Porzingis: If available, the Suns MUST trade for him

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Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough speaks to the media during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan McDonough should propose a trade as such:

"Swap 2017 first round picks – New York gets four and Phoenix gets eight. The Knicks want a point guard – New York has the choice of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight or Tyler Ulis. (If the Knicks choose Tyler Ulis than the subsequent selection of Dragan Bender is off the table however they can then select the 2018 Miami Heat first round pick). Dragan Bender Suns take Joakim Noah’s contract while trading Tyson Chandler."

In essence, the trade could look like either one of these:

From the Knicks’ perspective, the starter is a point guard. Any option would be better than Derek Rose (yes, even Brandon Knight), as well as the shortening of a bad contract on their roster by swapping Noah for Chandler. If they take Bledsoe or Knight over Tyler Ulis, then they can also select Dragan Bender. However, if they want Ulis as a point guard of the future, then Dragan is taken off the table and replaced with the 2018 Miami Heat pick. With this, the Knicks swap Porzingis for cap space, an upgrade at point guard (and arguably at center as well) as well as three young players to build around – including what now might actually end up being Josh Jackson if the Boston Celtics select Jayson Tatum ahead of him.

By not trading Marquese Chriss, Phoenix can slide him to the five and allow Porzinigis to remain at power forward. The eighth pick can potentially be a replacement for Bender in Lauri Markkanen; immediate replacement and future point guard Dennis Smith; or center project Zach Collins. Noah becomes the Suns’ backup center – and bane of their existence because of his contract – but at least provides depth and continued veteran leadership to Chriss as he takes on his new role of starting center.

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Neither one of these trades are a sure thing from New York’s perspective, and guarantees nothing in the form of a playoff run in 2017-18. However, while the franchise re-build would move on from Porzingis, the Knicks would then have additional building blocks to grow with, since at the moment they stand zero chance of catching up with the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics.

Phoenix fans would be elated in finally making that trade and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis. To finally be on the positive end of a trade that opens Sports Center that evening – and many evenings for a while to come – would be worth the pain of missing out on the fourth overall pick and either Dragan Bender or Tyler Ulis.

It is time, once again, that the Phoenix Suns make that trade, and stop missing out on all the fun.

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