As the new NBA season quickly approaches, the Phoenix Suns are bringing back a familiar face, veteran Frank Kaminsky. According to his agency, Priority Sports, Kaminsky will be joining the Suns for training camp. The 31-year-old spent last season with Serbian side Partizan Belgrade but has returned to the Suns hoping for another shot at an NBA contract.
Frank The Tank is back in Phoenix.
Congrats to @FSKPart3 on signing with the @Suns! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/JBZpd8Lchn
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) September 26, 2024
Phoenix Suns Sign Frank Kaminsky to Training Camp Deal
Kaminsky played two-and-a-half seasons for the Suns before being waived in 2022. He was a member of the team that made it to the NBA Finals in 2021, playing an important role in the series defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. Kaminsky played 95 games for the Suns, averaging 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. In 2021-22, he was set to play an increased role, playing 20.1 minutes per game, but after nine games he suffered a knee injury which kept him out for an extended period.
Before his absence, he recorded a career-high 31 points against the Portland Trailblazers. He was waived in April 2022 and signed with the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason. At the trade deadline, he was sent to the Houston Rockets. However, he appeared in just 10 games for the team. A move to the EuroLeague and Partizan Belgrade followed. In 57 games for the franchise, he averaged 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 points.
Could Kaminsky Make the Suns Roster?
As it stands, the Suns have one roster space available, with 14 out of 15 spots filled. This does not include players on two-way contracts and Exhibit 10 deals who will also join the team’s training camp. Kaminsky will compete for the final roster spot, with his attributes as a stretch big potentially of great value to new head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Last season, the Suns had Jusuf Nurkic and Drew Eubanks as their center depth. Bol Bol and Kevin Durant also played minutes at the five when needed. Following Eubanks’ departure in free agency, they signed Mason Plumlee as Nurkic’s backup. A three-point threat from center is crucial in Budenholzer’s system, shown through Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis during his time with the Bucks, and Al Horford when he was head coach in Atlanta.
In his first season with the Suns, Nurkic shot 24.4% from deep and is a career 28% three-point shooter. Plumlee’s deep threat is non-existent. Bol Bol’s ability from downtown could make him an important figure in this campaign. This could leave the door open for Kaminsky, who is a career 34.9% shooter. Though a small sample size, in 26 games for the Hawks in 2022-23, he shot 47.8% from deep. It remains to be seen which direction the Suns will go in for their final roster spot, but Kaminsky could put himself well into the conversation with a strong training camp.
