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The draft is behind the Phoenix Suns, and boy was it a doozy! The 52nd pick?! Generational superstar incoming! No offense to Toumani Camara (I am actually really excited to see the kid play in the NBA Summer League), but he most likely will be filling the “guy at the end of the bench” role.
Now the real fun begins for the franchise.
The Suns need to fill out their roster, and following the addition of Bradley Beal, Jordan Goodwin, and Isaiah Todd from the Washington Wizards, we are slowing beginning to understand how they intend to do so. Still, there are multiple questions that need answering:
- What will they do at point guard? Is it Cameron Payne? Is it a Booker & Beall backcourt duo?
- Is James Jones looking to continue his 3-by-5 philosophy of being three-deep at all five positions?
- Will KD be the three or the four?
- Who will the fifth starter be?
- Will they be playing their greatest hits, bringing back some of their Bird rights guys (Torrey Craig, Jock Landale, Bismack Biyombo, Darius Bazley)?
The free agent market is full of potential roster additions, and what Phoenix has to offer is unique. A chance to play for a title...and actually play. The roster is top heavy and the need for players to flock to the Valley is paramount to the ultimate success of the team. Players who chose to take the veteran minimum — which is most likely how they’ll fill out the roster — will be rewarded with the opportunity to contribute.
Who’s available? Please reference previously published pieces for a better understanding of who Phoenix can and should target.
It’s time to start talking rumors! Please check back often as we’ll have the newest free agency rumors listed at the top, with the oldest at the bottom. Let the rumors begin!
July 3, 2:37pm — Camara signs deal
The Suns have signed their 52nd overall pick to a deal. Keith Smith of Spotrac reports that it is a “standard contract”, which indicates that it is not a two-way deal as some expected.
July 3, 11:00am — Bye, Bye TC
The Suns have officially parted ways with unrestricted free agent as he signs with the Chicago Bulls. He feels like a Bull to me.
July 3, 8:12am — KBD and Eubanks officially sign with Phoenix
Per Keith Smith, “Because these are signings via the minimum exception, Phoenix can sign them now vs waiting until the moratorium is over on July 6.”
July 2, 8:17pm — Darren Collison works out for the Suns
The Suns aren’t done yet, are they? For those looking for a “traditional” point guard, the Suns worked out 6’0” Darren Collison, who last played in 2022 with the Lakers.
July 2, 12:16pm — Eric Gordon is a Phoenix Sun
Holy Crap. The Suns pulled off a home run transaction by bringing in a quality guard on a minimum. He meets so many needs that this roster still had. Eric Gordon, who once upon a time signed an offer sheet with Phoenix in 2012, is finally en route to Phoenix.
July 1, 3:20pm — Jock gets a deal with the Rockets
Good for Jock. The Suns initially offered him his qualifying offer of $2.2 million. The Rockets are giving him a 4-year, $32 million deal.
June 30, 4:32pm — Suns’ target Yuta Watanabe signs
Another huge win for Phoenix. A 6’9” 44.5% three-point shooter? Holy. Hell.
June 30, 3:35pm — More wing depth is added, Suns sign Chimezie Metu
Another 6’9” wing is added as the Suns sign the Metu, who comes to Phoenix from the Sacramento Kings. Metu played in 66 games last season with Sac-Town, scoring 4.9 points in 10.4 minutes.
Free agent forward Chimezie Metu has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
June 30, 3:15pm — D Lee staying in Phoenix
As rumored, Damion Lee returns to the Suns on a one year deal.
Free agent guard Damion Lee has agreed to a one-year deal to stay with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023
June 30, 3:12pm — We are down with KDB
Rumored below that the Suns might bring Keita Bates-Diop to Phoenix, he signs. The deal is reported at 2 years, $5 million, with the second year being a player option.
He is someone who potentially take the power forward position and give the Suns size and versatility.
June 30, 3:07pm — Josh Okogie is back!
Sorry, but this is my favorite move thus far!
