Phoenix Suns waive 2 players, could open door for Frank Kaminsky

The Phoenix Suns waived Moses Wood and Mamadi Diakite on Monday, leaving Frank Kaminsky as the lone training camp invite on the current roster.

The Suns could fill the final spot on their standard roster with Kaminsky, a 7-footer who can shoot and pass, or cut him and leave it open to give them roster flexibility, such as a potential signing after the trade deadline.

"There's a player like Frank who you can maybe win games and help us in a lot of different ways," coach Mike Budenholzer said after Saturday's practice.

The Suns must have their standard roster at no more than 15 players right before the NBA begins its regular season on Oct. 22.

Kaminsky has played in every preseason game, scoring a total of 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting (3-of-10 from 3).

"He's a veteran, smart, a lot of things we want to be about," Budenholzer said. "Having Frank in camp has been great and those will be the hard decisions with (Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein and general manager James Jones) and the front office. We've got to sit down and put everything together and make good, hard decisions."

Having previously played three seasons for the Suns (2019-22), Kaminsky was thrilled to be with the franchise again.

“I’m back where I wanted to be all along,” Kaminsky said on Suns media day.

The uncertainty of whether the Suns keep him or not hasn’t changed Kaminsky’s enthusiasm over the situation.

“I’m just going with it,” Kaminsky said before Friday’s preseason loss to the Detroit Pistons at Footprint Center. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m in the position I wanted to be after getting healthy and playing overseas last year. Just grateful for this opportunity. Whatever happens, happens.”

Phoenix has three bigs ahead of Kaminsky in starter Jusuf Nurkic and backups Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro. Nurkic was relatively injury-free last season, playing 76 games, but he has a history of injuries as does Plumlee.

Nurkic hasn't played in the preseason after suffering an injury to his left middle finger in training camp. The Suns play their fifth and final preseason game Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Footprint Center.

Ighodaro has a versatile skill set, but he’s a rookie.

So, Kaminsky’s value could be as an emergency five who can contribute, a big who can battle Nurkic, Plumlee and Ighodaro in practice and someone who brings positive energy.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns waive 2 players, could open door for Frank Kaminsky