ESPN Lists Two Realistic Suns Trade Candidates
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns could look to make some big changes on the trade market in the coming months, as the team has underperformed and looks to make good on the "championship-or-bust" mantra they so embraced prior to the season.
ESPN's Bobby Marks went through and evaluated each NBA franchise's current situation in regards to trade capital - and he laid out the following for Phoenix:
"Does Phoenix get a chance to evaluate this roster when healthy prior to the deadline so it can determine undiscovered needs? Is a healthy Bradley Beal comparable to a trade deadline acquisition? Beal has played six games this season. Should Phoenix target a point guard like Tyus Jones at the cost of Grayson Allen and Nassir Little?" Marks asked.
"Besides their own players, the Suns have two trade exceptions ($6.5M and $5M) and three second-round picks. Once the trade deadline is over, the trade exceptions are no longer available in the offseason because of the second apron rules. What is the priority of need for the final roster and two-way spot? The Suns are allowed to also sign a player bought out of his contract, but only if his preexisting salary was less than $12.4 million."
He classified three players as completely off the board in Kevin Durant ($47.6M, UFA 2026), Devin Booker ($36M, UFA 2028) and Bradley Beal ($46.7M, Team 2026, no trade clause).
No arguments there, as the entire future in terms of salary and draft capital was mortgaged on those three to lead a championship push.
Only two players in Marks' opinion had some realistic and significant trade value: Grayson Allen ($8.9M, UFA 2024) and Nassir Little ($6.2M, UFA 2027).
Allen has started all 22 games he's played thus far while Little only has two starts in the 20 matchups he's featured in.
All of Phoenix's free agents signed in the offseason (or signed new deals) became available for trade last week, which includes:
Keita Bates-Diop, Bol Bol, Drew Eubanks, Eric Gordon, Damion Lee, Chimezie Metu and Yuta Watanabe.
The Suns are just 14-13 on the season.
