DeAndre Ayton Now On Suspended List, Allows Phoenix Suns To Sign Another Player

Phoenix Suns will have to wait for over a month before their main big man DeAndre Ayton can join the team due to a 25-game suspension for use of diuretics, a banned substance in the NBA. Losing their second-year center is a huge blow to their rotation, leaving Aron Baynes to man the shaded lane.

The Bahamas-born big man was already out during their last five games and, ironically, the Suns have won four of them. Their most recent victory was against the erstwhile undefeated Philadelphia 76ers, who was also playing without Joel Embiid who served his suspension following a fight with Karl-Anthony Towns.

One month is too long a very long time to wait and now that his team was given the green light to sign another player, we came up with a list of players that they should consider signing to help Baynes underneath.

Kenneth Faried

A proven force in the shaded lane who had a resurgence with the Houston Rockets last season. The 6-foot-9 center averaged 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in almost 25 minutes in Houston’s 25 games. The former gold medallist for Team USA appears to be close to his old self during his stay with the Denver Nuggets and should he get the chance with the Suns, they will be getting the motor and athleticism of the Manimal.

Marcin Gortat

Played for the Suns from 2010-2013 and averaged 13.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 182 total games, including 139 starts. He spent the next five seasons as the Wizard’s starting center while providing toughness and points off pick-and-rolls and rock-solid screens. A solid offensive rebounder, the 35-year old Polish big man can give a boost for the shooters to keep shooting, knowing that they will get another crack at the basket with him around.

Salah Mejri

Spent all of his four seasons with the Mavericks, the 7-foot-2 Tunisian center provided height and rebounding while playing limited minutes. He is currently signed with Real Madrid in the Euroleague after brief stints in China and leading his country in the FIBA World Cup in China.

Joakim Noah

Played 42 games last year with the Memphis Grizzlies, the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has reportedly recovered from his injury. A Bleacher Report article said that he is looking to sign with a contending team – making the situation of the rebuilding Suns a bit unattractive for the 6-foot-11 big man.

Ayton’s return game would be on December 17 facing the Clippers on the road.

Notable possible signings: Ekpe Udoh, Greg Monroe, Andrew Bogut