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5 NBA free agents Phoenix Suns should consider signing for possible bench spot

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4 months ago

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5 NBA free agents Phoenix Suns should consider signing for possible bench spot

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The Phoenix Suns might not be done seeking another free agent who could fill their final bench spot.

That’s if Josh Okogie doesn’t return to the team after he opted out to become an unrestricted free agent before the market opened last Sunday.

The Suns have several needs for a second unit that finished dead last this past season in bench scoring. After adding free agent center Mason Plumlee, point guards Monte Morris and Collin Gillespie, and bringing back the 7-foot-3 hybrid Bol Bol for a one-year deal, they could still seek help.

Among the depth needs are another consummate ball-handler, a tall 3-and-D wing or defensive playmaker and another big who can stick 3s.

Here are five free agents the Suns should consider while they’re still available.

Malik Beasley

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6’4″

Age, experience: 27, eight years

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Career averages: 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg, .425/.385/.800 shooting splits, 23.1 minutes

2023-24 averages: 11.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.7 spg, shooting splits .443/.413/.714; 79 games (77 starts)

Beasley signed with Milwaukee last season on a veteran minimum $2.7 million, and could fill the void Eric Gordon left as Bradley Beal’s backup. Beasley’s been on a couple of playoff teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers team that reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals and the Denver Nuggets, so he knows all about playing with superstars. He was among the leaders in 3-point percentage through the first two-thirds of this season, at one point grabbing the top spot from the Suns’ Grayson Allen before fading to finish 23rd. Beasley could be a good fit like Allen in new coach Mike Budenholzer’s offense next season, spacing the floor as a catch-and-shoot threat from deep on extra passes and kick-outs on drives.

Lonnie Walker IV

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 6’4″

Age, experience: 25, six years

Career averages: 9.8 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals; .422/.356/.795; 20.3 minutes

2023-24 averages: 9.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg; shooting splits .423/.384/.763; 58 games, no starts; 17.4 minutes

Walker has been a consistent bucket-getter as an outside shooter, great athlete and scorer off the dribble. He’s also capable of filling primary ball-handler duties as a combo guard and is dangerous when he gets downhill. Walker was on a veteran minimum deal with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, so signing him on another veteran minimum would seem worthwhile. He’s worth way more.

Markelle Fultz

Position: Point guard

Height: 6’4″

Age, experience: 26, seven years

Career averages: 11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.2 spg, .472/.274/.731

2023-24 averages: 7.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 spg, shooting splits .472/.222/.697 through 43 games, 18 starts, 21.2 minutes

The 2017 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, Fultz put up pedestrian numbers last season. He’s still a solid facilitator who can help Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Beal and Allen. Fultz is coming off a three-year deal for $50 million, but that extension came after he began to show signs of productivity for a young, basement-dwelling Orlando team after the 2020-21 season. Fultz dealt with a knee injury that sidelined him for much of last year, but he was still effective backing up Cole Anthony on a team that finished fifth in the Eastern Conference. He also matched his career-low 1.2 turnovers per game. His market value might not be as high as it once was, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bring another dimension to the Suns’ point guard rotation with Monte Morris.

Haywood Highsmith

Position: Small forward/power forward

Height: 6’7″

Age, experience: 27, four years

Career averages: 4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 spg, .443/.368/.535; 17.6 minutes

2023-24 averages: 6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.8 spg, shooting splits .465/.396/.639 through 66 games, 26 starts, 20.7 minutes (all career-highs)

Highsmith comes from Pat Riley’s “Heat culture,” where he learned how to be an efficient workhorse as a role player on defense. Highsmith gained recognition as one of Miami’s top rotation players during the team’s 2023 NBA Finals run. He has strength at 220 pounds, great agility with his hands and feet and can help the Suns improve their perimeter defense contesting 3s.

Dario Saric

Position: Power forward/center

Height: 6’10”

Age, experience: 30, seven years

Career averages: 10.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.6 spg; shooting splits .445/.362/.839; 22.8 minutes

2023-24 averages: 8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 assists; shooting splits .466/.376/.849; 64 games, nine starts, 17.2 minutes

Having a Suns-Saric reunion would add versatility among the bigs: Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee and Bol Bol. Saric was part of the Suns’ 2021 NBA Finals run before he blew out his knee in Game 1, and missed most of the next year. The Suns traded Saric to Oklahoma City in February 2023. He signed with Golden State in free agency and looked back to form after his injury. Saric isn’t a great leaper for rim protection, and is not speedy, but he can stretch the floor with his soft shooting touch, he’s a great passer and smart decision maker in pick-and-rolls.

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