The Suns should draft DeAndre Ayton…AND Marvin Bagley III
The Trades
First off, Josh Jackson and Devin Booker are off of the table for this trade. The Suns shouldn’t risk trading either as both have All-Star potential.
However, T.J. Warren, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender should all be on the board as all three of them can be good role players but not star players. So what would the Suns have to trade and with who?
Sacramento
The Kings get two young talents to pair around De’Aaron Fox. Warren would be a proven player to add to their roster and Chriss and Harry Giles could battle out to play the four. Sacramento doesn’t have their pick next year and would acquire the Suns’ pick that will likely still be a lottery pick.
However, the Kings acquire lots of mid-tier talent like Chriss and Warren who each have the potential for star growth if leaned heavily enough on. However, what they need is a star, which makes any trade unlikely since two of Ayton, Luka Doncic, and Bagley will be on the board at the second pick.
Atlanta
Atlanta has John Collins which makes them unlikely to want Chriss or Bender. In this scenario Ayton and Doncic go first and second and Atlanta decides to get a good young player in Warren and stock up on picks for the next few years instead of keeping the third pick. This trade could potentially happen if Atlanta doesn’t mind delaying finding a cornerstone player like Bagley or Mohamed Bamba and instead like the idea of filling the roster out with more depth first by adding Warren and four first round picks, instead of one.
Memphis
Bagley being available at four is unlikely, but crazier things have happened. Memphis is reportedly looking to trade their pick and would get two young players plus two picks.
While Warren and Chriss don’t have the same potential as a guy drafted with the fourth pick, the Grizzlies are a team that doesn’t like to tank and would be able to bring in two more young talents to help win again right away along with the two picks who could help them down the line. Memphis wants to win now and Warren is proven and young. Plus they doesn’t have much of a future at the moment and making this trade would give them some young talent.
Next: Mo Bamba might be a viable trade up target
It seems unlikely that the Suns will find a willing trade partner, but if the Suns draft DeAndre Ayton then they should consider trading up for Marvin Bagley as well.