The Phoenix Suns don’t have much of a financial legroom in the offseason to make big splashes in the free-agent market. However, they can look at some of their pending free agents and keep those they think could still be helpful. Among those expected to be given a new contract by the Suns soon is veteran forward Royce O’Neale, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN during a recent episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast.
“They’re going to re-sign Royce O’Neale. That’s going to get done,” Windhorst said (h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports).
The Phoenix Suns should retain Royce O’Neale
The Suns acquired O’Neal back in February via a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that also included the Memphis Grizzlies in the equation. Phoenix owns the bird rights of O’Neale and while an increase in his salary would count against the Suns’ ballooning luxury tax, Phoenix could still use him as a trade asset before the next deadline and flip him for draft capital, for example.
In 79 games this season with the Nets and the Suns, O’Neale averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 37.0 percent from the 3-point region.
The Suns have a top-heavy roster led by the trio of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker but they still need quality role players like O’Neale to succeed. That was very much on display in the 2024 NBA Playoffs where not even their star-studded roster managed to save them from an embarrassing sweep in the first round at the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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