The Phoenix Suns have theoretically improved their roster for the 2024-2025 season despite being handcuffed by their salary constraints. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Suns accomplished this feat while keeping their big three intact.
Still, Phoenix has an open spot and reportedly has its sights set on two guards, per George Bourguet of PHNX Sports. Bourguet said general manager James Jones is working on re-signing wing Josh Okogie and continuing to pursue veteran point guard Kyle Lowry. Both players are drawing interest from other squads.
Suns Eyeing Two Guards For Final Roster Spot, Looking To Go 3-for-3 In Landing Top Targets
Okogie finished up his second season with Phoenix in 2024-25. The 25-year-old started the five games and had a major role for most of the season. However, he only appeared in six of the final 22 games, with sparse playing time in four.
Okogie averaged a career-low 4.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 41.7/30.9/74.5%. He became a free agent on June 28 after declining his $2.96 million option.
Okogie is still considered an NBA player despite his struggles last season due to his athleticism, versatility, and defensive ability.
Meanwhile, Lowry has been linked to several teams, including remaining in Philadelphia, the 38-year-old point guard’s hometown team. While Lowry’s production has dipped in the last two seasons, he is still a good locker room and a capable backup point guard with excellent handles and an outstanding distributor.
Lowry’s defense has dropped off immensely. This past campaign, he was mainly a 3-point shooter. He did make 1.6 treys at a 39.2% clip.
Lowry averaged 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 60 games in 2023-24. He posted three double-doubles and compiled a 43.2/39.2/84.0% shooting slash line.
Bourguet figures that the 76ers will not allow Lowry to leave without a fight. The Sixers have more flexibility than the Suns.
Phoenix Salary Cap Situation
Phoenix has 14 players on standard deals, all fully guaranteed deals with locations totaling over $216 million. Thus, the Suns are way over the second apron. The Suns can only offer the minimum to any player they sign.
As things stand, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic will once again be the starters. The Suns posted a 22-12 record in games that those five started a season ago.
Royce O’Neale and Mason Plumlee are guaranteed to be part of the Suns’ second unit. After that, things get a little hairy.
If the Suns can re-sign Okogie, he will undoubtedly be part of their top 10. Nassir Little, Bol Bol, David Roddy, Ryan Dunn, Damion Lee, and Monte Morris are candidates for the second unit.
Morris is slated to be the Suns’ backup point guard. But if Lowry inks a deal, he will be the backup point guard, and Morris will be the fifth guard.
If Phoenix lands Okogie and Lowry, they must make a corresponding move. Lee or Roddy appear to be the most likely to be cut.
The Suns also have two of their two-way spots filled, Jalen Bridges and Collin Gillespie. Bridges is a 3-and-D prospect who went undrafted this past season. Meanwhile, Gillespie thrived in the G-League and appeared in 24 games for Denver this past season.
Suns Happy With Offseason
However, Bourguet said the Suns are comfortable with Morris as the primary backup point guard if they don’t land Lowry.
“No matter where you stood on the “Suns need a point guard” issue, they certainly needed a backup floor general, and they definitely needed to cut down on their disastrous turnover issue. Monte Morris is the perfect candidate to organize the second unit when one or two members of the Big 3 rest, and he’ll be a godsend in the ball control department.”
Morris is a solid floor general and an excellent ball-handler. The 29-year-old is not a huge scorer, but he is an outstanding 3-point shooter—making 46% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in 2023-24 and is a career 39% shooter from beyond the arc. He doesn’t turn the ball over very much.
Morris has a 5.04 career assist-to-turnover ratio. He doled out 69 assists and committed just seven turnovers a season ago in 33 games with Detroit and Minnesota. Despite seeing little playing time a year ago, Morris ranked in the 90th percentile in assists per 75 possessions.
Additionally, Morris is a quality defender. He can defend, whether on or off the ball.
Bourguet added that he was told by a league source that the Suns have secured two of the top offseason targets, Dunn (draft) and Morris (free agency). Lowry is No. 3 on that list.