Free agent guard Josh Okogie has reached an agreement to return to the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2023
June 30, 3:06pm — Drew Eubanks signs with the Suns
Phoenix signs the 6’9” power forward/center from the Portland Trailblazers. Jock Landale was most likely passed on due to the pending addition on Eubanks.
The Suns getting Eubanks for the minimum is amazing.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2023
June 30, 2:42pm — Jock’s QO is taken off the table
File that under, “you don’t see every day”. The Suns, who tendered the qualifying offer for center Jock Landale on Wednesday, pulled it off the table just before free agency opened up. Something is afoot!
In a turn of events, Phoenix is planning to pull the qualifying offer for center Jock Landale, league sources told @YahooSports, which would make Landale a free agent.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 30, 2023
June 29, 3:15pm — Cam Payne’s contract is fully guaranteed
The Suns have guaranteed Cam Payne’s contract. He will be with Phoenix next season. Will he be the starter? Will he be coming off the bench? Plenty more moves to make before these answers become clear.
June 29, 2:21pm — Offered not extended to Darius Bazley, is now a UFA
After James Jones jokingly and repeatedly informed Suns’ beat writer Duane Rankin that “internal” decisions will be kept internally during the Bradley Beal introductory news conference, one of their decisions became external.
Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reported that the Suns are not extending a qualifying offer to 4-year forward Darius Bazley. This move puts him on the free agent market. Sorry, Baze Truthers. We’ll never know...
June 29, 9:50am — Kyrie to visit Phoenix
Chris Haynes reports, “NBA star Kyrie Irving intends to meet with the Phoenix Suns when the free agency period begins on June 30.”
There are numerous balls in the air on this one. A sign-and-trade would cap Phoenix at $172 million, which the team is projected to blow by. So the math doesn’t math. This may simply be a leverage play for Irving.
But you never know with Kyrie. A veteran minimum deal isn’t completely out of the question.
June 29, 9:15am — Damion Lee to return
Marc Stein reports that Damion Lee, “is considered one of the surest candidates to re-sign with Phoenix of the Suns’ numerous unrestricted free agents”. We knew they were targeting plenty of their wings; D Lee is a solid reacquisition.
He brings shooting (44.5% from deep last year), and hopefully this season he won’t disappear in the last two months of the season.
June 28, 4:44pm — You down with KDB?
Gambo adds Keita Bates-Diop, who has played the last three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, to the mix of possible Suns’ targets.
I will leave you with this before my flight takes off for the motherland - a couple of potential targets for the Phoenix Suns - Keita Bates-Diop and Yuta Watanabe. Suns are a prime destination for vet minimum free agents!
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 28, 2023
June 28, 8:33am — Suns rumored to be pursuing Yuta Watanabe and Mike James
In the newest edition of The Stein Line, Marc Stein is reporting that the Suns are pursuing sharpshooting 6’9” forward Yuta Watanabe (oh hell yes) and former-Sun Mike James (oh hell maybe). Both have ties to Kevin Durant, who is most likely assisting in recruiting the players to Phoenix.
June 28, 6:37am — Jock Landale and Saben Lee QO’s
Per Spotrac’s Keith Smith, both Jock Landale and Saben Lee have received qualifying offers from the Suns. Darius Bazely has not.
The Phoenix Suns have tendered a qualifying offer to Jock Landale and a two-way qualifying offer to Saben Lee, a league source tells @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 28, 2023
Both players are now restricted free agents on July 1.
June 27, 4:21pm — Ish stays
The Suns have exercised their $1.9M option to retain Ish Wainright. Smart move. He’s not a needle-mover, but he possesses some physicality and could thrive in Vogel’s system.
June 27, 9:15am — The Dallas Mavericks made an offer for Deandre Ayton
Per Marc Stein, the Mavericks made an offer that included Tim Hardaway Jr., our old buddy Richaun Holmes, and former-Sun JaVale McGee and the Suns declined. Thankfully.
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