Hunting for help in the middle is coming up mostly empty in free agency.
The train is coming into the station. We’re at the final stop on our tour of unrestricted free agents the Phoenix Suns could target this summer.
It’s been a long journey through the barren wasteland that is this year’s free agency class. No blockbuster names. No franchise-altering talents. That era is largely over. Teams lock down their stars, unless the contracts become too bloated and too punitive under the new tax aprons. And even then, they’re reluctant to let go.
That’s what makes the Suns’ offseason so hard to predict. The team stands at a crossroads, with numerous paths to take. But their failure to anticipate or adapt to the new CBA might end up being the ultimate self-inflicted wound, one that lingers for a decade. It’s going to take nothing short of a masterclass in roster construction from new general manager Brian Gregory to keep Phoenix relevant, let alone competitive.
Here’s looking at you, kid.
So yes, we’ve made the rounds. Point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards. Each one filled with more questions than answers.
And now, we wrap it up with the final position group: centers.
Of all five positions, this is the one I feel most confident about heading into next season. Not because the position is suddenly a strength. Let’s not kid ourselves. But because there’s at least a sense of structure. A baseline. A floor.
Nick Richards will be back next season, entering the final year of his contract. The Suns will pay him just $5 million for his services, arguably the most team-friendly deal on the roster. In the larger NBA context, Richards is a backup center. But even so, $5 million for his size and skill set? That’s value. And in this new CBA era, value is king.
So keep that in mind as you scroll through the final batch of names. This isn’t about finding your next star big. It’s about finding role players who fit. Players who can defend, rebound, and fill in the cracks. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned this offseason — and through this entire exercise — it’s that the margins matter more than ever.
The average age of this group? 31.2 years.
That’s right. You’re not finding a young, springy, high-upside big here. The best you can hope for is someone who offers steady production…and make peace with their flaws. The kind of flaws Suns fans never quite forgave in Jusuf Nurkic.
The name that stands out most? Clint Capela.
It won’t be easy. His contract averaged $22.9 million annually with the Hawks, which doesn’t exactly mesh well with the Suns’ financial situation. But if the front office can find a way to open up flexibility, and they’re in the market for a gritty, rim-running center, Capela fits the mold. He’s not flashy — 8.9 points and 8.5 boards per game last season — but he does his job. In this economy, that’s not nothing.
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
As for the rest of the list? It’s tough to get excited.
Jaxson Hayes drives me nuts. Plays out of control. Reckless. Feels like every minute he’s on the court is a coin flip between a highlight dunk or a head-scratching mistake. And the hair? Sideshow Bob called. He wants it back.
Need more proof? The Lakers had their hands full with Minnesota’s size in the playoffs. And they still didn’t play him. That tells you everything.
Tristan Thompson? Too old. Mason Plumlee? Been there, done that. Thomas Bryant? Meh.
Maybe Kevon Looney is the one guy worth circling. He’s 29, moves well enough, solid defender. Nothing spectacular, but he understands team basketball. He’s reliable. And that, frankly, might be enough. He’s decent. That’s the theme of this free agent class. Not just at center, but across the board.
It’s decent.
There are some decent players available. Guys who can help. But game-changers? Franchise shifters? Championship cornerstones? Probably not.
So you look at the list…and ask yourself: who do you like?
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