Before Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Raptors, it was reported that the Phoenix Suns had shown some interest. That’s an exciting sign moving forward.
Everyone knew Kawhi Leonard wasn’t going to the Suns. For many reasons, it wouldn’t make sense for either side.
Leonard likely wants to be for a winning team, which, for the time being, the Suns are not. He also has repeatedly said he wants to play in Los Angeles. Phoenix, while also warm and in the West, is not Los Angeles.
For the Suns, landing Leonard would likely require giving up either Devin Booker or Deandre Ayton. The Suns shouldn’t be willing to part with such talented young players for a 27 year old Leonard who doesn’t fit their timeline. Not to mention the chance he doesn’t bolt to LA next summer seems slim.
But for Suns fans, just showing interest in Leonard is a sign of great things to come. Now isn’t the time, and Leonard isn’t the right guy, but the Suns are ready to make a splash very soon.
Next summer, the Suns will have abundant cap space, and there will be an abundance of All-Stars hitting free agency. The Suns will have a collection of assets including Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges they can trade, and there will likely be more top players that become available.
That means if things go the right way over the next few years, the Suns can assemble a cast of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and two other All-Stars. Down the line, the Warriors will be in decline, LeBron James won’t be at the same level, and the Suns will have a legitimate chance to emerge as the class of the NBA.
Next: Focus for Phoenix Suns now on trades
That’s why showing interest in Kawhi Leonard is so exciting. They were never going to land him, but it shows exactly where Ryan McDonough’s head is. The Suns will look to add stars to the team in the very near future, and fans should be excited about what’s to come.