New report continues to link Drummond to PHX

How to trade for Drummond

Let’s say that Detroit is willing to listen, and the Suns are willing to part with their 2018 first round pick – before the start of this coming season. What might a package need to be to acquire him?

It would seem likely that a package of at least two young players, at least one first round pick, and possibly a larger contract, would be the starting asking price. It would seem plausible then that at least Dragan Bender would have to be a part of that trade. The Pistons are likely to ask for Marquese Chriss, and while that would be potentially acceptable, the Suns would probably look to push for Dragan ahead of Chriss.

Another player that the Suns could be included in the trade, and someone who would personally relish the opportunity, is Alex Len.

If a trade is made before Len signs with Phoenix, he could negotiate a sign and trade with the Detroit Pistons on a long-term deal earning him much more money and security than he would have by signing the qualifying offer that the Suns have offered him so far – the hope of this or a similar situation actually could be exactly why he has not accepted that offer. The Pistons would get in return a decently priced center – Len would most certainly make much less than Drummond is – and one who is still young and developing. Even a three-year, $36M deal would both save the Pistons tons of money while still having a starting center, while also giving Len the money he was hoping to make prior to this summer.

Next, the Suns would need to move at least one future first round pick, probably two. If Ryan McDonough feels confident that the addition of Drummond coupled with the moderate losses of Dragan and Len would push Phoenix up the Conference standings enough to minimize the placement of the draft pick, it might be worthwhile to move it now, and just consider Drummond as their own 2018 draft pick. If Detroit demanded a second pick, the Suns could either offer Miami’s 2018 pick, which does not appear that it will fall into the top-7 and thus will transfer, or keep that pick and offer Miami’s 2021 pick all but guaranteeing that Phoenix would have at least one pick to work with between 2018 and 2021.

To help match contracts, the Suns might want the Pistons to take on a larger contract as well – also providing Phoenix with some free agency flexibility next offseason as well. The first instinct by many Suns fans is either Tyson Chandler or Brandon Knight.

The Suns would probably give Chandler right to first refusal, but if he accepted it, as his contract is up a year earlier than Knight’s, he would probably be the most ideal larger contract to send to Detroit.

I do think, though, as I have argued before, that Brandon Knight should still hold decent value due to his scoring potential as well as his age. It would be very strange that the Pistons would trade back for Knight, but as he would essentially be a contractural throwin, it would not be shocking in the least. Thus, while his contract is one year longer than Tyson’s, his age would probably be a strong factor in preferring to acquire him over the elder statesman.

Essentially that trade would look like this:

Phoenix’s two-man rotation would look something like this:

PG – Eric Bledsoe/Tyler Ulis

SG – Devin Booker/Davon Reed

SF – Josh Jackson/T.J. Warren

PF – Marquese Chriss/Alan Williams

C – Andre Drummond/Tyson Chandler

Not too shabby.