Suns forward Ish Wainright was active for a 50th game on Thursday and has now maxed out the games-played limit on his two-way contract, confirms Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Wainright can remain on his two-way deal for the rest of the season, but he’ll be ineligible to be activated for another regular season or playoff game unless he’s promoted to the 15-man roster.
As Rankin notes, the Suns do have an open spot on their 15-man squad, so promoting Wainright is one option the club should seriously consider. But Phoenix could also decide to use that final roster spot on a veteran on the buyout market — the team was linked on Thursday to Kevin Love, for instance. If the Suns sign a vet like Love, that wouldn’t leave room for Wainright unless another player is waived.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- The Suns have already added one veteran who reached free agency after negotiating a buyout. Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes a closer look at that newest Sun, exploring what Terrence Ross can bring to the team.
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic examines where things stand for the Warriors entering the All-Star break and considers whether this season represents a last stand for Golden State’s dynasty. As Kawakami writes, last week’s trade of James Wiseman for a win-now role player (Gary Payton II) signals that the team’s much-discussed “two-timeline plan” has essentially fallen by the wayside.
- In a Q&A with Sam Amick of The Athletic, veteran center Domantas Sabonis spoke about the Kings‘ resurgence, playing through a thumb fracture, and why this year’s All-Star nod means more to him than his previous two. “A lot of stuff was said when the trade happened,” Sabonis said. “(Kings executives) Monty (McNair) and Wes (Wilcox) trusted me to come here and start changing the franchise around. And it’s not just me — there’s obviously a lot of pieces. … But I was kind of that first piece, and there was a lot of responsibility. As a player, as a competitor, being named an All-Star on the West Coast, having been on the East Coast, I feel like it just means more because of everything that came with it, you know?”
- Kings assistant coach Jay Triano headed to Europe this week to scout draft-and-stash prospect Sasha Vezenkov, according to Stavros Barbarousis and John Rammas of Eurohoops. Sacramento holds the NBA rights to Vezenkov, who is having a terrific season in Greece for Olympiacos.
Vezenkov = if Mo Pete was a forward… if Sac moves on from HBarnes this summer then signing Vezenkov would def soften that blow. How well can he guard NBA forwards will be key. Offensively he’s mint tho. Sorta mix bw Mo Pete, Ingles & Radmanovic
Melo to the Suns please
LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, KZ Okpala & Richaun Holmes to Phoenix… Terry Rozier, Cam Payne & Phx’s 2nd in 2028 to Sacramento… Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, Davion Mitchell, option to swap 1sts w/Phx in 2024 & 2026, Sac 1st in 2026 & 2028, Phx 2nds in 2023-27 to Charlotte… Sacramento gives up 2 future 1sts & Davion Mitchell to shed Richaun Holmes contract & add a scoring machine to their backcourt in Rozier. Payne is a smart vet that can get Buckets as well….. Charlotte obv should not do this. But if they had to trade Melo to Phoenix this is abt the best they’re gonna do. A couple of 1sts (unprotected from Sac is about as good as u can do as far as future picks), a couple of pick swaps & a 20/10 pivot
Charlotte also brings home a NC legend in Chris Paul & a guy that would be a perfect student for Paul in Davion. Hornets issue is defense & installing a couple guys like CP & Davion at the point would definitely help. They could definitely get more for Hayward, Rozier, Ball if they move them in separate deals but 1 way or another they should look to shake things up this summer
Hornets are not trading Ball and the Kings are not trading Mitchell. Trades need to be even for all teams.
The warriors two timeline plan was ruined when Kerr insisted on playing vets over young players. Bob Meyer needed to draft 4 year college players instead of very raw talented players. This year they should trade their 1st round pick for a future first rounder if they can’t get a good 4 year player.
Show me the team that gets drafting right consistently then you can give advice.
When the coach has a different plan than the GM its not going to be right. West who was the warriors draft king did a great job now he is in LA with clippers and doing a good job there.
FFS. The plan was not to play the young guys at the expense of missing the playoffs. The young guys (of whom most Warrior fans have unrealistic expectations) were costing them games at the start of the season when they were getting minutes. Steph, Draymond, and Klay were not happy about losing with a bunch of clueless teenagers and like Steve Kerr were not interested in wasting a season for the benefit of some kids who may never be anything more than mediocre rotational guys.
The GSW two timeline plan was a nice idea but in reality in order to win games you need guys that know the league. Kerr couldn’t rely on the young guys to make the right play all the time and because of that they didn’t get the minutes and haven’t been able to develop. However to begin with it’s pretty unrealistic to think you’d go from consistently winning titles with one core of players to drafting another group and continuing to be so dominant. Obviously you had talent with Wiseman Poole Moody Kuminga but for various reasons some guys couldn’t get minutes and it makes it hard for those guys to develop and eventually take over.
Moving forward they are obviously going for the title this season and good luck to them. However after that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Draymond opt out and leave. That’s when the dynasty will end regardless of who you have coming in to replace him. That three stars will no longer be and I don’t see them winning another title without him. In that situation, Kuminga most likely becomes the starting PF and you need to add size as he’s a small 4 and Looney at 6’9 is a small 5. They need to add some size like what they had in Bogut and ZaZa, to give them the rim protection and rebounding especially without Dray there he was huge for their defence.
Curry Klay Wiggins Kuminga ……
GP2 Poole ….. …… Looney
I could see them getting a big body centre like Alex Len on the cheap. Trading Moses Moody for Otto Porter and Koloko and then drafting in a really good forward with their draft pick. They’ll likely be in that 14-20 range which could see them with Dariq Whitehead, Kris Murray, Leonard Miller or Jalen Wilson.
Next season looking something like
Curry Klay Wiggins Kuminga Len
GP2 Poole Wilson Porter Looney
DiVancenzo Baldwin Koloko
Still a playoff side but probably not the beast they once were