Valley of the Suns
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The Suns should trade for DeAndre Jordan

By Adam Maynes

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers blocks a layup against Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the basketball game at Staples Center February 22, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers blocks a layup against Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the basketball game at Staples Center February 22, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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How to Pull it Off

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 30: Alex Len #21 of the Phoenix Suns and DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers jump for possession of the ball on March 30, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 30: Alex Len #21 of the Phoenix Suns and DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers jump for possession of the ball on March 30, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Before I get into why Jordan makes sense for the Suns, I first want to talk about his cost.

While Jordan is a little bit up there in basketball years (29, at the moment), he is still an extremely productive and star-caliber player that will command a pretty penny to acquire. Fortunately for the Suns, they have exactly what the Los Angeles Clippers would want: draft picks, young players, and expiring contracts, and they can offer all three in a single package.

Who knows what kind of high idealistic packages the Clippers are actually requesting of potential trade partners, but I do think that one particular package is both fair to the Phoenix Suns and likely better than anything they will be offered by teams around the league:

In Chriss, the Clippers get a young power forward/center who they can mold as they like and who fits in right along with Blake Griffin in both style and substance. The former lottery pick would be allowed to learn under one of the most well-respected head coaches in the league, as well as with one of the best hyper-athletic power forwards. If he reaches his potential, he too can be an air-apparent to Blake when Griffin eventually moves on.

The Miami pick is all the Suns should offer for two reasons: they are already giving up a mid-level lottery pick in Chriss who at the age of 20 is still extremely young, and while their own pick would sink in the lottery with Jordan on the team, it’s value is still higher than Miami’s and thus should be used in an additional trade for another star, or kept.

Either Len or Monroe would provide the Clippers with immediate cap space this offseason as they are both unrestricted free agents, while Jordan has an additional player option for next season.

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