Bol Bol is returning to the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal

Bol Bol is returning to the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal

NBA free agency continues to roll along, and the Phoenix Suns still have the ability to talk with players who they rostered last season before June 30 at 3:00pm Arizona time. Once that time comes, they’ll be able to open up the gates and speak with all free agents in the league.

We’ve had a busy day as the Suns have been finalizing their roster. Royce O’Neale is back. Damion Lee is gone — or at least has opted out of his deal. And Bol Bol is returning.

Settle down, folks. I know the excitement is making your toes wiggle like they’re trying out for a dance competition, sending shivers down your spine, and making your hair stand on end like you just stuck your finger in a light socket. Bol Bol is making his triumphant return to the Valley of the Sun

In 43 games last season, Bol averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes played. That’s 17.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per 36 minutes. We don’t live in the per 36 world, but that is sexy.

Did he have his defensive deficiencies? Absolutely. But he improved as the season progressed. The 24-year-old showed more growth than my indoor plants (and they’re thriving on a diet of neglect). Plus, he’s building a rapport with KD—imagine the conversations they’re having about wingspan and how to avoid low doorways.

Bol Bol still has plenty of opportunities to address, but his return will bring some much-needed continuity to the Suns. With both he and Royce O’Neale returning, the Suns have one thing they didn’t have entered last season: a foundation of players who have logged minutes together. They won’t need to spend the first third of the season leaning spacing and developing chemistry, which is something we should not overlook, considering how much we talked about that being an issue last year.