Suns sign forward Tariq Owens to last 2-way contract
Jan 15, 2020, 11:03 AM | Updated: 11:05 am
Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after a play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns are filling their last remaining two-way contract spot with forward Tariq Owens, the team announced on Wednesday.
The deadline for teams to sign players to a two-way contract is Wednesday and the Suns had only used one spot all season with guard Jared Harper.
Owens, 24, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Phoenix after going undrafted and was with the team for training camp and the preseason. He was released, and due to the rules of the Exhibit 10 contract, went to the NAZ Suns after not accepting any professional offers elsewhere.
In 23 games (all starts) for NAZ, Owens is averaging 9.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
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Owens played his last two college seasons at St. John’s and Texas Tech, the latter of which ended in an 85-77 loss to Virginia in the 2019 National Championship Game. In 38 games his senior season, Owens averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.
A 6-foot-10 big, Owens will give Phoenix some depth on the backline. At center, the team has Deandre Ayton, Aron Baynes and Cheick Diallo, but Dario Saric is Phoenix’s only healthy power forward while Frank Kaminsky is recovering from a right patella stress fracture.
Harper has played two total minutes this season in one appearance.
