The Phoenix Suns are ready to give out a new contract to one supporting cast member.
Speaking this week on “The Hoop Collective,” Brian Windhorst of ESPN discussed the state of affairs for the Suns. During the segment, Windhorst said that Phoenix is expected to bring back forward Royce O’Neale as a free agent this offseason.
“They’re going to re-sign Royce O’Neale,” said Windhorst, per Real GM. “That’s going to get done.”
O’Neale, 30, is a dynamic wing defender who was acquired by the Suns at the February trade deadline this year. A career 38.1 percent three-point shooter too, O’Neale had a well-rounded line of 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in just 25.1 minutes per game for Phoenix this season.
Because the Suns also acquired O’Neale’s Bird rights when they traded for him, they are allowed to go over the salary cap in order to re-sign him as a free agent. That is a very valuable roster-building tool for a second-apron luxury tax team like the Suns, who are otherwise extremely limited in the ways that they can fill out the rest of the squad. Phoenix can also acquire talent through the draft, and they are already being linked to some very interesting names there.
