The Suns have waived Ike Diogu and Solomon Jones, reports Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Both were on non-guaranteed deals. Coro says the moves mean fellow camp invitees Diante Garrett and Luke Zeller will likely make the team, as Coro predicted earlier today. Phoenix has 15 players remaining on the roster, so they're down to the regular season limit.
The Warriors selected Diogu with the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft, but traded him midway through his second season with the team, and he's been a journeyman ever since. He's averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in parts of six NBA seasons, including a brief two-game stint with the Spurs last year, and also spent time playing in China and Puerto Rico during 2011/12.
Jones was the first camp invitee for the Suns this season after 21 total games with the Clippers and Hornets last year. The former second-round pick hasn't made much impact in his six seasons in the league, but he did notch career highs in points (5.5), rebounds (3.7) and minutes per game (17.8) last year.
Coro believes that the fact Zeller and Garrett would make only the rookie minimum salary of $473,604, almost half of the veteran's amount of $854,389 the Suns would owe Diogu and Jones, is playing a role in the club's decision on which of its camp invitees to keep for the regular season. Though the team is well below the salary cap, owner Robert Sarver is notorious for pinching pennies.