- The league found that Phoenix spoke with Eubanks before talks were permitted
- As a result, the second-round pick they acquired through a trade has been taken
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The Phoenix Suns have been docked a 2024 second-round pick for violating tampering rules, the NBA announced on Wednesday.
The league found that the organization spoke with free agent Drew Eubanks before this season’s free agency discussions were legally allowed to begin.
The second-round pick for next year’s draft originally belonged to the Denver Nuggets but Phoenix acquired it as part of a trade this offseason with Orlando.
However, the organization has now lost that second-round pick after being hit with a penalty by the league for entering free agency discussions with Eubanks before talks with permitted.
A statement read on Wednesday: ‘The NBA announced today that the Phoenix Suns violated league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions and that the league has rescinded the 2024 second-round Draft pick (Denver’s own) that Phoenix acquired from Orlando in a prior trade.
The Phoenix Suns have been docked a 2024 second-round pick for violating tampering rules after entering free agency discussions with Drew Eubanks (pictured) too early
‘This outcome reflected a finding that Phoenix engaged in free agency discussions involving Drew Eubanks prior to the date when such discussions were permitted.
‘The team fully cooperated with the investigation.’
The Suns signed Eubanks to a two-year, $5million contract in July, including a 2024-25 player option. He played the past two seasons in Portland.
The 26-year-old scored four points in the Suns’ season opener against Golden State on Tuesday.
He averages 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 249 career games (65 starts) for San Antonio (2018-22), the Blazers (2022-23) and Suns.
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