The Phoenix Suns had a few 10-day contract tryouts this season but the team finally found a good project and signed him to a better contract.
The 10-day contract is a good way of trying out a player to see if he’s a good fit for the team and then both sides can be awarded by that team having the opportunity to sign that player longer term. The Phoenix Suns gave out a few of these deals this season and finally found a player that stuck in Ray Spalding.
Ray was drafted with the 56th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Sixers and his rights were sent to the Mavericks. After being waived by Dallas just prior to the trade deadline so they could make room for the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Spalding cleared waivers and was signed by the Suns.
In 6 games with Phoenix, he’s shot 50% from the field and averaged 2.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 9.2 minutes per night. If you look at his totals in purple and orange, that’s 13 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in 55 minutes. So, though he hasn’t played that much, when he does he fares pretty well.
For a team that is in need of a power forward, he fits that role. Defense, intensity and dunks are all things that this team needs and fans want and Spalding is able to provide them. He’s young and raw and needs to develop but there’s plenty of time for that.
He has shown glimpses of what he can do. In the G League this season, he’s played in 29 games and started 26 of them. He shot 51% from the field and averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.1 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. Ray also showed that he has the potential of being a three point shooter, making 9 of 40 triples (22.5%).
Spalding scored at least 20 points in 9 games, including a 25 point night where he made 11 of 18 shots and hit a three pointer against the Salt Lake City Stars on November 9th. He also had 9 games with at least 7 free throw attempts. Though he has a ways to go, that shines some light on the type of scorer he can be.
He can rebound the ball, grabbing at least 10 caroms in 14 games, including a season best 17. He’s a good passer for his size, dishing out at least 4 assists in 5 games, including a 7 assist night on November 28th against the South Bay Lakers.
Where he really shines is on the defensive end, swiping at least 4 steals in 3 different games and swatting at least 3 blocks in 10 different games, including a 7 block effort on November 23rd against the Austin Spurs.
His best game in the G League, and likely a big reason why Phoenix gave him his initial chance with them, was a 23 point, 17 rebound, 4 assist, 3 steal and 3 block night against the Northern Arizona Suns. He made 8 of 16 shots and 2 three pointers in that match.
With the season all but over and only Dragan Bender in front of him, it’s really a surprise and shock that he isn’t playing more than he is. The Suns should give him more playing time to close out this season. A partial guarantee for next season was a smart move as the team can let him develop over the summer and see what he brings next season.