Wainright hits total as 2-way player
Ish Wainright has reached his total number of games on Phoenix’s active roster as two-way player after playing in Thursday’s game against the Clippers, sources inform The Republic.
He remains under contract as a twoway player, but won’t be able to play for the Suns (32-28) again this season unless they convert his contract to a standard one.
Wainright averaged 4.3 points in 42 games this season. A fan favorite, Wainright, 28, has established himself as a physical player who can defend and knock down 3s.
The 6-5, 235-pound forward is shooting 33.9% from 3 this season.
Wainright entered this week knowing he had just two games remaining as the Suns played Sacramento on Tuesday and the Clippers on Thursday.
“I’ve got two games to play and two games to play my best and do whatever I got to do to secure my future,” Wainright said before Tuesday’s game. “I’m trying not to let it get to me. It’s out of my control.”
He didn’t score in either game after posting back-to-back double-digit efforts last week with a season-high 17 points at Atlanta and 13 at Indiana.
Wainright shot a combined 5-of-13 from 3 in those two games.
Last season, the Suns converted Wainright’s two-way contract to a standard one at the end of the regular season his rookie year. He averaged 2.4 points in 45 games.
This season, Wainright played a key role as the Suns have dealt with injuries all season. Had the Suns been healthier, Wainright may still have some games left as a two-way player.
The Suns have 14 players on their 15man roster as they signed free agent Terrence Ross this week after Orlando bought him out of his contract.
They have a roster spot open, but could look into the buyout market again and add a final player.
The Suns have 22 games remaining. Suns guard Saben Lee is their lone active two-way player right now.
The Corona del Sol graduate has been selected to play in first NBA G League Next Up Game Sunday at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City before the NBA All-Star game.
On Team Luka Garza, Lee is the only Suns representative this All-Star weekend.
Averaging a career-high 6.1 points in 18 games in his first season with the Suns, Lee is shooting 38.9% from 3. Lee initially joined the Suns on a 10-day contract.