Suns Strengthen Roster with Veteran Center Mason Plumlee Signing
The Phoenix Suns have officially announced the signing of veteran center Mason Plumlee to a one-year contract on Friday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski initially reported the news on June 30.
Plumlee, a 34-year-old center standing 6-foot-10, entered the NBA in the 2013-14 season. He spent the last season and a half with the Los Angeles Clippers and has also played for the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, Plumlee played 46 games for the Clippers, averaging 5.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 14.7 minutes per game. He missed nearly two months due to a sprained MCL. With the Clippers having other centers like Ivica Zubac and Daniel Theis, Plumlee’s playing time varied.
In the 2022-23 season, Plumlee averaged 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game between the Hornets and Clippers. Plumlee’s brother, Miles, played for the Suns from 2013 to 2015.
Former Suns backup center Drew Eubanks opted out of his player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Regardless of Eubanks’ decision, the Suns were expected to prioritize acquiring another center.
The Suns’ performance significantly dropped when starter Jusuf Nurkic was off the court, highlighting both Nurkic’s value and the decline in play from his backups. Phoenix had a net rating of +9.2 points per 100 possessions with Nurkic, the best for the team, while it dropped to -3.8 when he was benched, a 13-point difference per 100 possessions linked to Eubanks’ numbers.
Eubanks struggled to gain the trust of his teammates, often frustrating them with his poor positioning and decision-making. Defensively, he was frequently discussed after errors occurred. Former head coach Frank Vogel tried to support Eubanks but occasionally opted for smaller lineups with Bol Bol or Thaddeus Young.
These lineups also had issues, making Eubanks the best choice for the playoffs in Vogel’s view, which led to a disappointing four-game sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Plumlee’s agent is Mark Bartelstein, whose son, Josh Bartelstein, is the Suns’ CEO.