Phoenix Suns Offseason Plans Part 2: Trades
By Adam Maynes
Brandon Knight
Knowing that Ryan McDonough tried to trade Brandon Knight during the regular season already with no takers, it is very difficult to guesstimate who would want him this offseason. That being said, the salary cap is once again expanding, meaning that some teams at the lower end of the payroll will look to add salary just to meet minimums. There are going to be teams that will at least inquire as to the player-based cost. Certainly some teams will believe that he can produce at his Milwaukee Bucks level again, and there are also teams that could see him as depth if he would be willing to accept a non-starting role – all meaning that McDonough can probably find a taker.
The Philadelphia 76ers had been a popular trade destination throughout the season, and there could very well be something to be had there to make the 76ers want to acquire arguably the Suns’ biggest trade disappointment in franchise history.
The Utah Jazz are already over $13 million under the salary cap before the cap expands, and as a team who might be more willing to trade mid-round draft picks to try and improve than to trade outright talent, they might be a good potential destination. One possibility could be a future first round pick and nothing more giving the Jazz another scoring option without giving up on a single player already on their roster.
If there are no draft picks offered to the Suns, however, re-acquiring Boris Diaw for one season would not only open up cap space both in 2017 as well as 2018, but also give the bench additional depth while providing a player like Dragan Bender another mentor as Bender attempts to find his way in the league as a player of Diaw’s mold.
The Brooklyn Nets are $10.5 million below the salary cap at the moment with more space coming this offseason. They are stuck with Jeremy Lin’s insanely bloated contract for his low production through 2019, so what better situation for a player like Brandon Knight to try and re-boot his career as a starter than in Brooklyn where they really have no means of improving their roster outside of trade for the next two years.
If a Net, Knight would certainly have more scoring opportunities than he was ever going to get in Phoenix. He could very well be worth the price of his contract for now, and be eager himself to prove his worth once again as a starting scoring guard. The Suns might have to give up a future first again just to dump off Knight and to acquire a player like Jefferson, but with their own (hopefully decreasing in value) picks, plus Miami’s, as well as possible other acquired picks in a trade of Bledsoe, there is a chance they have enough to pry Jefferson away and not handcuff themselves in future drafts.