PHOENIX — Royce O’Neale has officially re-signed with the Phoenix Suns, the team announced today.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The team release on the re-signing reads:
“The Phoenix Suns today announced that the team has re-signed forward Royce O’Neale. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
”O’Neale (6’-6”, 226 pounds) played the final 30 games of last season with the Suns after being acquired in a trade on Feb. 8. He averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 41.1% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range in those 30 appearances, twice matching a career high by scoring 20 points. O’Neale has totaled at least 350 rebounds, 150 three-point field goals and 50 steals in each of the last two seasons, one of only seven players in the NBA to reach those thresholds in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
”A seven-year NBA veteran, O’Neale holds career averages of 6.8 points on 42.6% shooting from the field and 38.1% from three-point range plus 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 525 total games (297 starts) with the Suns, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz. The 31-year-old has appeared in the playoffs in all seven of his NBA seasons, holding career averages of 7.7 points on 43.8% from the field and 36.9% from three-point range plus 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 48 postseason games with 31 starts.”
#Suns officially announce the re-signing of Royce O'Neale. Deal reported to be 4 years, $44 million https://t.co/FhMu8vuUvO pic.twitter.com/mqsO4Kf4dM
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) July 6, 2024
“Go time,” O’Neale tweeted in response to the news.
???????????????? go time https://t.co/jbd8f4VtcQ
— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) July 6, 2024
O’Neale’s contract is reportedly for four years, $44 million (all guaranteed) with no player or team options, according to ESPN. He agreed to the contract on June 29, but couldn’t sign until today.
With O’Neale inking his contract, the Suns now officially have 13 of their 15 standard roster spots filled. Once Bol Bol officially re-signs with the team, this number will grow to 14.
Bol Bol is the only player left to sign his new contract with the #Suns (via NBA transactions page). Once he does, Phoenix will officially have 14/15 roster spots filled.
See all updates in our free agency tracker below https://t.co/O0UUvyaR5l pic.twitter.com/rU9lk7NKWq
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) July 6, 2024
Phoenix will now have a decision to make when next season rolls around if it wants to start O’Neale or Grayson Allen. When the team was completely healthy last season with O’Neale, he came off the bench, while Allen started in all but one game.
However, the Suns will not have as much offense off the bench this upcoming season. This is how the depth chart could look if O’Neale starts:
- PG: Bradley Beal, Monte Morris
- SG: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Damion Lee, David Roddy
- SF: Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn (R), Nassir Little
- PF: Kevin Durant, Bol Bol, ?
- C: Jusuf Nurkić, Mason Plumlee, Oso Ighodaro (R)
- Two-way: Jalen Bridges (R), Collin Gillepsie, ?
See our updated Suns free agency tracker below:
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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
