The Phoenix Suns only made one move at the trade deadline, for a team that’s only won 11 games. Don’t panic, fans.
The trade deadline came and went with the Phoenix Suns only making one move. While it wasn’t a bad move, it definitely wasn’t one that would get fans jumping up and down with excitement.
What fans have to keep in mind is this season is all but over, the sweepstakes for Zion is very real and the best time for the Suns to make moves is this summer. Unless there was something very good that couldn’t be passed up, it was better to sit still on Thursday. It doesn’t look like there was (other than maybe going after Markelle Fultz, more on that later) so one can’t fault Phoenix for being still.
Let’s examine the options a little bit.
Devin Booker is the franchise player and Deandre Ayton was the number one pick in the draft. This is the main duo for the Suns and unless a superstar that would remain with the team was magically on the table, they weren’t even going to be in trade thoughts.
Jawun Evans and George King, the two way contract players, weren’t going to bring value. Neither was Dragan Bender, other than by using his expiring contract for something. Richaun Holmes and DeAnthony Melton are good young pieces that the team should have kept and they did.
Elie Okobo and Jamal Crawford were worth more to the Suns than they would have brought in a trade. Okobo is a rookie that has shown signs and Crawford has been like an assistant coach to the youth on this team.
T.J. Warren has made a major leap forward, becoming a legit three point shooter. Though his return value is possibly the highest it’s ever been, it will make more sense to trade him in the summer if they do as there will be more options. The same can be said with Kelly Oubre, who is averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks over his last 16 games. The team should probably hang onto him but if he was going to be dealt, a sign-and-trade would make more sense.
Josh Jackson has been showing signs lately of why he was drafted with the fourth pick. Over his last 4 games, he’s averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. The team was wise to see where this goes with him. Mikal Bridges is almost untouchable at this point, unless it’s for a star, and he’s made another leap as a rookie averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 49% from downtown over his last 6 games.
One of the only two players the team should have been actively shopping was Troy Daniels. He’s a 40.3% career three point shooter and an expiring contract. Troy hasn’t been able to find minutes in the crowded wing rotation this season. They would have been wise to see if they could have got something in return but then that’s $3 million less available to spend in the off season.
The other of the two is Ryan Anderson, a player whose play got him doomed to the end of the bench and whose contract made him almost immovable. Somehow, James Jones turned that into a player whose contract wasn’t much better but can actually find minutes in the rotation.
Overall, the trade deadline was a win. Serious changes need to be made, but that should be done in a couple months. At that time, they had better be active because if not, more fans will be lost and the franchise player may be next season’s Kristaps Porzingis.