Why the Phoenix Suns would do it
The answer to this is simple: they get a superstar to pair up with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton potentially giving them the three necessary stars to compete with the championship contenders of the league, with a roster still young enough to keep that window open for at least five years – if not longer.
While it would be difficult to lose Josh Jackson, a young, up-and-coming star small forward, Phoenix would still have both Trevor Ariza to fill the hole at small forward this season, as well as Mikal Bridges over the next few years.
The Suns would also have one of the best shooting backcourts in the entire NBA (Devin Booker shot 38.3% from beyond the arc last season while Lillard drained 36.1%), and a balanced offense with Ayton’s ability to hold down the fort in the post while the guards and the rest of the roster shoot over top.
Offensively, this team would be unstoppable and if they wouldn’t compete immediately with the Golden State Warriors, they would easily jump into the top of the Western Conference playoff conversation, with the ability to join the best team’s in the league’s stratosphere soon enough.
In two seasons not only would the Suns be able to re-sign Lillard to a max contract, but they too would still have Ayton and Bridges under rookie contracts allowing General Manager Ryan McDonough the chance to add a few veteran pieces through free agency to give his core the role players needed to pull themselves over the top.