Suns Should Consider These 5 NBA Free Agents For Potential Bench Spots

The Phoenix Suns may not be done looking for another free agent to fill their last spot on the bench.

That’s the case if Josh Okogie doesn’t return to the team after opting to become an unrestricted free agent before the market opened last Sunday.

The Suns need several players for their second unit, which finished last in bench scoring last season. After signing free-agent center Mason Plumlee and point guard Monte Morris, and re-signing 6-foot-10 hybrid Bol Bol, they could still be looking for help.

Among the depth needs are another accomplished ball handler, a big 3-and-D wing or defensive playmaker and another big who can make defensive 3-ands.

Here are five free agents the Suns should consider while they’re still available.

Malik Beasley

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 1.93 m

Age, experience: 27, eight years old

Suns trade titles for Desert Vista, Marquette center Oso Ighodaro

The Phoenix Suns completed a trade with the Knicks to select Desert Vista and Marquette center Oso Ighodaro with the 40th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Career averages: 10.9 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 0.6 saves per game, .425/.385/.800 shooting, 23.1 minutes

2023-24 averages: 11.3 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 0.7 int, shooting distribution: .443/.413/.714; 79 games (77 starts)

Beasley signed with Milwaukee last offseason for a minimum of $2.7 million and could fill the void left by Eric Gordon as Bradley Beal’s backup. Beasley has been on multiple playoff teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers that reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023 and the Denver Nuggets, so he knows all about playing with superstars. He was among the leaders in three-point percentage through the first two-thirds of this season, at one point taking the top spot from the Suns’ Grayson Allen before fading to 23rd. Beasley could be a nice fit like Allen in new coach Mike Budenholzer’s offense next season, spacing the floor as a catch-and-shoot threat from deep on extra passes and kickouts on drives.

Lonnie Walker IV

Position: Shooting guard

Height: 1.93 m

Age, experience: 25, six years old

Career averages: 9.8 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals; .422/.356/.795; 20.3 minutes

2023-24 averages: 9.7 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 0.6 int. per game; shooting distribution: .423/.384/.763; 58 games, no starts; 17.4 minutes

Walker has been a great outside shooter, a great athlete, and a scorer off the dribble. He is also capable of filling primary playmaking duties as a combo guard and is dangerous when he gets down low. Walker was on a veteran minimum contract with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, so signing him to another veteran minimum contract would seem worth it. He is worth much more.

Markelle Fultz

Position: Game leader

Height: 1.93 m

Age, experience: 26, seven years old

Career averages: 11.1 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, 1.2 saves per game, .472/.274/.731

2023-24 averages: 7.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.0 int, shooting distribution: .472/.222/.697 in 43 games, 18 starts, 21.2 minutes

The first overall pick in the 2017 draft, Fultz posted mediocre numbers last season. He remains a solid facilitator who can help Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Beal and Allen. Fultz just signed a three-year, $50 million contract, but that extension came after he started to show signs of productivity for a young Orlando team living in a basement after the 2020-21 season. Fultz dealt with a knee injury that sidelined him for much of last year, but he was still effective as Cole Anthony’s backup on a team that finished fifth in the Eastern Conference. He also tied a career-low 1.2 turnovers per game. His market value may not be as high as it once was, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bring another dimension to the Suns’ point guard rotation with Monte Morris.

Haywood Highsmith

Position: Winger/Power Forward

Height: 6’7″

Age, experience: 27, four years old

Career averages: 4.8 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 0.8 assists per game, 0.6 saves per game, .443/.368/.535; 17.6 minutes

2023-24 averages: 6.1 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 1.1 assists per game, 0.8 int, shooting distribution: .465/.396/.639 in 66 games, 26 starts, 20.7 minutes (all career highs)

Highsmith comes from Pat Riley’s “Heat culture,” where he learned to be an effective workhorse as a role player on defense. Highsmith has been recognized as one of Miami’s top rotation players during the team’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals. He has 220 pounds of strength, great agility with his hands and feet and can help the Suns improve their perimeter defense by contesting 3-pointers.

Dario Saric

Position: Power forward/center

Height: 6’10”

Age, experience: 30, seven years old

Career averages: 10.6 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 0.6 int. per game; shooting distribution: .445/.362/.839; 22.8 minutes

2023-24 averages: 8.0 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists; shooting distribution: .466/.376/.849; 64 games, nine starts, 17.2 minutes

A Suns-Saric reunion would add versatility among the bigs: Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee and Bol Bol. Saric was part of the Suns’ run to the 2021 NBA Finals before injuring his knee in Game 1, and missed most of the next year. The Suns traded Saric to Oklahoma City in February 2023. He signed with Golden State in free agency and has returned to form after his injury. Saric isn’t a great jumper for basket protection, and he’s not fast, but he can stretch the floor with his soft shooting touch, is an excellent passer and a smart decision-maker in pick-and-rolls.