Even with little spending money to work with, the Phoenix Suns found a way to get significantly better on the first day of the NBA free agency period.
James Jones and Mat Ishbia helped round out the Suns bench by signing a total of 6 players including 1 name that will most likely be the Suns’ fifth starter.
Devin Booker
Bradley Beal
Josh Okogie
Kevin Durant
Deandre Ayton
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Cam Payne
Jordan Goodwin
Damion Lee
Keita Bates-Diop
Yuta Watanabe
Chimezie Metu
Drew EubanksIs this Suns roster good enough to contend for a title? pic.twitter.com/xbz5EgSqk7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 30, 2023
The Suns managed to sign Yuta Watanabe, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, and Chimezie Metu, and re-sign Josh Okogie and Damion Lee.
Jones found a way to get better at every aspect off the bench. He filled out a defensive anchor in Okogie and Bates-Diop who’s going to be a significant player alongside Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Deandre Ayton.
He filled out three-point specialists in Watanabe and Lee who both finished top 10 in three-point percentage last year.
He filled out a stretch center in Eubanks who plays good defense and can knock down three-pointers. Last year he shot 39% from three which is an upgrade for the Suns off the bench.
He signed a guy in Metu who’s a Darius Bazley replacement. Like Bazley, Metu is most likely a project who excels at rebounding a being a solid rim protector with his ability to block shots and finish around the rim.
The free agency period is just getting started as the Suns still have early-bird rights on guys like Torrey Craig and Bismack Biyombo. We’ll see what tomorrow brings as they still have two more roster spots to fill up.
