The Phoenix Suns made a notable move this summer when they acquired young center Mark Williams, a talented but oft-injured big man who is now looking to establish himself in a fresh setting.
According to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, the Suns are easing him into training camp, limiting some of his workload, but Williams insists he will be ready for the team’s regular-season opener.
Williams’ path to Phoenix has been complicated. Last season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the deal was ultimately rescinded after medical concerns arose.
This offseason, the Charlotte Hornets were finally able to move him, sending the former lottery pick to the Suns in exchange for this year’s No. 29 overall pick and a 2029 first-rounder. Charlotte used the 2025 pick to select forward Liam McNeeley.
In Phoenix, the 23-year-old has been active in nearly all aspects of camp with the exception of live five-on-five scrimmages.
“For me, it’s taking advantage of every opportunity out on the court and letting everything take care of itself,” Williams said. “They traded two first-round picks for me. I’ve talked to everyone from the top down.”
Williams has shown flashes of promise when healthy, averaging a double-double last season with 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds across 44 games, including 41 starts.
However, his young career has been hampered by injuries to his foot, back, knee, ankle, and thumb, limiting him to just 106 total appearances in three years.
New Suns head coach Jordan Ott noted that the big man has been focused on strengthening his body this offseason to withstand the grind of an NBA season.
“We’re trying to assess exactly where he is. The goal is there at the end of camp get him as ready as he can. He’s on a good path,” Ott explained, adding that it remains uncertain whether Williams will see preseason action.
With a potential payday looming – Williams will enter restricted free agency next summer if he and the Suns don’t agree on a rookie-scale extension by October 20 – the young center has extra motivation to prove his durability and value.
“I’m in a good place,” the player said. “They have a plan in place for me to be ready for opening night. Just doing everything in my power to be able to endure a full season so I’m excited for that.”
For Phoenix, the hope is that Williams’ combination of size, rebounding, and interior presence can add a valuable new dimension, provided he can stay on the floor.
Mark Williams expects to be ready for the Suns’ season opener: https://t.co/ukIbcT9Jj8
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 5, 2025
