Phoenix Suns adding 7-footer Bol Bol, trading Cameron Payne to San Antonio Spurs

Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
·4 min read
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Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia hugs and kisses his son before the tip-off against the Denver Nuggets in the first half during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on April 29, 2023.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia hugs and kisses his son before the tip-off against the Denver Nuggets in the first half during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on April 29, 2023.

The Phoenix Suns weren’t done making offseason moves.

Not even close.

They’ve agreed to a one-year deal with 7-footer Bol Bol and traded point guard Cameron Payne to the San Antonio Spurs, sources confirmed Sunday to The Republic.

The Suns are trading Payne, a second-round pick and cash to the Spurs for a protected second-round pick that includes a $6.5 million trade exception, sources inform The Republic.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Suns are getting a three future second-round picks from the Orlando Magic for a 2026 first-round pick swap.

Nov 11, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Bol Bol (10) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Bol Bol (10) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN's Bobby Marks tweeted the Suns are saving $26.4 million in taxes with the Payne trade and Bol Bol signing.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia said Tuesday during a one-on-one interview with The Republic he didn’t think they needed to make a move to compete for an NBA championship this season, but wasn’t ruling out doing so.

“We evaluate opportunities all the time,” Ishbia said. “When teams approach us, we’re looking at everything. At the same time, I don’t think we need to make any changes at this time to compete for a championship. With that being said, are there free agents we can sign, are there some trades that may happen or may not happen? Obviously, there are, but I think our core of our team is set and I feel really great about where we’re at right now.”

The Suns have since agreed to bring in Bol Bol, are trading away Payne to the Spurs and replenishing their draft future with the three second-round picks.

Last week, the Suns officially announced a deal with Memphis in which they traded Isaiah Todd and two future first-round pick swaps to the Grizzlies for three future second-round picks.

The Suns acquired the 6-foot-10 Todd in the blockbuster Bradley Beal trade. Phoenix traded Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, four first-round pick swaps (2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030) and six second-round picks (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030) to the Wizards for Jordan Goodwin, Todd and Beal.

Paul has since landed in Golden State.

The Wizards traded the 12-time All-Star to the Warriors for Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin Jr., a 2027 second-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick (top 20 protected).

With Bol Bol, Phoenix has a big with ball-handling skills and ability to knock down the 3. He averaged a career-high 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds last season with the Magic.

Bol Bol only made 26.5% of his 3s last season, but he was 3-of-3 from deep in Orlando’s 114-97 home win Nov. 11 against Phoenix. He finished the game with 13 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.

Nov 11, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Bol Bol (10) goes to the basket over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Bol Bol (10) goes to the basket over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Payne was in Vegas with his now former teammates during NBA Summer League.

The Suns had him on the trading block and were looking at Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, but HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Saturday talks of a potential three-team deal with the Knicks have “since stalled.”

McConnell played college ball at Arizona.

Payne joined the Suns right before the 2020 Orlando Bubble to end the 2019-20- season and played a role in the Suns reaching the 2021 NBA Finals. The speedy 6-1 guard was coming off an injured-filled 2022-23 season, but he finished with a career-high playoff performance in an elimination Game 6 against the eventual NBA champion Nuggets.

Hitting 7-of-9 shots from 3, Payne scored 31 points.  The seven made 3s and the nine 3-point attempts are also playoff career highs for Payne.

Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) lays the ball up against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at Footprint Center in Phoenix on May 11, 2023.
Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) lays the ball up against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at Footprint Center in Phoenix on May 11, 2023.

The Suns fully guaranteed last month the final year of his three-year, $19-million deal that is due to pay him $6.5 million this season.

Phoenix has a $6.5 million trade exception up until the last day of the 2023-24 regular season.

The Suns didn't extend a qualifying offer last month to big Darius Bazley, who is now with the Brooklyn Nets.

With Payne traded, Goodwin is in position to serve as the backup point guard as it appears Devin Booker will take on the lead guard role with Beal as the shooting guard.

The Suns remain at 15 players. They could go over that number, but the Suns must get back down to 15 right before the start of the regular season.

Saben Lee is on a two-way, but that doesn't count on the standard 15-man roster.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns adding Bol Bol, trading Cameron Payne to San Antonio