Mason Plumlee joins another Big 3 with Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns formally introduced free agent signing Mason Plumlee at the Verizon 5G Performance Center, the team’s practice facility, on Monday afternoon. Monte Morris was set to be introduced as well but flight issues delayed his arrival the team said.

Plumlee, a 6-10 center, fills a big-man backup role for Jusuf Nurkić since Drew Eubanks declined his player option and signed with the Utah Jazz in free agency. Plumlee goes from one “Big 3” in Los Angeles — Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden — to another in Phoenix with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

“All just elite scorers, guys who can play both sides, good defenders too. It’s been a privilege in these more recent years of my career to play with some really good wing players,” Plumlee said at his first media availability. “I’m looking forward to this situation. 

“This is a roster I was excited to join. A lot of talent, guys who have won big and guys who are in their prime. That was really attractive to me. I’ve had a lot of respect for (coach Mike Budenholzer) Bud’s teams going back to Atlanta, Milwaukee. They’ve always been really well-coached and hard wins when you meet them in-season. I’m excited to play for him.”

The 34-year-old veteran is entering his 12th season in the league. Plumlee’s older brother Miles played for the Suns in the 2013-2014 season and his younger brother, Marshall, played in the NBA from 2016 to 2018. They were the first trio of brothers to play in the NBA at the same since 2000 when the Barry brothers, the sons of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, did it.

Plumlee, who came from Duke and was part of the 2010 NCAA title-winning team, has made stops around the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers since being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. He was fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and made the All-Rookie team.

Plumlee dealt with injuries last season. He sprained his MCL in November, which limited him to just 14.7 minutes per game — a career low — in 46 total games. Plumlee averaged 5.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in that time.

Morris is a 6-foot-2 point guard, a position they desperately need. Booker and Beal split time bringing the ball up the court for the Suns' offense last offseason. Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon did as well. But all are better suited on the wing. 

Gordon is gone after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. Acquiring Morris allows those players to work in a more natural position, freeing up the offense.

Morris averaged 10 points and 3.8 assists during his six seasons in the NBA. He is a career 39% 3-point shooter. His high for a season is 12.6 points per game (2021-22) and 5.3 assists per game (2022-23).

Last year, Morris dealt with injuries to his hamstrings and quadriceps and made 27 appearances with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 5.1 points and 2.3 assists in 15 minutes of action per game.

Morris — an Iowa State alum who was a second-round draft pick in 2017 — spent the first five years of his career in Denver, then played with the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons prior to joining Minnesota. He finished ninth in voting for the sixth man of the year in the 2018-2019 season.

It is the second time that Morris and Plumlee will be teammates after they were on the Nuggets together from 2017 to 2020.

“Monte is such an underrated player,” Plumlee said. “I have so much respect for him. I’ve been in games where he’s hit big shots, he’s made big plays. The attraction to him at the outset of his career was how well he takes care of the ball. I know in college he had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios. He’s just a really smart player. He’s someone who makes the game make sense for everybody that he’s playing with. I didn’t know that he was coming here, but I’m thrilled that he signed for the Suns.”