Reports: Suns decline team options on bigs Frank Kaminsky, Cheick Diallo
Nov 19, 2020, 3:09 PM | Updated: 4:06 pm
Frank Kaminsky (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Phoenix Suns have reportedly declined the $5.2 million team option for center/power forward Frank Kaminsky, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Additionally, backup big man Cheick Diallo’s team option that would have paid out $1.8 million was not picked up, reports HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
The 27-year-old Kaminsky becomes an unrestricted free agent after just one season with the club where he averaged 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
The move to let Kaminsky walk comes after the team reportedly tendered qualifying offers to restricted free agents Dario Saric and Jevon Carter on Thursday, according to NBA Insider Keith Smith.
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Phoenix also drafted 6-foot-10 Maryland power forward Jalen Smith 10th overall on Wednesday night, coming to the Valley after averaging 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game last season. Smith and center Deandre Ayton are the only big men under contract for the 2020-21 season heading into free agency with Saric (restricted) and backup center Aron Baynes (unrestricted) entering free agency.
After signing with the club as a free agent last summer, Kaminsky aided a Suns team that turned the corner in 2019-2020 with a 34-39 record and an 8-0 mark in the bubble when the season resumed.
Kaminsky spent four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets prior to joining the Suns, averaging 9.8 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Diallo, 24, averaged 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game with 47 appearances and two starts in 2019-20. He shot 64.8% from the field.
