Ish Wainright is joining the Phoenix Suns on a two-way contract after a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers that ended in January, the forward’s agents said. said Athleticism Shams Charania.
Phoenix has already filled all three available spots on the two-way roster, meaning a corresponding roster move has yet to be reported.
God is good ????????
– Ish Strongman Wainright ???? (@Wainright24) March 4, 2024
Point guard Saben Lee has been part of the rotation in recent games, while big men Udoka Azubuike and Theo Maledon could also be released or moved to the team’s open 15-man roster.
Wainright, who worked with the Suns’ first-year coaching staff during training camp, was released early in the season and claimed off waivers from Portland. He only played seven games for the Trail Blazers this year, and a sprained knee hampered his production before his release.
Wainright played in 105 games with two starts for the Suns from 2021-2023, playing primarily on two-way contracts before working his way onto the playoff roster.
In 2022-23, Wainright averaged 4.2 points on 33% shooting from three, along with 2.3 rebounds.
Now back with Phoenix, he adds to the wing depth that was hit in the Royce O’Neale trade that sent away Keita Bates-Diop, Yuta Watanabe and Chimezie Metu.
Wainright, 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, serves as insurance with backup winger Nassir Little currently battling knee inflammation and Josh Okogie dealing with a hip issue. On Sunday, the Suns relied on trade pickup David Roddy for seven minutes of rotation off the bench as the only true wing with Little and Okogie out.
