Phoenix Suns: Three potential Eastern Conference trade partners

The Phoenix Suns could add to the franchise’s young core by trading with several Eastern Conference teams before the NBA trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline is getting even closer now and Phoenix Suns fans can hope that the club’s general manager Ryan McDonough is taking every call he gets. With 29 other teams in the NBA, the Suns’ have a lot of options. Recently, I wrote about a few Western Conference teams that could potentially be good trade partners for the Suns. Now it’s time to focus on three Eastern Conference clubs that the Suns could potentially trade with.

Charlotte Hornets

More from Valley of the Suns

Charlotte Hornets’ point guard Kemba Walker has been the subject of trade talks recently. In response, I wrote an article about the positives of a trade that would bring Walker to Phoenix and a potential deal that could do that. In the proposed deal I had the Suns receiving Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, while the Hornets got Tyler Ulis, Greg Monroe, T.J. Warren and the Suns 2018 protected first round pick, via the Miami Heat. The Suns get a former All-Star to play along side Devin Booker and Kidd-Gilchrist will help bring a defensive mindset to the Suns.

It’s important to note that my fellow Co-Site expert Adam Maynes of Valley of the Suns wrote why a Walker trade would be bad and made very valid points. Depending on where McDonough sees the franchise’s future moving towards will make this proposed deal viable or not for him to execute. Another aspect Suns fans should remember is that Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan revealed that it would take a lot for him to trade Walker, like another All-Star. It’s doubtful that Jordan thinks the proposed deal would be enough for his point guard, but this is a very solid trade proposition and it will be hard for the Hornets to get an All-Star in return.

Detroit Pistons

Jack Ozark of Detroit Jock City, wrote how it’s time for the Detroit Pistons to either play stretch big Henry Ellenson or trade him. Ozark couldn’t be more right and if the latter happens, then Suns could give the Pistons a good trade for the big man.

Assuming the Pistons are in the win-now mindset then this proposed move makes sense for them. They get one of the best backup centers in the league in Alex Len and get a better stretch four coming off the bench in Jared Dudley. The Suns will miss Dudley, but getting a good rotation big for the future will be worth it. Ellenson has the potential to be a solid stretch center off the bench for the Suns and not having to give up a draft pick for him is a win in Phoenix’s books. Also, Jon Leuer had solid stats in his lone season with the Suns and can provide quality minutes once he returns healthy next season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have lost seven of their last ten games and making a trade could easily turn their luck around. The right trade could help both squads and their respective futures.

In this hypothetical trade scenario, Monroe may not be able to solve all of the Cavs’ problems, but he’s a good scorer, rebounder and passer. Surely getting someone like Monroe will help appease LeBron James and help the Cavs get back on track. Both Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye have been tied in another trade rumor, so it at least appears the Cavs don’t have a problem trading them. The Cavs would get to unload two contracts and have room left to sign another player. Getting Shumpert’s contract off their salary cap books will help the Cavs this upcoming offseason as well. Shumpert should help with the Suns’ perimeter defense and Frye can get bought out of his deal, as reported he would do in the other trade rumor he’s in. The real purpose of this from the Suns’ perspective is to get the Cavs’ 2023 second round pick.

On the same note, Maynes wrote about a different potential trade between the Suns and the Cavs that works out just as well. Either way, a Suns and Cavs trade makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Next: Booker’s unjustifiably snubbed from NBA All-Star game

It’s unclear if any of these proposed trades will actually happen, but each can benefit the Phoenix Suns in a different way. Hopefully, McDonough and the rest of the franchise’s front office will find a way to improve the team’s future before the trade deadline passes.

Home/Suns News