promising young pieces.
If Phoenix had shown a bit more patience with Ighodaro, they could have developed him alongside their new acquisitions, perhaps even as insurance in case Williams or Maluach doesn’t pan out. Instead, they’ve created a logjam that doesn’t just stifle his growth—it could diminish his trade value too. Opposing teams know the Suns don’t have room for him, meaning offers will likely be lower than his actual worth.
What’s Next for Ighodaro?
For now, Ighodaro’s future seems tied to whether the Suns decide to move him. He’s unlikely to see meaningful playing time stuck behind three other centers, and Phoenix doesn’t appear inclined to reshape its rotation to accommodate him.
The best outcome for the player may be a change of scenery. A team with developmental minutes to offer or one searching for reliable frontcourt depth could scoop him up and allow him to flourish. Given his age, work ethic, and flashes of production, there’s every reason to believe he could carve out a strong career in the right situation.
Final Thoughts
The Suns’ offseason overhaul has left Oso Ighodaro in limbo. After showing efficiency, flashes of rim protection, and strong rebounding in his rookie year, he should be a player worth investing in. Instead, Phoenix buried him beneath new acquisitions and effectively closed the door on his immediate future with the team.
While Suns management may view this as securing long-term stability at center, the risk is clear: another promising young talent could slip away and blossom elsewhere, leaving Phoenix with more regret than reward. For Ighodaro, the writing on the wall suggests that his time in the desert may soon end, but his NBA journey is far from over. Somewhere, a team is going to give him the role and opportunity he needs—and when that happens, the Suns may look back and wish they had handled things differently.
