BREAKING: Drew Eubanks to decline player option with Suns

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns will be in the market for a new backup center this summer.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that Suns center Drew Eubanks will be declining his $2.6M player option and entering free agency.

“Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks is declining his $2.6M player option and entering free agency, sources tell ESPN. After signing a one-plus-one deal with Suns, Eubanks averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 75 game,” Wojnarowski wrote on X.

Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks is declining his $2.6M player option and entering free agency, sources tell ESPN. After signing a one-plus-one deal with Suns, Eubanks averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 75 games. pic.twitter.com/xID6nTcViN

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2024

Eubanks had a deadline of June 29 of whether or not he wanted to opt into his player option for next season. Three other players—Eric Gordon, Josh Okogie and Damion Lee—also have this same deadline to decide on their player options, but have not made any official decisions yet.

A report yesterday by The Athletic’s Kelly Iko described where Gordon stands ahead of next Saturday’s deadline.

“Free agent Eric Gordon is ’50-50′ on a return to Phoenix, according to a source close to the veteran guard, but is also interested in a Rockets reunion,” Iko wrote.

Eubanks averaged 5.1 points on 60.1% shooting and 4.3 rebounds in 75 games this season, but was not very well liked by fans as most thought Thaddeus Young should have gotten minutes over him. The Suns had to forfeit a second-round pick this draft after they were found guilty of tampering for Eubanks last offseason.

The Suns finished 49-33 this past season and were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Phoenix ended up benching Eubanks in Game 4 against Minnesota, something Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns did not understand.

Anthony Edwards: “[Drew Eubanks] didn’t play today?”

Karl-Anthony Towns: “Nah.”

Ant: “He played good for them.”

KAT: “That ain’t our job to worry about that.” 😂pic.twitter.com/RTjfyjOl2G

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 29, 2024

The Suns have seven players under contract for next season: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little and David Roddy.

Even including the other three players with player options, Nurkić is now the only center left under contract.