With the signing of Haywood Highsmith the other day, the Suns now have a full roster with 15 players ready for the playoffs.
That being said, Cole Anthony, who was acquired at the trade deadline, has not reported with the team since being sent there.
This has many speculating that he will eventually be waived, and one of the standout two-way players on this team will be converted to the main roster.
Both Isaiah Livers and Jamaree Bouyea have been solid products for this squad and have shown they deserve the conversion. With the Suns signing Highsmith and keeping Amir Coffey, though, the wing room will be full. That leaves Bouyea as the most likely to be converted, with the Suns needing some guard depth as well due to injuries this season. Bouyea has delivered on both ends, being another happy story from the Suns’ front office, making moves on the margins.
With Bouyea expected to get converted, we can speculate when that will happen. Since the Suns ducked the luxury tax at the trade deadline, they do not want to do it again. With each day getting closer to the end of the season, the guaranteed money on a contract shrinks. Therefore, Bouyea will be converted once he has reached his limit of 50 games played and can no longer play, at which point he will be on the main roster. This season, he has only played in 28 games for the Suns, so that still leaves 22 games of availability. With only 27 games left in the season, it would be expected that this would happen right before the season ends, to save as much as possible. That being said, if they want to sign someone to a two-way deal, the deadline is March 4th, so that it could happen before then.
When Anthony is eventually waived, and Bouyea is signed, that is where the fun begins, as the Suns will have an open two-way spot and can use it to convert another player who they think deserves some playing time at the end of the season, when teams are locked into seedings.
So let’s look at this great site created by my friend Finn Kuehl, twowaytalents, to see the best available guys the Suns could get to replace Bouyea. This site is absolutely fantastic, showcasing the latest on two-way and G-League players, so I definitely advise checking it out!
Damion Baugh
First, let’s start with the most likely candidate, as he is already in the Valley. Damion Baugh has been incredible for the Valley Suns and has definitely earned the case to get this spot. Funny enough, he also comes from the Suns’ favorite trade partner, the Charlotte Hornets. Baugh went undrafted in 2023 and has floated through some G-League teams before signing a two-way contract last year with Charlotte. With them taking him, he was able to get some playing time and notched 15 games in the NBA.
He ended up in Phoenix on an Exhibit 10 deal and has been the gritty player this team envisions on its roster already. He would fit the hard-nosed defense that Jordan Ott has embraced all season. He would be someone who could come in and help out this team, with all the little things, aiding the shot creators they have throughout the team.
This season, he is averaging 23.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks on 41/27/86 shooting splits, in 35 minutes per game. The 6’4” scrappy guard could learn a lot from Jordan Goodwin and Dillon Brooks, who could take the young guard under their wing.
Jared Rhoden
With a list like this, I have to make a homer pick, and Jared Rhoden is that guy. Someone from my alma mater, Seton Hall, and to a team that already has some Big East ties, sign me up! Rhoden has not stuck in the NBA but has had multiple opportunities across the league since going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft. He had two-way contracts with the Detroit Pistons, and then spent time in Charlotte and Toronto on two-way deals as well. Currently, he is overseas playing for Paris Basketball, part of the LNB Elite and the EuroLeague.
Rhoden could fit this team, as he is a wing player who could help mold the 3&D wing he has tried to be since college. Rhoden has always been known for his three-point shooting, which was his specialty, but his wingspan helps him defend multiple positions on the wing. If all the tools were able to come together, he could be one of those fun spark plugs on the bench who can get hot.
This season for Paris Basketball, he is averaging 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks on 54/44/81 shooting splits in 22 minutes per game. The 6’5” guard/wing could definitely bring some offensive juice if he were signed back to a two-way and learn from shooters like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale.
Drew Peterson
Last but certainly not least is Drew Peterson, who could be another fun shooter for this team. Peterson is someone I have liked due to his success with the Boston Celtics on a two-way deal. After going undrafted in 2023, he spent some time with the Miami Heat’s summer league and G League affiliate before being picked up by Boston. He then spent two years there, during which he won a championship in 2023. This season, though, he was not brought back and, in fact, signed with his old assistant head coach, Charles Lee, in Charlotte.
Unfortunately for Peterson, that was cut short early as he was waived right before Christmas, but not due to his terrible play. In fact, the Hornets just needed size and frontcourt bodies as they were hit by injuries. They ended up replacing Peterson with PJ Hall, and now he is on the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.
Peterson on this team would be similar to Rhoden: just another sharp shooter and scorer this team could use as a trial to see if they can be a long-term investment. Peterson showed that value by getting minutes in multiple games with the Celtics last year. If a coach like Joe Mazzulla trusts him, I am sure a guy like Jordan Ott would do the same.
The 6’8” wing would definitely fall under the wings of Grayson Allen, where he could learn to continue to be the knock-down shooter he has been so far. This year, he is averaging 15.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. 5.3 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.1 block on 47/36/85 in 31 minutes per game.
Final Thoughts
The Suns very well could not pick someone up and wait to convert Bouyea after the deadline. With that, though, they cost themselves an opportunity to hit on the margins as they have succeeded in the past. Look at the signings of Collin Gillespie, Jamaree Bouyea, and Jordan Goodwin as examples of that. If they could do that again with one of the three men listed above or anyone else, it could help them find more key role players for cheap to build this roster. Something that has proven to be a successful way to build a team under the new CBA.
What do you think about this? Do you like any of these names, or do you think the Suns should get someone else? Let me know your thoughts!