What happened: A new salary-cap projection lays out where Phoenix stands entering the offseason. The outlook turns on the qualifying offer to Williams and whether keeping him fits beneath the first apron. Phoenix would retain flexibility to trim costs in-season under that scenario.

Why it matters: The first apron is a hard ceiling on roster-building moves, so staying beneath it preserves the tools Phoenix needs to add or reshape its rotation. How the Williams decision resolves shapes the team's spending room and its path through the 2026-27 league year. A walk-away outcome and a retained-player outcome point Phoenix toward very different cap futures.

What to watch: Watch whether Phoenix extends the qualifying offer to Williams and how that choice positions the Suns against the first apron heading into the 2026-27 season.