Why the Phoenix Suns won their trade with the Rockets

In a surprising trade with the Rockets, Phoenix Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough was able to improve upon his young core without compromising this season’s potential.

Even after the NBA draft and free agency, it was clear the Phoenix Suns work reconstructing the roster was not over. Their recent trade with the Rockets offered clarity for the future, but also showed there’s still much more work to be done.

Swapping Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss for De’Anthony Melton and Ryan Anderson, initial reactions came back confused of why Phoenix would pull this trade off. Many fans expected Chriss and Knight to either be traded or have a short future with the team, but the displeasure came from acquiring Anderson, who outside of shooting does not offer much.

The main value from the trade actually comes from the least-known player who was involved, Melton. A sophomore out of 6-3 guard USC, he entered headlines after not being able to play during his second year after a connection to the FBI investigation on corruption among colleges.

So how exactly is this trade a win for Phoenix?

Getting rid of Knight and Chriss

When  rebuilding, it is vital to remove players that add the least value to the team. In a different situation they could certainly find success, but Phoenix was not the place.

Knight was expected to be the starting point guard this season, and many fans expected him to bounce back strong and show why the Phoenix Suns traded a high-value pick for him in the first place. A strong return is definitely plausible, and if things work out, he could return to his old form that made so appealing on the Bucks.

However, it would’ve been foolish to rely on Knight for much this year. About three years ago was the last time he played any meaningful games at a high level, and has continuously battled injuries including his ACL tear that kept him out all of last season. Nobody knows what sort of player Brandon Knight will return as, and considering his injury problems, it is hard to put much value in him, especially as a starting guard.

Due to his age, he did not fit the timeline in terms of when players like Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Josh Jackson hit their prime. Stylistically, he also didn’t fit Igor Kokoskov’s system, with Knight a strong isolation scorer not known for his passing. That could make him an intriguing backup fit in Houston, but not what Phoenix was looking for.

While Marquese Chriss fits in terms of his age, he has been largely a disappointment since the team traded up and selected him 8th overall. He was expected to battle with Dragan Bender for the starting power forward spot, and actually started for the team plenty of times over the past few years.

During his time with the Phoenix Suns, he failed to produce while on the court, and showed little improvement or flashes that showcased what his potential could be. Chriss is insanely athletic and can show the ability to shoot the three, but was never able to improve his overall game.

His second year saw a drop in points and shooting percentages from three, inside the arch, and free throws, per Basketball Reference. Rebounding numbers went up slightly, but he remained a negative on both offense and defense.

If a player produces so poorly but flashes potential and hard work, it should be enough to keep them around. However in Chriss’ case, he showed lack of engagement, improvement, and composure, with more technical fouls (20) than double doubles (8).

Chriss is still young, so it would be foolish to say he won’t ever improve. The opportunity must be there for him though; he never showed enough to warrant more playing time on the Suns, and it will be very difficult to crack the Rockets rotation without significant leaps in shooting or defense. Getting rid of a young player is always difficult but chances are it would have happened sooner or later, and without tons of minutes available this season, would have been unlikely to improve his trade stock.