The Phoenix Suns made a surprise move this week, signing center Duop Reath in the wake of Mark Williams' shoulder surgery, with Oso Ighodaro's stock taking a hit in the process.
Ighodaro's path to starting role now blocked by Reath
Many assumed the third-year forward/center would jump straight into the spot vacated by Williams, particularly with the franchise appearing to want to bring Khaman Maluach along slowly. Going back to opening night last season, when Williams was again unavailable, it was Ighodaro who started.
That did not go well, but he has found his footing in The Valley since then and would have been expected to be trusted to start again. That has now been called into question, as Reath is a 30-year-old veteran who has a play style that Head Coach Jordan Ott will love.
His intensity is rightly raved about, while he's as likely to grab an offensive board as he is to step out and knock down a 3-pointer. These are all skills that Ighodaro has struggled to be consistent with, which spells even worse news for Maluach's own hopes of earning more minutes.
Complicating matters further for Ighodaro is the fact that his preferred power forward position is now being occupied by Miles Bridges. The Suns didn't part with the moon and the stars to bring him off the bench, while, in theory, Reath is a better fit alongside his offensive-minded game.
On top of that, the idea of Bridges and Ighodaro forming a frontcourt partnership inspires less confidence and would surely tank the top-10 defense Coach Ott was able to create last season. That may say more about the addition of Bridges than the improved play of Ighodaro, but that doesn't make it any less true.
Dream chance to stake claim for starting spot gone for Ighodaro
At this point, even the most optimistic Suns fan would have to admit that the prospect of Williams being available long-term is rapidly shrinking.
This would have been ideal for Ighodaro and his own hopes of taking that starting spot, but the introduction of Reath changes the picture for now. Coach Ott likes to lean heavily on veterans to win games, and he should help in that area.
We have also seen a number of role players who flamed out elsewhere show their best selves in The Valley, and there is no reason why Reath can't be the latest addition to that list. A great pickup by the organization and one that nobody saw coming, but it does disrupt Ighodaro's own trajectory in Phoenix.
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