Report: Josh Okogie will decline player option, become an unrestricted free agent

The Phoenix Suns entered the 2024 offseason with four players who had decisions before them. Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Damion Lee, and Josh Okigie signed with Phoenix last summer, doing so on two-year deals that included a player option. June 29th is the deadline to do so. Stay and remain on the veteran minimum. Opt out and test the free agent market.

Josh Okogie, who has played the last two seasons with the Suns, has made up his mind now that he has to choose between joining free agency and staying with Phoenix. Like Eric Gordon and Drew Eubanks before him, Okogie is opting out.

Josh Okogie came to the Phoenix Suns after showcasing his non-stop motor for four seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We knew he didn’t have much of an offensive game — his 40.3/27.5/75.8 splits with Minny were a clear indicator of that — but his defensive prowess is where he made his mark. The trend continued with the Suns.

2023-24 was an odd year for JO. It was another year in which Okogie fortified the narrative around his abilities. While his intangibles were once again apparent, his statistical production left plenty to be desired. His motor was a plus, but his overall production was a negative.

Following the NBA Draft, where the Suns took Ryan Dunn with the 28th pick, Okogie became more expendable. If you want a defensive guru who can’t shoot, why go for the old model? The Suns have the shiny new version in Dunn. Assumably, Okogie waited to see what Phoenix would do in the draft and based his decision on how they operated.

Okogie will be a desired player, as all hustle guys are. Does his opting out mean he’s gone? Not necessarily.

We shall wait and see what happens next with JO.