The trade deadline will be quiet
The Suns are in a bit of a pickle. They want to start winning and moving forward with their young core, but the Western Conference is absolutely brutal. At the trade deadline, they’ll have the option of pushing for the eight seed or pushing for a better lottery pick. Instead, they’ll sit on their hands.
Teams will definitely call to ask about Trevor Ariza. He’s only on a one year deal, and he’s worth a late first round pick from a team that views itself as one piece away from competing. If they send back equal salary, the Suns could even take on a decent young player in the process.
T.J. Warren could get looks as well. He’s signed long-term, but his contract is very manageable. He seems like the odd man out in this Phoenix Suns rotation, but that speaks more to the Suns wing depth and higher potential players than it does to Warren’s current ability to help a team win. He would be a nice bench piece on the right team.
There are so many other guys who could be moved depending on how the season goes. Brandon Knight in a salary dump, a flier on Bender or Chriss, a new start for Josh Jackson if he plays more like early season JJ than late season JJ.
Then there’s the slim chance the Phoenix Suns are actually within reach of making the playoffs and they make a move for a low level All-Star on the block. If somehow their young guys played this well, they’d be smarter to stay patient and focus assets toward the draft and free agency instead of chasing an aging non-superstar.
There are so many possibilities, but the Suns will end up staying where they are, sitting around 11th in the West. A move towards winning would be impatient and likely futile. A move towards losing, while probably smart in the long run, wouldn’t sit well with fans. If any move is made, it’ll be a minor one. For better or worse, the Suns will stay put at the deadline.