The Phoenix Suns have changed the way they’re thinking about two-way contracts, and the shift is hard to miss.
Earlier this week, the team waived Koby Brea and CJ Huntley, both of whom spent most of last season on two-way deals. Brea was a mid-second-round pick, while Huntley went undrafted. Last season, Phoenix clearly leaned into a youth-driven approach with those spots, using them on prospects the organization hoped could grow into future NBA contributors.
That plan has started to give way to something different.
The first clue came when the Suns added Jamaree Bouyea. He was 26 when Phoenix brought him in, already past the stage of being viewed as a raw developmental flyer.
He brought pro experience with him, and he made the most of the chance. In two games with the Valley Suns, he averaged 24 points per game before the organization moved him up and converted him into a two-way player.
Phoenix kept moving in that direction this offseason. The Suns signed Pat Spencer to a two-way contract, then dealt with a need for center depth after Mark Williams suffered an injury.
That opened the door for Duop Reath, who came in on a training camp invitation. Instead of holding onto a younger developmental piece in Huntley, Phoenix converted Reath’s deal to a two-way contract even though he is 30 years old.
Then came Drew Timme. After the Minnesota Timberwolves waived his Exhibit 10 contract, the Suns claimed him off waivers and added another experienced player, one who recently turned 26.
None of this is being framed as a championship move by itself. Two-way players are still supposed to be emergency options first, the kind of guys who fill gaps when the roster needs help. But the Suns are showing they’d rather use those spots on players who can step into specific roles right away than on prospects whose value may not arrive for years.
That’s the bigger takeaway here: Phoenix is adjusting. The organization has shown it’s willing to rethink how it uses its roster spots instead of sticking to a plan just because that’s how it’s always been done.
In Other News...
Suns Home Opener Suddenly Has One Big Concern Around Devin Booker
The Suns first game at home already comes with a little extra uncertainty, and it starts on the wing where Luke Kennards availability is now in question because of left knee tendinopathy. Kennard sat out the season opener, and Phoenix would rather not head into a matchup with the Golden State Warriors without another perimeter shooter to stretch the floor around Devin Booker.
Mark Williams remains out while he recovers from shoulder surgery, and Oso Ighodaro is doubtful with a right oblique strain, so the injury list is beginning to nibble at the teams depth before the home crowd even gets its first look. For a Suns roster trying to settle into early-season rhythm, the key issue is how much offense it can keep on the floor if another spacer is forced to watch from the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Are Quietly Sending A Clear Message With Latest Roster Moves
The Suns have been busy shaping the edges of their roster, and the latest moves fit the front offices recent pattern of trying to keep options open without sacrificing the long view. Phoenix extended Oso Ighodaro on a three-year, $29 million deal that does not kick in until the 2028-29 season, a structure that helps the team preserve financial flexibility over the next two seasons while still signaling belief in the young big man.
Phoenix also kept turning over the back end of the roster, waiving Haywood Highsmith and reshuffling its two-way spots by releasing Koby Brea and C.J. Huntley while bringing in Drew Timme and Duop Reath. It is the kind of quiet roster management that can get overlooked in the rush toward the NBA season, but for a team trying to optimize every spot, these are the decisions that can shape both the present rotation and the longer-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face More Frontcourt Pressure Ahead Of Warriors Clash
The Suns will have to adjust again in the frontcourt when they face the Warriors, with Oso Ighodaro officially ruled out after being listed as doubtful earlier in the day. The injury update leaves Phoenix thinner inside than it would like, especially with Mark Williams still sidelined while recovering from shoulder surgery and Luke Kennard listed as questionable.
Khaman Maluach is expected to start at center in Ighodaros place, giving the rookie another chance to handle a bigger workload in a meaningful spot. For a Suns team already trying to piece together its rotation, the timing adds another layer of pressure against a Warriors group that can make life difficult on the interior even before the game starts. [Read more 🡒]