Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Top-5 former Suns who were great after trading away

By Steve Miner

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 6: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on February 6, 2015 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 6: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Utah Jazz on February 6, 2015 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Honorable Mentions

BOSTON – 1988: Jay Humphries #24 cuts to the lane against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1988 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1988: Jay Humphries #24 cuts to the lane against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1988 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jay Humphries

The Suns drafted Jay Humphries in 1984. He had a good early career with the Suns but he achieved slightly more success after he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1988. Though some of his stats remained largely the same, he improved in scoring and on defense. Even though his improvement was only modest, he was a consistently solid contributor for Milwaukee, where he had the best years of his career.

Robin Lopez

SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 3: Robin Lopez #15 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a free throw shot in a game against the Sacramento Kings on April 3 2012 at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 3: Robin Lopez #15 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a free throw shot in a game against the Sacramento Kings on April 3 2012 at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Though he has never been quite as good as his twin brother, Brook, Robin Lopez is a solid NBA player. During his time in Phoenix, however, he didn’t appear that way. Once the Suns traded Lopez to New Orleans, though, his production improved significantly. He is now in Chicago and still doing quite well. Much of his success simply has to do with opportunity, as he received much more playing time after leaving Phoenix.

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