1:10 pm: Bouyea’s promotion to Phoenix’s standard roster is official, according to the team (Twitter link).
9:19 am: Two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea will sign a two-year contract with the Suns, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).
Bouyea, 26, has emerged as a valuable rotation piece after joining Phoenix on a two-way deal in November. He has appeared in 33 games and is averaging 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15.5 minutes per night with .480/.317/.710 shooting numbers.
Bouyea will fit into the roster opening the Suns created on Friday by waiving Cole Anthony. Phoenix acquired Anthony from Milwaukee in a three-team deal at the deadline, but he never reported to the Suns.
As Charania notes, the new contract is a huge milestone for Bouyea, who has spent time with six teams over the past three-plus years on a variety of two-way and 10-day deals.
Bouyea was in training camp with Miami in 2022 after going undrafted out of San Francisco and was waived before the start of the season. The guard signed 10-day deals with the Heat and Wizards later in ’22/23, but didn’t get a second contract from either team. He returned to Miami during the summer of 2023, but was waived again before landing two-way contracts with Portland and San Antonio during the 2023/24 season. He got into five games with Milwaukee last season and briefly returned to the Spurs before becoming a free agent again.
The Suns now have a roster opening that can be filled on or before Wednesday, which is the cutoff date to sign players to two-way deals. Koby Brea and Isaiah Livers occupy the other two-way slots for Phoenix.
Good for Bouyea, he has been a Summer League All Star for a few years now.
Suns are going to have an interesting off-season. Are they going to-resign Gillespie and Williams and go over the 2nd apron? Are they going to try to dump Allen and O’Neal? They really don’t have any assets to attach to do that. Are they going to trade Green?
O’Neal is definitely getting traded. Allen 50/50. I wouldn’t be surprised if they explored a sign and trade with Williams. They traded 2 first to get him so letting him walk seems unlikely. Green is likely in the desert next year he’s been hurt and not played well since returning his trade value will be far too underwhelming.
I know Suns would want to trade those guys, but I don’t know who would take them into space without getting assets to do it, especially Allen. At the deadline Houston offered picks for someone to take Finney-Smith, but nobody bit. And he’s just guaranteed for $13.5m next year. I don’t see a lot of teams looking to take on bad contracts this summer anyway.
I disagree Allen is the only one mentioned with real value. Maybe Williams but that’s because he’s 7’2”. I’m not sure how much value but Allen has definitely play himself into being appealing to teams looking for good bench shooting and scoring.
Seems to me they should try to keep Williams, I don’t think they can do any better at the 5. Maluach isn’t ready. I wonder what RFA offers he might get.
Well deserved for Bouyea.
Yeah, we’ll have to wait to see what happens. There are guys like Grimes and Kevin Porter that can play defense and be signed at the same price. Allen can really shoot but I don’t know if there’s team that will think he’s worth $18 million.
Sounds about on par, last I heard, they put elite shooting/specialists at 15 to 20M/year.
Allen has rounded up into form, the past few seasons …… turning out to be a very serviceable vet off the bench.