The Phoenix Suns made a necessary roster addition by signing former veteran Portland Trail Blazers big and free agent Duop Reath. ESPN first reported the deal, less than two weeks before the Suns' training camp begins Sept. 29.
Phoenix announced on Sept. 11 that Mark Williams, who was expected to be the Suns' starting big in his second year with the team, is sidelined indefinitely after he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Now, Phoenix has Reath and their other backup bigs, Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, the No. 10 overall pick from the 2025 draft. Suns beat writer Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic posted on X Sept. 17 Reath is a training camp invite for Phoenix.
The Suns had the maximum 15 standard roster spots filled
prior to acquiring Reath. The team must have it at 15 on Oct. 19.
Here's more of what you need to know about Reath.
Reath's size, stats, career history
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 245 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-3
Age: 30
College: LSU, 2016-18
Native country: South Sudan; grew up mostly in the Australian states of Brisbane and Perth
NBA career averages: 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 13.3 minutes per game; played 146 games for Portland from 2023-26. Had career lows of 2.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg and 8.1 minutes through 32 games during the 2025-26 season, which ended in January when he had surgery for a stress fracture in his foot.
Career-highs: 9.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 apg through 68 games and 20 starts during the 2023-24 season, his rookie year. He produced 25 points and nine rebounds in Portland's win over the Sacramento Kings that same season.
How Reath reached NBA
He went undrafted in 2018. Had stints on various NBA Summer League teams, including the Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and Trail Blazers. Reath played professionally in Serbia, Australia, China, Lebanon and the former Yugoslavia and won four championships in 2021 and 2023 while playing overseas. He also played for Australia in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics in Tokyo and Paris, and the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Portland signed Reath to a one-year deal in 2023 following his Summer League stint with the team. He was assigned to Portland's G League team, the Rip City Remix, in February 2025 after appearing in 46 games that season, averaging just 4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, and 10.2 minutes.
Reath underwent season-ending foot surgery to repair a stress fracture in January 2026. Portland dealt him, along with their 2027 and 2030 second-round picks, to the Atlanta Hawks for Vit Krejci shortly before the trade deadline on Feb. 1; Atlanta waived Reath four days later.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about new Phoenix Suns big Duop Reath
