Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks has opted to decline his $2.65 million player option for the 2024-25 season, choosing to become an unrestricted free agent, sources informed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Eubanks, 27, joined the Suns last summer on a one-plus-one deal, featuring a player option for the second year. During his tenure with Phoenix, he played in 75 games, averaging 5.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game as the team’s primary backup center, logging 15.6 minutes per game.
Players often decline their options with some expectation of interest from other teams, and it appears likely that Eubanks has drawn attention from potential suitors, though this remains speculative.
Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports noted that Eubanks’ fit with the Suns was less than ideal during his single season with the team. Consequently, the decision to opt out may prove beneficial for both parties. With Eubanks likely moving on, Phoenix will be in the market for a new backup center.
Eubanks, who went undrafted, played three years of college basketball at Oregon State before entering the NBA. He began his professional career with the San Antonio Spurs on a two-way deal during the 2018-19 season. After spending over three seasons with the Spurs, he was traded to Toronto, subsequently released, and then picked up by the Portland Trail Blazers, where he completed the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Standing 6-foot-9, Eubanks has career averages of 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 323 regular-season games, including 71 starts. He has maintained a 60.6% field goal percentage and a 73.4% free-throw percentage over his six-season NBA career.
