Bol Bol is expected to sign with the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Bol is an unrestricted free agent after getting waived by the Orlando Magic. He wasn’t claimed by a team off waivers.
Bol appeared in 70 games for the Magic last season. He averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 54.6% from the field, 26.5% from beyond the arc and 75.9% from the free-throw line.
A 7-foot-2 forward, Bol has an intriguing combination of skills that include ballhandling and shooting to go along with his ability to rack up blocks. He is the son of former NBA player Manute Bol.
He has career averages of 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds with the Denver Nuggets and Magic in 123 NBA games. It will be interesting to see where he is playing next season. The 23-year-old is one of the most popular players on social media, but he has yet to find a home in the NBA.
The Suns have been busy since free agency started on June 30. The team signed Eric Gordon, Yuta Watanabe, Chimezie Metu, Keita Bates-Diop and Drew Eubanks and re-signed Damion Lee and Josh Okogie.
Phoenix, however, didn’t re-sign Jock Landale, who signed with the Houston Rockets. Torrey Craig also left the Suns for the Chicago Bulls.
Gordon is the best player the Suns added. He has career averages of 16.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Rockets. The Indiana product won the 2016-17 Sixth Man of the Year Award with Houston.
The Suns now have Gordon, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Deandre Ayton as the top players on the roster.
Kelly Iko of The Athletic, who covered Gordon in Houston, thinks the Suns are adding a formidable competitor who will do whatever it takes to win.
“Following his release from the Clippers, Gordon took a few days to scan the NBA landscape and figure out the next best steps for his career,” Iko wrote. “Latching onto a contender quickly emerged as his biggest priority over potentially making more money elsewhere. It’s a nice addition for a Phoenix Suns team that has been able to add depth around Booker, Durant and now Beal.”
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