Phoenix Suns Sign Center from Celtics Summer League Team

With $198.8 million in total cap allocations, per Spotrac, the Phoenix Suns have one of the NBA's three most expensive rosters. They added Bradley Beal, who's on the books for $46.7 million, and still have starting center Deandre Ayton and his $32.5 million salary for the 2023-24 campaign.

But even with the restrictions that come with pushing past the second apron, they've done well rounding out their roster with additions such as Eric Gordon, Yuta Watanabe, Drew Eubanks, Keita Bates-Diop, Chimezie Metu, and Bol Bol.

The Suns also added Jordan Goodwin in the trade bringing Beal to the desert and retained Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, and Ishmail Wainright.

Now Phoenix is adding Udoka Azubuike on a two-way contract, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The former Kansas Jayhawk star spent Summer League with the Celtics. Azubuike averaged 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in five games in Sin City.

The former first-round pick, who spent his first three years in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, made more of an impact as the exhibitions in Las Vegas went on. His best ability is his rebounding. Much of his play is derived from his power, best exemplified by the two-handed jams he tends to finish with at the rim.

While Boston has an open two-way roster spot, given his NBA experience and him turning 24 in September, not making more of an impact than he did at Summer League made the possibility of the Celtics signing him to fill that vacancy seem unlikely.

However, at six-foot-ten and 280 pounds, the size and tools are there for Azubuike to perform well in drop coverage defensively and finish with power at the cylinder, also contributing on the glass at both ends of the floor. So, perhaps the Suns will help him convert his potential into production allowing him to stick in the NBA, ideally earning another full-time contract.

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