Phoenix Suns could pull off a trade for Anthony Davis
Sun’s Reasons
There are two things Suns fans will object to the most with this hypothetical deal. One is giving up the Miami Heat pick for the upcoming draft and taking on the Omer Asik‘s terrible contract. However, it is exactly those two things that makes this deal worth while for the Pelicans. Having Asik gives the Suns protection against Alex Len not signing his qualifying offer, if he chooses to hold out, which is very unlikely but it is still nice to have Asik available.
Phoenix Suns
The other is the Miami Heat 2018 draft pick. Luckily the pick is protected and will not convey unless the pick falls to the eighth selection or lower. The Heat are bound for the playoffs with an even weaker Eastern Conference than last season. The best the Suns will get if they keep the pick is a mid to late teens pick in the first round. Which is nice, but Anthony Davis is definitely worth giving up the Miami pick. For the sake of argument, let us say that the Miami’s pick ends up being the eighth pick, Davis is still worth that. Worst case scenario is that it does not convert this upcoming draft and then it will be unprotected in the 2019 draft. That could be a major win for the Pelicans if the Heat struggle in the 2018-2019 season, which is unlikely based on the current team and the weakness of the conference.
Giving up veterans like Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley will hurt the locker room chemistry, but there are still quality veterans available in free agency as of now. It is not hard to imagine that there will still be some during the regular season as well.
The Suns may have to give up young prospects in Dragan Bender and T.J. Warren, but they are worth getting an established super star in Davis. Davis can play power forward or center for the Suns based on what head coach Earl Watson wants to do. Personally, I would play Davis at center. The Suns would have a super fast and spacing lineup in Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss, and Davis.
Once this hypothetical deal happens and that potential lineup comes out, the Suns will be in the playoff hunt once again in the Western Conference. With that core it is hard to imagine the Suns not making it to the playoffs.