Suns have open roster spots with transaction deadline today

The Phoenix Suns have until 9pm tonight to fill their 15th roster spot, and possibly their second two-way contract slot, in advance of their 8-game #BubbleBoyz appearance in Orlando later in July.

With the opt-out of Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee rehab), who remains under contract and will join the team in Orlando as a pseudo-cheerleader, and another two unnamed Suns already self-quarantining due to positive COVID-19 tests, the Suns might need another body or two for pickup games and insurance.

Who knows how many other players on the Suns will test positive in the coming weeks. Spencer Dinwiddie of the Nets just tested positive after two negative tests, and is uncertain to play in Orlando. Could that happen to the Suns too? Of course.

So maybe the Suns should sign someone for their open 15th roster slot, just to be safe. The deadline is tonight at midnight Eastern — or 9:00pm our time.

Here are the players that are still unsigned at this time, after a week of minor transactions across the league. This is basically the same list I presented to you a week ago, so not much has changed.

• Point guards: Trey Burke, Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Walton Jr.

Not a lot to choose from here. Trey Burke would struggle to be better than Okobo/Carter, but he’s more of a veteran so maybe he could pick up the offense quickly. IT can still shoot the long ball, but has trouble getting to the rim anymore and never has been able to defend all that well either. He’d be a better spot-up shooter than anyone who could play next to Booker but an IT/Booker defensive pairing would be cringe-worthy.

• Wings: Allen Crabbe, Jamal Crawford, Gerald Green, C.J. Miles, Iman Shumpert, Allonzo Trier (new)

Crabbe was a terrible shooter this year, but he’s had a good career in that area and would be a good pickup for the just-in-case-he-remembers. The rest are retreads. Allonzo Trier was just released by the Knicks after they claimed Jared Harper and Theo Pinson off waivers.

• Bigs: DeMarcus Cousins

Assuming Frank is healthy (he says he is), then there’s really no need to sign any bigs for an 8-game stint. Not a lot to get excited about, but most of these guys would be better than throwing Tariq Owens or Jalen Lecque into the mix in an important game.

Just watch to see if anything happens this afternoon for the Suns.

Any new player would have to self-quarantine for 7-10 days or so, including getting two negative COVID-19 tests, before they could join the Suns. By that time, the Suns will all be heading to the Orlando bubble to being training camp in earnest.