Valley of the Suns
Fansided

The Phoenix Suns should have acquired Kyrie Irving

By Adam Maynes

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics, wearing a mask due to a facial fracture, looks on during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on November 16, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics, wearing a mask due to a facial fracture, looks on during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on November 16, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Suns would have saved themselves from a number of unnecessary events

MILWAUKEE, WI – NOVEMBER 15: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks dives for a loose ball during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Bradley Center on November 15, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – NOVEMBER 15: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks dives for a loose ball during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Bradley Center on November 15, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Hindsight is 20/20, I understand that. So while the Suns were apparently blindsided by the Eric Bledsoe trade demand, they had  to have known that there was growing discontent with Bledsoe, making the necessity of trading him fairly strong. Moving him in a package that would have netted the Suns a star point guard capable of doing what he is doing in Boston would have been beautiful.

Yes, the Suns would have lost out on Josh Jackson (as well as the Milwaukee first round pick and depending on the total package demand by the Cavaliers, the Miami first round pick in 2018 as well), but in the short term, that wouldn’t have hurt the Suns. Not only has Jackson been far from the impact player that the team was hoping they were getting immediately out of the gates, but there is no guarantee that the future Milwaukee and Miami picks would have allowed the Suns to acquire absolutely anything close to a player of Irving’s stature, and thus, not necessarily anything special.

Regardless, the Suns would have had a star player right out of the gate to place next to Booker in the offense, and while sometime down the line (in 4-5 years) when the potential draft picks could be reaching their prime, Phoenix could be well into a lengthy Western Conference dominance with Kyrie, Booker, and whomever else they eventually acquired.

Speaking of who they may have acquired…

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