Frank Kaminsky
Frank the Tank Kaminsky came to Phoenix from Charlotte, where he had spent his entire career. Much like the Will Ferrell character where he got his nickname, Frank the Tank’s season was defined by streaks.
He had stretches where he played phenomenally and others, well, not so much. Still, it all averaged out to 11 points, 4.9 rebounds (career-high), and 2.2 assists (career-high) in just 32 total games of a shortened season made shorter due to a patella stress fracture.
Kaminsky is a restricted free agent with a $5 million qualifying offer. This is tough because he provides good value at that price, but releasing the trio of Kaminsky, Baynes, and Saric would give the Phoenix Suns the cap space to make a big splash in free agency.
Well, as big of a splash that could be made in this fairly weak class.
If heartstrings exist in this business, Kaminsky is trying to pull on them. In a recent Joes and Pros podcast, Kaminsky said:
"“I really do love it [in Phoenix]. And I hope that one day this can be a place that I’ll be for a very long time. And I want to make it that so badly.”"
Kaminsky sounded sincere and went on to say how he felt like the team was building something here. Unfortunately, the NBA is not a feelings-first kind of business and at the end of the day, it’ll come down to numbers. I’m afraid the potential cap space gained by not re-signing him might be too tempting to pass up.