The Phoenix Suns have the top pick in June’s draft. They could draft some much needed help for Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and co. However, the Suns could also trade the pick and get a lot of help if they landed someone like Anthony Davis.
The Phoenix Suns have the number one pick for the first time in franchise history.
Phoenix Suns fans won’t ever get tired of hearing that. We could say it over and over, yelling it from the tops of mountains or from the middle of the ocean and still other fans would hear and smile a giddy smile. After having so much bad luck it seems this could be the rabbit’s foot to turn that all around for good.
If we were to stand pat and keep the pick, it’ll either be DeAndre Ayton or Luka Doncic coming in the arena doors come September. And, for the most part, I would keep the pick.
However, there are two players that could be available that I’d hand it over for: Karl-Anthony Towns, as explained in a recent piece and Anthony Davis.
Phoenix Suns
Of the two, Towns is most likely. The Wolves have Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins, and KAT has voiced his displeasure. Davis is the New Orleans Pelicans. He is that franchise and unless he personally came forward and asked to be moved off the team they probably wouldn’t even think about dealing him.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible though.
DeMarcus Cousins was traded for and placed next to Davis in the front court, which made Davis very happy and formed a super frontcourt.
However, Cousins ruptured his Achilles after 48 games and missed the rest of the season and playoffs. That’s a serious injury, especially for a big man and history has shown it’s almost a career killer.
This leaves the Pelicans in a rough spot. They can either let Cousins walk going the safe route spending that money elsewhere, or go the risky route paying the max and having him coming back at nowhere near the same level. That doesn’t stop DMC from expecting the team to pay up. He even unfollowed them on Instagram when news came out that they’d even hesitate.
If New Orleans waits, they also risk Davis coming forward and asking out. That would really hinder the Pelicans in what kind of package they’d get in return. For a player of his caliber it’d still be a good haul but not as good as it’d be right now.
The Brow just turned 25-years-old. He was the number one pick in 2012 out of Kentucky. He is already a 5-time All-Star, including an All-Star Game MVP trophy when he lit up the best of the league for 52 points. He has made All-NBA 1st Team twice and three All-NBA Defensive teams.
He has led the league in blocks in three different seasons. He’s the youngest player ever to score 59 points in a game. And he hasn’t even hit his prime yet.
Just this season alone he scored 40 plus points in nine games, pulled down 15+ rebounds in 19 games, and swatted 5 plus blocks in 14 games.
You want playoff experience on a young team? He’s played 13 games in the postseason averaging 30.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
The man is even better when it counts.
Suns fans will recall the shootout he had with Devin Booker on Feb 26. Anthony went off for 53 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks while Devin had 40 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists of his own.
Can you imagine those two joining forces? They would put Phoenix back on the map and be treated like kings in a city needing basketball heroes.
Ryan McDonough, just pick up the phone and give them an offer they can’t refuse.
THE OFFER
This deal would bring Davis to the Valley as a young superstar, still only 25-years-old, on a long-term deal ready to dominate with Booker.
For New Orleans, they’d get over 25 million in cap relief after this season, three first round picks, and a young athletic PF that could excel with a change of scenery. They could do a whole lot worse and this offer and it should at least make them blink.
Next: Narrative should not be the reason the Suns draft DeAndre Ayton
It has been a while since playoff basketball has been played in Phoenix and this move would all but ensure bringing that back. Devin Booker and Anthony Davis would form a Big-2. Josh Jackson could be a 3rd star. The team could make a run at a frontcourt mate like Aaron Gordon in free agency and would be a PG away from a very solid young team.
Call them, McDonough. Make them an offer they can’t refuse.