Suns Trade Four Players; Acquire Royce O'Neale From Nets
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have made a move.
Brooklyn Nets F Royce O'Neale is heading to Phoenix according to the Athletic's Shams Charania, with the Suns shipping out three second-round picks and four players.
The Suns also welcome David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies, as this was a three-team trade according to Charania.
According to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro, the Suns are trading Chimezie Metu, Jordan Goodwin, Yuta Watanabe and Keita Bates-Diop in the three-team deal. Their final destinations have yet to be revealed, though Charania believes Watanabe is heading to Memphis.
O'Neale, 30, became attainable for Phoenix due to being on an expiring contract, and is sure to be part of a hypothetical nine-man playoff rotation.
The former Nets forward is also battle-tested in the playoffs, playing in 44 games and starting 29 across his career.
He holds a career 38.1% three-point percentage in the regular season, slides into the bench rotation seamlessly, and brings versatility to coach Frank Vogel's defensive scheme.
O'Neale was also reportedly in demand around the league, with as many as six other contenders being in talks with Brooklyn for the wing.
The trade between Phoenix and Brooklyn also comes a year to the day since the blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Durant to the Valley - the working relationship between the two franchises is still evident to this day.
While it's unclear if the Suns will make another trade prior to the 3 PM EST deadline, the franchise has given away the majority of their tradable draft assets in this deal - another deal is fairly unlikely unless it's an around-the-margins add.
The Suns can still be active in the post-deadline buyout market - they can bring in any player that is making under $12 million this season as part of the second apron under the new CBA.
The Suns play the Utah Jazz tonight at 7 PM Arizona time.
