Then again, there’s that
As much as I hate to even bring this idea up, the is no denying that if both he and Josh Jackson perform well, and Jackson appears to be as god as advertised if not better, that Warren could eventually become trade bait as the team looks to find other pieces to help fill in more glaring holes in the roster.
Let’s not deny this to ourselves: it could eventually be a possibility.
That said, with Warren already signed to what should amount to be a very reasonable contract, not only could he become a serious player of interest about the league, but with his cap hit low far below max value, trading him would be much easier than if he was paid a much greater salary, in a package for a young star that isn’t making nearly as much. Teams generally aren’t excited to take on bloated salaries even if the stats of the player is something they might want to add to their roster.
If healthy and improving, Warren will become a player that teams will call for. We already know that the Orlando Magic had him on their target trade list this past year, so should he take another step forward this season, the list of potential suitors will undoubtedly grow. This plays perfect into the Suns’ rebuilding hands, and if they need a young piece to move for another, Warren could be the perfect player to move.
Next: Don't Sleep on T.J. Warren
Don’t get me wrong, my personal inclination is to hold onto him as I would want them to hold on to several pieces of their young core. He’d only be 29-years-old when his extension runs out, so if e is successful, and the team is as well, there is no reason to want to move a player of his potential in their prime.
Regardless, there is no doubt that the signing of T.J. Warren now is both prudent, but the right move to make. With the hope that Warren continues to grow and develop as a scorer and rebounder for the Phoenix Suns, there are just too many positives about his role on this roster moving forward to take the risk of him potentially demanding to be let go, or the team being entirely unable or unwilling to match a massive contract offer, ala Joe Johnson.