Report: Suns interested in former Arizona forward Derrick Williams
Jun 30, 2016, 5:04 PM | Updated: 7:15 pm
New York Knicks' Derrick Williams (23) is defended by Indiana Pacers' George Hill (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 12, 2016, in Indianapolis. Indiana won 102-90. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Phoenix Suns picked up the team option on forward P.J. Tucker on Thursday, according to Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Craig Grialou, but the move only brings the team’s roster to eight players under contract plus three unsigned rookies for the 2016-17 season.
Gives #Suns 8 guaranteed contracts on roster for next season plus (once signed) 3 draft picks https://t.co/Hm5Ieu6jAq
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) June 30, 2016
Not expected to go after big-name free agents, the Suns will need to fill the roster, especially in the frontcourt to build depth around 18-year-old draft picks Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.
Two frontcourt free agents have already been linked to Phoenix.
First is Derrick Williams, the former Arizona combo forward who played last season with the New York Knicks, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Williams will be recruited by at least the Lakers and Suns, according to a source.
The 25-year-old, who stands 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, averaged 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds last season while shooting 45 percent overall and 29 percent from three-point range.
He would fill the need for a hybrid forward with the capability of playing outside in and acting as a threat running pick-and-rolls with Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.
Clipper free agent center Cole Aldrich is also drawing interest from Phoenix, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Brad Turner.
Center Cole Aldrich not only will have interest from Clippers to return, but Orlando and Phoenix have expressed interested, source.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 29, 2016
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Aldrich averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13 minutes per game last season. In terms of fit with the Suns, the 27-year-old would join an overcrowded center lineup that includes Tyson Chandler and Alex Len.
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