The Phoenix Suns appear to have picked an interesting player to allegedly tamper with.
Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported Wednesday that the NBA has been investigating the Suns for potential impermissible early contact during free agency (i.e. tampering) with big man Drew Eubanks. Phoenix had signed Eubanks to a two-year, $5 million deal during the offseason (including a player option in the second year).
NBA free agency officially began this past summer on June 30 at 6 PM EST. The Suns’ deal with Eubanks was announced just minutes later by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Free agent center Drew Eubanks has agreed on a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, with a player option in second season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Eubanks is represented by agent James Dunleavy of Excel Sports.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2023
Eubanks, a role player with career averages of 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, is a pretty unexpected source of a tampering probe. But he figures to be a meaningful piece this year for the depth-needy Suns, recording four points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 19 minutes during Phoenix’s Opening Night victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
Stein notes that NBA teams are typically docked a second-round pick by the league if found to be in violation of tampering rules. We have already seen that in the recent past, albeit involving much better-known players.
