Phoenix made another adjustment to its squad on Monday by repatriating Ishmail Wainright, position 3-4 cut before the start of the season by the Arizona franchise. A Ugandan international, notably passed through Strasbourg before joining the NBA in 2021, “Ish” was relaunched by Portland, but the Blazers also cut him along the way, at the beginning of January.
Ishmail Wainright thus found himself on the sidelines, waiting to be called upon to take on a new challenge. It was ultimately the Suns who called him back to make him sign a “ two-way contract » until the end of the season. Before making the news official, Phoenix had to cut one of its three “two-way contracts”, and it is therefore Theo Maledonarrived just over two months ago, who was sacrificed.
Three French leaders without a contract!
This is another hard blow for the French leader who had already been cut by the Hornets in mid-December. The Frenchman failed to take advantage of the opportunity to integrate Steve Clifford's rotation behind LaMelo Ball. It's a bit of the same thing that happened again in Phoenix, where the former Asvel player failed to find a place in the poorly filled position, while Bradley Beal was convalescing. In the end, Théo Maledon only played 13 minutes in four games with the Suns.
Phoenix has also rebalanced its strengths among its “two-way contracts” with guard Saben Lee, interior Udoka Azubuike and therefore winger Ishmail Wainright, who could be operational tomorrow against the Nuggets. For Théo Maledon, the quest for a new contract begins… Like Killian Hayes and Frank Ntilikina.
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to develop them mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
