PHOENIX — Bol Bol is reportedly going to remain in Phoenix for at least one more season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Wojnarowski reports: “Free agent F/C Bol Bol intends to return to the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN.”
Free agent F/C Bol Bol intends to return to the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2024
The Suns hold Bol’s bird rights, so they can re-sign him to a deal of up to $2.4 million, 120% more than what he made last season. Wojnarowski reported earlier today that the Suns also intended to sign Royce O’Neale to a four-year, $44 million deal.
On June 18, teams were permitted to negotiate with their own free agents, although no free agent can officially be signed until July 6. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. MST, teams may begin negotiating with all other free agents, so the Suns were able to convince Bol to stay before he saw what other offers were out there. Another team would have just had to offer him over the veteran minimum to beat out what the Suns can give him.
Bol quickly became a fan favorite after he signed with the Suns on a one-year veteran minimum contract last summer following being waived by the Orlando Magic. The 24-year-old, 7-foot-3 forward averaged 5.2 points on 61.6% shooting (42.3% from 3) and 3.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game in 43 contests with the Suns this past season.
Over 7 minutes of Bol Bol highlights to start your morning. pic.twitter.com/9p2TI4igVF
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 28, 2024
Kevin Durant is Bol’s favorite player, so he was very happy to play with and learn from him. The two have already been seen working out multiple times together this summer.
Bol n KD in the lab ???? pic.twitter.com/IwLgwiGicW
— ????ℯ????????????????ℴ???????????? ????????ℴ???????????? ???????????? (@Hoopsfan800) May 31, 2024
In addition to Durant, Bol also had a close relationship with Suns assistant coach David Fizdale. Even after firing coach Frank Vogel, Phoenix is retaining Fizdale as an assistant under new coach Mike Budenholzer.
Bol could have a clearer path to playing time this season, especially if Phoenix plays him more at the 5 under Budenholzer, who is known to like to have centers that can space the floor. Last year’s backup center, Drew Eubanks, opted out of his player option, while the Suns drafted Marquette big man Oso Ighodaro with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft Thursday.
With Bol returning, the Suns’ frontcourt currently consists of Durant, Bol, Ighodaro and Jusuf Nurkić. No. 28 overall pick Ryan Dunn could also see some minutes at the 4 spot, where Bol played the majority of his time last season.
Ahead of free agency tomorrow, Durant and Nurkić are the starters at the power forward and center positions, while Dunn could play the 3-4 positions off the bench, Bol could play the 4 or 5 spots and Ighodaro figures to be only a backup center unless he develops a jumpshot.
The Suns now are set to have at least nine returnees next season with the news of Bol and O’Neale. Durant, Nurkić, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and David Roddy are all under contract for next season. Josh Okogie and Damion Lee both reportedly opted out of their player options, but there is an expectation they still return next season for more money, according to PHNX‘s Gerald Bourguet.
After an injury-riddled freshman season at Oregon in the 2018-19 season, Bol was selected by the Miami Heat with the 44th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He played his first three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, only appearing in 53 games and averaging under 10 minutes in that time with Denver.
In the 2022-23 season, Bol signed with Orlando and had a much better year in his only season with the Magic, as he played in 70 games, starting 33 of them. He averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.4 steals in 21.5 minutes per game.
This past season with Phoenix, Bol did not see much playing time until about midway through the season, but quickly became an impact player when he did. We will see what role the Suns and Budenholzer plan to have for Bol next year, but no matter what, this is a great signing considering the value.
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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
