Ex Buckeyes F Keita Bates Diop Signs 2-Year Deal With Phoenix Suns

The former Ohio State Buckeyes and San Antonio Spurs forward is on the move as NBA free agency begins.

Former Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop has a new home.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that Bates-Diop has agreed to a two-year contract worth $5 million with the Phoenix Suns and will have a player option built into the deal. He is the first former Buckeye to ink a new deal since the beginning of NBA free agency, leaving the San Antonio after spending the last three seasons with the Spurs.

The Suns are loading up on talent in the offseason after trading for Bradley Beal and Bates-Diop could be in their starting five next season. He will likely battle with Josh Okogie, whom Phoenix just re-signed, for the Suns' starting small forward position.

Free agent F Keita Bates-Diop has agreed to a two-year, $5M deal with the Phoenix Suns, co-head of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown tells ESPN. Deal includes a player option. Bates-Diop will have a chance to earn a starting forward spot.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2023

At the time of his commitment, Bates-Diop was the Buckeyes' No. 8-rated recruit ever, according to 247Sports. He has since dropped to No. 10 behind former guards DJ Carton and Malaki Branham, but still left his mark in an impressive Ohio State career.

The Normal, IL. native's senior season is when he shined, scoring 672 points — which is tied for the 10th-most in a single season in program history — with 35 coming against Illinois Feb. 4, 2018.

His 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds across 34 games earned him Big Ten Player of the Year and All-American honors for the 2017-18 season.

Bates-Diop was drafted with the No. 48 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018 NBA Draft where he spent one and a half seasons before being traded to the Denver Nuggets.

He was waived by Denver after playing seven games before signing a two-way contract with the Spurs Nov. 29, 2020. His performance earned him a multi-year deal Sept. 7, 2021.

In 21.7 minutes per game last season, Bates-Diop averaged a career-high 9.7 points for San Antonio.

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