Jordan Ott said the Phoenix Suns are keeping everything on the table with rookie forward Rasheer Fleming as they try to solve the Oklahoma City Thunder in their playoff series. Asked Tuesday why Fleming has not played much, Ott said, “All things are on the table.”
Ott said the staff has already looked at several ways to use the 20-year-old forward against Oklahoma City’s attack. “Game 1, we liked what we saw,” he said. “Game 2, he got free a little bit, and last game, we tried to put our center (Oso Ighodaro) on him. That’s as much size as we have… Kind of gone through it all in our heads, and then when it unfolds, we try the best we can.”
The comments came as Fleming continued to see limited minutes throughout the series, even though some fans believed he could offer a different look against the Thunder’s roster. His appeal is straightforward: length, defensive instincts, energy and a willingness to attack the glass. Those are the kinds of traits that can matter in a series where Phoenix has also had problems with defensive consistency and bench production.
That leaves Ott balancing what he wants from the rookie against what the Suns can realistically deploy against a fast, moving Oklahoma City group. Fleming has already shown up in the season’s photo trail, including a March 2, 2026 image in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was pictured on defense against the Charlotte Hornets, and another on April 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City, where he was photographed running down the court against the Thunder.
For now, the Suns are not closing the door on Fleming, but they also have not found a clear place for him in the series. If the matchup changes, Ott’s words suggest Phoenix will keep revisiting the same question: whether Fleming’s size and energy can help enough to force him into the rotation.