The Suns may have found a clean way to solve a roster squeeze without sending anyone else packing.
With training camp approaching, Phoenix already has 15 players on standard contracts. That means bringing in Duop Reath as a third center after Mark Williams’ shoulder injury could force the team to waive someone like Haywood Highsmith or Jamaree Bouyea. But there’s a simpler route: sign Reath to a two-way deal and keep the roster intact.
That approach comes with a catch, though. Reath is in the final season of his eligibility for a two-way contract, since three years of NBA experience is the cutoff. If the Suns go that route, his time with the big club would be limited, which would likely mean plenty of back-and-forth with the G League Valley Suns.
Still, that setup would give Phoenix flexibility at a position that suddenly needs it. It would also keep Reath from crowding the development path of 20-year-old Khaman Maluach.
If Maluach starts flashing more of what he can do, Reath could spend longer stretches in the G League without creating pressure on the rookie. The same idea applies to Oso Ighodaro, who is expected to start on opening night and has even drawn some national buzz as a possible breakout candidate.
The Suns already have Pat Spencer, C.J. Huntley and Koby Brea on two-way deals, so someone would need to move if Reath comes aboard. Spencer is just in the building, and Brea was a second-round pick last season, which makes Huntley the likeliest odd man out.
That’s the kind of roster problem teams want. Reath has already shown he can help the Portland Trail Blazers, and Spencer won over fans with the Golden State Warriors.
Having both on two-way contracts would underline how much depth the Suns have been able to assemble. Both players would be on 15-man rosters somewhere else, and the addition of Kennedy Chandler on a training camp deal only adds to the sense that Phoenix keeps looking for talent at every level.
For a team trying to keep winning around a soon-to-be 30-year-old Devin Booker, it’s a useful kind of puzzle. Reath could steady the front line until Williams returns and help with the spacing issues, but the method the Suns use to get him there is still up in the air. The two-way path just makes the most sense.
In Other News...
Suns Are Asking Fans To Believe In A Core That Already Failed
After a rough finish to last season, the Suns are leaning into continuity with a roster that still looks very much in flux. The front office already made a series of moves around the edges, trading away Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale while bringing back Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, then adding Miles Bridges to the mix.
The bigger question is whether that collection can actually function better than the group that faded after Feb. 5 and then got swept in the playoffs. Injuries and fit issues have already raised concerns, and Jalen Green in particular stands out as a swing piece for how competitive this team can be going forward, which leaves Phoenix asking fans to trust a core that has not yet earned it. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Just Sent Suns Fans A Huge Message About This Team
Mat Ishbia used media day to send a clear signal about where he sees the Suns going, and how long he expects to be part of it. The owner said financial issues at his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, will not change his commitment to the franchise, and he reiterated his willingness to keep paying the luxury tax if that is what it takes to support a winning team.
For Suns fans, the bigger message was stability at the top. Ishbia said he intends to stay involved for decades, and he also plans to keep increasing his ownership stake with his family. In a league where ownership uncertainty can hang over a roster, Phoenix at least heard its biggest stakeholder say he is not looking for a short-term run. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Booker Sees One Big Suns Advantage Heading Into This Season
Devin Booker opened media day talking like a player who believes the Suns have an early edge before the grind even starts. Entering his 12th season in Phoenix, Booker pointed to continuity as a real advantage, noting that the team kept most of its roster and coaching staff intact, which should help the group settle in faster than a team trying to learn everything from scratch.
Booker also said the offseason was about laying groundwork with new and returning teammates, including Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, as well as Khaman Maluach. For a Suns team that has spent recent seasons chasing stability, that kind of familiar base matters, especially for a veteran leader who wants Phoenix to come out sharp instead of spending the first month trying to catch up. [Read more 🡒]