The Phoenix Suns have made another addition to their training camp roster, signing forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. The Frenchman joins guard Frank Jackson to non-guaranteed, training camp deals, with one spot still available on the Suns final roster.
Luwawu-Cabarrot has failed to solidify an NBA career through six seasons, having been taken with the 24th selection by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 draft.
The Phoenix Suns have signed 27-year-old Frenchman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to a training camp deal ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Along with the 76ers, Luwawu-Cabarrot has had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, and most recently the Atlanta Hawks. His best season came with the Nets in 2018-19, averaging a career-high 7.8 points per game on 43.5% from the floor and 38.8% from three-point range.
Luwawu-Cabarrot has proven himself to be a talented offensive player, yet has been unable to put it all together at NBA level. Ahead of his draft year, expert Jonathan Givony identified his high-upside potential in today’s modern NBA.
"“Standing 6-7, he has long arms, big hands, a good frame, and excellent athletic ability. He’s a versatile player who shows a nice framework of skills in virtually all facets of the games, be it with his ability to create off the dribble, find the open man, make shots from the perimeter, or defend a few different positions”, Givony wrote."
Unfortunately he’s been unable to utilize his frame to be either an efficient offensive scorer, or be a stout perimeter defender. Luwawu-Cabarrot has shot 39.1% from the floor and 33.5% from deep across his career, unreliable numbers for a player who offers very little outside his scoring.
In the Suns system next to elite playmaking, there’s optimism that he could reproduce numbers similar to that of his 2018-19 season with the Nets. Still, with current backup options like Damion Lee, Josh Okogie, Landry Shamet and Torrey Craig, it appears Luwawu-Cabarrot has a tough task to make the Suns final roster.