Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Mason Plumlee
While Plumlee has enough athleticism to block shots and catch some lobs, he has never been a great rim protector or lethal pick-and-roll threat. He finishes well at the rim, but his shooting percentages are poor anywhere outside of four feet. Plumlee's assist numbers are actually pretty good for his position, as he is an above-average passer for a big. Plumlee doesn't have much of an offensive game in general. When he gets the ball in the post, even against a good matchup, he can often throw up low-chance shot attempts. He also is a poor free-throw shooter at 58% for his career. After posting an awful 39% free throw percentage in '21-'22, he even switched his shooting hand near the end of the '21-'22 season to try and fix his free throws, and he has hit 69% over the last three seasons. However, despite having some limitations, Plumlee had some really productive stretches in the '22-'23 season with Charlotte, including some 20+ point double-doubles. He was also in the regular rotation after getting traded to the Clippers in 2023, and even was in the 2023 playoff rotation. He got regular minutes for the Suns in '24-'25, but didn't make a huge impact as the Suns were one of the most disappointing teams of the season. Because Plumlee knows his role, runs the floor well, rebounds, and finishes inside, he can be a serviceable rim-running center. Plumlee will be 35 years old as a free agent in 2025, so I would not expect him to get any long-term offers in free agency.
Summary
Plumlee will be an unrestricted free agent with a $2.3 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. The Suns will be somewhat limited in their means of re-signing him. Since they will only have his Non-Bird Rights, the most they could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is a contract starting at $4.4 million. Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Plumlee as even teams without cap space could likely use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Room MLE or possibly even the Taxpayer MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. Since he signed a minimum contract in 2024, teams will hope to get him at the minimum in 2025 too.
Cap Considerations
Daniel Theis (1 year minimum, 2024) Drew Eubanks (2-1 years, $10 million, 2024), Mo Bamba (1 year minimum, 2024)