Make a playoff push
The Phoenix Suns aren’t exactly close to being a playoff team. They won just 21 games last year, and although they’ve made some key additions, they’re still toward the very bottom of the Western Conference.
Making things even more difficult is the sheer depth of the West. Last season, nine teams won at least 46 games. The Lakers added LeBron James, so there are ten teams expected to compete for the eight playoff spots. That could turn into 11 or 12 if the Clippers or Mavericks exceed expectations.
So for the Suns to make a playoff push, they’d have to be better than at least three of the top ten teams and both the Clippers and Mavericks. They added some nice pieces, but a 25 win jump is almost certainly more than one player away, especially when the Suns would have to give other players in return.
That being said, it’s not out of the question. According to John Gambadoro, the Suns have made an unsuccessful attempt at acquiring Damian Lillard.
Suns have definitely been trying to trade for a front tier point guard - Lillard, Walker, Rozier - but to no avail. Situation at point guard now is not ideal and Phoenix will have to make a trade but Milwaukee pick that they own is not that valuable.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 31, 2018
Lillard just turned 28, so he’d be a reliable piece for at least the next few years. Unfortunately, he’s still much older than the other players on the Suns’ timeline, specifically Ayton and Booker, who are 20 and 21 respectively.
If the Suns are dead set on making the playoffs, though, Lillard is an intriguing option. He’d make Portland a near lock to miss the playoffs, and he’d be joining a Suns team that’s arguably more talented than his previous surrounding cast. He was still able to lead that team to a three seed, although in a crowded West that wasn’t much better than the ninth best record.
There’s little doubt the Blazers would be willing to listen to offers for Lillard, but he wouldn’t come cheap. He made the All-NBA First Team last season, and Portland isn’t in any rush to get rid of their best player. It would probably take everything the Suns have besides Booker and Ayton, and even that might not be enough. Clearly whatever they offered yesterday didn’t get the job done.
Making a trade for a top point guard in a push to make the playoffs might not be the best way forward. The Phoenix Suns still aren’t ready to compete for a championship, and whoever they could acquire today might be too old by the time the young core is mature enough to win.
It would also cost them top prospects like Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson. Some say anyone besides Ayton and Booker is expendable, and they should put talented players next to them to help them develop and possibly make the playoffs.
That’s not a bad thought, but it might make more sense to be patient and see what the other young guys can turn into. Which brings us to our next potential direction.