Valley of the Suns
Fansided

The Phoenix Suns should trade their first pick

By Andrew Clark

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 5: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play against the Phoenix Suns on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 5: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play against the Phoenix Suns on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 5: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play against the Phoenix Suns on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 5: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play against the Phoenix Suns on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What’s the Return?

Obviously a lot of this discussion depends on what the team would get offered. Not every team would offer three first round picks to trade down two slots. If the Suns don’t get blown away by an offer they shouldn’t trade Ayton just to trade him. However, there are some teams that can probably make things interesting.

A few ideas:

Miami Heat

Why not keep going back to the fountain of first round picks?  Miami is mired in mediocrity.  Whiteside is a terrible fit on a team with slash guards and they have been looking to dump him to free up cap space. He could be a superior fit with a strong outside shooter like Booker.

Justice Winslow has been coming on strong of late as well. He’s still only 22 with plenty of upside and would potentially be a nice defensive pairing with Josh Jackson.  Add in Bam, one of my favorite players from last years draft, and yet another unprotected Miami pick and you’ve got a nice haul. It helps the team become instantly more talented, particularly on the defensive side, while continuing to fill up the future assets.

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