3 players the Suns could target with their new open roster spot

What else can Chef Gregory cook up now that he is out of the second apron?

With the Phoenix Suns’ latest move of waiving Bradley Beal, they have now presented themselves with an opportunity to make some interesting decisions for the future.

Even though this buyout is a buy out, waive, and stretch of his remaining money, it will put the Suns in a tough spot, the flexibility presented to them could also be valuable for this team. By performing this move, the Suns have now dropped underneath both aprons and have every option available on the trade market and in free agency.

Say goodbye to the days of having to get the same amount or less in value in dollars in a trade. Now, with the team underneath both aprons, they can take in more money on trades than they send out. Remember how the Suns could not aggregate salaries in trades? Well, that is now erased too, as the Suns are underneath the luxury tax line.

With just these options available, making moves with this roster now becomes easier, but the Suns are also set up well in free agency.

Since they are below the luxury tax line, they now have the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. This allows the Suns to sign someone up to $14.1 million without exceeding the luxury tax. They can also combine this to sign multiple players, as long as the deals add up and fit within that level.

That being said, in this article, we will focus only on free agents who could make sense for this new direction and identity.

The Roster So Far

Here is the current roster. Barring any other trade, it is key that the Suns still have a log jam at center, even if Oso Ighodaro does see some stretches as a four this season. The Suns also still only have one true point guard at this moment, and that is a position of need.

According to Suns Insider John Gambadoro, we have the latest update on the Suns’ target, which aligns with the hole at the position stated above.

Even with that news from Gambo, he has shut down various names, including those from his latest trip across Europe, such as Chris Paul, Malcolm Brogdon, Russell Westbrook, and Ben Simmons. With those names crossed off and a small pool already in place, let’s dive in and explore some solutions that could be in place.

The Names I’d Keep an Eye On

Delon Wright

Photo by David L. Nemec /NBAE via Getty Images

Wright has been a scrappy two-way guard who can establish himself as a solid role player. Last season with the New York Knicks, in the playoffs, he had stretches where he proved to be a solid off-ball scorer, something that could be valuable for this team. He can also be that combo guard, playing both the point and shooting guard within lineups for this team.

His offense might fit the Suns, but more importantly, his peskiness on the defensive end is something to keep an eye on as well. Wright, who averages 1.2 steals in his career, has averaged at least 0.9 for all of his seasons besides his rookie season. He can be someone who can be a solid on-ball defender, and would not take away that much from Collin Gillespie’s development as the backup.

Wright presents a more spot-up shooter who can be a defensive help, if Gillespie is cold one night or is getting targeted on the other end.

Dalano Banton

Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images

Banton is an interesting piece for the Suns and could be worth the investment if he pans out. He has had the opportunity to play with three franchises: the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers.

His best minutes came from the Blazers when he was traded at the 2024 trade deadline. Banton was able to secure some starting minutes on a tanking Blazers team, during which he shocked people with some of his incredible stat lines. In these games, he took several shots, but with a team not striving for wins, those opportunities presented themselves, and he capitalized on them.

Unfortunately, this season, Banton did not get the same playing time and has not returned to Portland. So why would Phoenix want him? Well, the 6’7” point guard is a solid ball handler, and with his long frame, can be a decent defender. Something the Suns could value at the point guard position, even if he is the set tertiary PG.

A flyer on someone who could have some upside in a season with low expectations is not a reach in my eyes, and that is what Banton would be for the Suns.

Amir Coffey

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Now, Coffey does not fit the hint we received from Gambo the other day, but he could still present a solid role for this team in a position of need. Even if he is not a combo guard, he can be a combo wing, playing the shooting guard and small forward positions for this team. Coffey has been a solid defender for the Clippers over the past couple of seasons in his role as a bench player. A pretty solid catch and shoot scorer as well as he shot 41.9% from three this year and shoots 46% when he is wide open.

That can provide a solid scorer and defender to be off the bench. Someone who could connect the offense in transition, similar to a guy like Cody Martin, but with a better three-point shot, sign me up! If the Suns were also able to move off someone in Royce O’Neale, who also can present this role, I think it would make it more likely to happen.

Final Thoughts

The Suns now have two roster spots and all the flexibility in the world to make some moves. Let’s hope the ones they make follow in the same vein as the previous ones this offseason, which have seemed to lift the spirits of fans.

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