With the Phoenix Suns’ offseason in full swing with the NBA Draft done, we can focus on what is next: and Next Up Part 2: Trades
If you missed the first part of this offseason trilogy, you can click here to read about who the Phoenix Suns should cut.
But you are here for the trades, so let’s get right to it!
Trade T.J. Warren and Marquese Chriss
T.J. Warren is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He has a really premier mid-level game. While that’d be a huge asset in Toronto, it’s a spacing liability when you’re trying to work between Booker and Ayton. Unless that 3-point shot starts to drop, he’s a bad fit in this group.
I think Chriss is a massive talent that people have given up too early on. He’s still incredibly young and has the chance to develop into Markieff Morris kind of player. Like all the others here, his inability to consistently hit a three is going to be his demise.
The challenge with trading both players right now is that they’re undervalued. To make a deal that makes sense the Suns likely need to target a stretch power forward and they’re almost certainly going to have to take back contracts they don’t like and/or add in a draft pick they’d rather retain. They could also target a tall distributor at point who might make a lot of sense.
I think among the options the suns could/will look at is a sign and trade for restricted free agent Aaron Gordon. That fit seems dubious at best because of Gordon’s inability to consistently hit the three. You’re essentially trading two guys with that problem for one. It’s just not a good idea. Don’t blame them for looking into it, but wouldn’t encourage them to pull the trigger.
Here are a few of the better targets for Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough to target.