Suns finalize multi-year deal with guard Shaquille Harrison
Mar 12, 2018, 3:29 PM | Updated: Mar 13, 2018, 12:46 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Shaquille Harrison (10) in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
After his inspiring play on the defensive end, Shaquille Harrison has earned a potential long-term deal with the Phoenix Suns, the team announced Tuesday.
Harrison had been with the team on two 10-day contracts. His contract will be “guaranteeing him for the rest of the season,” according to Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania.
Harrison has separated himself amongst the rest of the players on the roster thanks to his intensity as an on-ball defender. He’s averaging 1.3 steals a game, along with 4.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in nine appearances.
Beating out previous backup point guard Tyler Ulis for playing time, Harrison has played in 21, 20 and 24 minutes in the Suns’ last three games, earning a start in Charlotte on Saturday. He was productive, finishing with 14 points, two rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals on 6-of-10 shooting from the field.
Even with Harrison receiving more than one year on his contract, he is far from a sure thing to make the roster next season. Brandon Knight will have two years remaining on his contract, Ulis has a non-guaranteed deal that runs through 2020 and Elfrid Payton is a restricted free agent in the offseason. There’s also the possibility of the Suns selecting a point guard in the 2018 NBA Draft, a draft in which they could potentially have three first-round picks in.
It is not known at this time if Harrison’s deal is guaranteed for future seasons.
