The Suns have waived guard Mike James, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets. The 27-year-old rookie had initially been signed to a two-way contract with the franchise but had that deal converted into a regular season contract.
The decision was likely a difficult one for the organization to make, considering that James had thrived on a young team that found stability in the mature first-year player. We discussed on Wednesday, however, that such a decision may have been looming for the franchise.
With four players sidelined due to injury, the team had recently been granted a hardship exception and used it on December 13 to sign journeyman point guard Isaiah Canaan. Canaan’s play in the four games since has essentially forced the team’s hand.
In four matchups this season, playing 25.0 minutes a night, Canaan has averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. While James’ numbers were respectable in their own right, Canaan may have the higher ceiling, not least because despite being a five-year veteran, he’s still actually younger than James.
James, who went undrafted in 2012, will now turn his attention to finding a new home, a task that may be a bit easier now that he has a quarter of a season of big league games under his belt.
What? I thought they really liked this guy?
They had a roster crunch and they preferred Canaan to James. This is why there should be a disabled list in the NBA. Brandon Knight is out for the year and two others are injured and not played at all this season on the Suns and yet they are required to remain on the 15 man roster. The lack of a DL previously cost Derrick Jones his job and now it is costing the guy that took his job, Mike James.
They have a DL but a limit to how many Guys on it and need a Real Minor League then could of sent James their or even tryed to Trade him.
There is a minor league, its called the G-League. The Suns could’ve sent James there but he would’ve still counted towards the 15-man roster.
There is no DL. As an example, if the Suns could have put Brandon Knight on the DL like baseball or even better season ending injured reserve like football, then Mike James would still have a job.
They did, but yeah preferred the upside that Canaan had since he is more of a true point guard.
I think they liked him enough that they converted his contract to a regular guaranteed contract rather than just cutting him beforehand as a thank you.
I Hope he ends up with the Bulls!
Sixers need a guard that can score off the dribble… give the kid a shot.
Cut Liggins and sign James
Why?
Liggins is one of the most lockdown defenders on the Bucks and they need to keep him around for games against players like Harden, Curry, and Westbrook along with many others.
He seems to play well in Sacramento.
Like what’s left of the north-of-Orange HP-style Cali right.
Keep ballin’ everyone… just an aside