After yesterday’s blockbuster deal, the Suns now have 17 players on their main roster and have to trim it down 15 by the end of training camp on Oct. 23.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Below is their full roster now (alphabetical by last name, including two-way spots):
- Grayson Allen (new, acquired in Ayton trade)
- Udoka Azubuike (new, two-way)
- Keita Bates-Diop (new)
- Bradley Beal (new)
- Bol Bol (new)
- Devin Booker
- Kevin Durant
- Drew Eubanks (new)
- Keon Johnson (new, acquired in Ayton trade)
- Jordan Goodwin (new)
- Eric Gordon (new)
- Damion Lee
- Saben Lee (two-way)
- Nassir Little (new, acquired in Ayton trade)
- Chimezie Metu (new)
- Jusuf Nurkić (new, acquired in Ayton trade)
- Josh Okogie
- Ish Wainright
- Yuta Watanabe (new)
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer: “The Suns, at this early juncture, are expected to waive Johnson and Ish Wainright, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Latest for @YahooSports: Plenty of notes on Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, plus what's next for the Jrue Holiday sweepstakes that Philadelphia certainly hopes will include James Harden and the Sixers https://t.co/fuMzwPWm4Y
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 27, 2023
These two players make the most sense, as Wainright’s $1.9 million salary for this season is non-guaranteed until Jan. 2024.
Johnson had his team option exercised by the Blazers for this season. He is in the third year of his four-year, $12.517 rookie deal and set to make $2.809 million this year.
Even though he doesn’t play many minutes, Wainright, a former NFL player, has become a fan-favorite in Phoenix since joining the Suns in 2021-22 season. The Suns exercised their team option on him for the 2023-24 season, but did not guarantee the money until midway through the season. The 29-year-old, 6-foot-5 forward averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in just over 15 minutes per game last season. He played in 60 games total.
Johnson is younger than Wainright, and the Suns could decide they like his potential, as he is only 21 years old. The Los Angeles Clippers selected the Tennessee product 21st overall in 2021. He played half of a season with Los Angeles before being traded to Portland and playing the last 1.5 seasons with the Blazers. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 4.7 points in 40 games last season.
Chimezie Metu and Jordan Goodwin (contract is only partially guaranteed) are other Suns’ players that could be on the bubble for roster cuts.
In addition to making cuts, the Suns could also pull off another trade to get them down to the 15-needed spots.
How the Suns will round out their final roster is arguably the biggest question general manager James Jones and the rest of the Suns’ front office need to answer now after the trade.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
