Markieff Morris’ dissatisfaction looms over the Suns’ entire offseason. They must trade him or find a way to keep him from lowering the team’s morale, and of course, dealing him requires finding someone to take him (ideally for value).
But the Suns aren’t letting that troubling situation overwhelm them.
They’re also filling out their roster.
Shams Charania of RealGM:Guard Terrico White has reached agreement on a free-agent contract with the Phoenix Suns, league sources told RealGM.
White’s agent, Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management, confirmed the deal via text message Thursday.
The Pistons drafted White No. 36 out of Mississippi in 2010, though he never played for them after suffering a preseason injury. White then fizzled out of the NBA and has played in the D-League and overseas since.
I’d be surprised if White got much of a guarantee, if any, but he still has a chance to stick in Phoenix. The Suns have just 13 players under contract, though all 13 have guaranteed salaries. That leaves two vacant roster spots below the regular-season limit.
The 6-foot-5 White entered the NBA as an explosive leaper with a promising shooting stroke. If he has become more aggressive and/or developed his playmaking skills, he has a chance to become Phoenix’s primary backup shooting guard. Devin Booker and Archie Goodwin are definitely more valuable, but they’re so young, it’s not completely inconceivable White is more ready to produce right now. That role is particularly important because the Suns’ starting guards, Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, figure to play point guard exclusively while the other sits.
Still, I’d bet on at least one of Booker or Goodwin – and maybe even both – outplaying White already. If that’s the case, it’s much harder to find a reason for Phoenix to keep the 25-year-old White.
But there’s a regular-season roster spot available for White now. Depending how everything shakes out with Morris, maybe that will remain the case.