Suns Docked Second-Rounder for Early Free Agency Talks With Drew Eubanks

Phoenix actually acquired the pick from the Nuggets, via the Magic.

Eubanks, 26, eventually did sign a veteran’s minimum deal with the Suns after two seasons with the Trail Blazers. The league, though, said it found that the Suns and Eubanks talked about the arrangement before free agency began.

The Suns have traded away all their available second-rounders for the next seven years, which is why they’re forced to give away the pick they received from Denver.

Eubanks averaged 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 78 games with Portland last season. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Spurs.

This marks the fourth straight year a team has had to forfeit a second-round pick for jumping the gun in free agency.