The Phoenix Suns should request a meeting with Kawhi Leonard

The New York Knicks are reportedly going to receive a free agency meeting with Kawhi Leonard. The Phoenix Suns should request a meeting as well.

This offseason, the Phoenix Suns’ primary goal should be (and presumably is) to acquire a star to add to the roster.

The potential of a Big-Three centered around Devin Booker, second-year center Deandre Ayton, and a third legitimate star, would almost certainly place the team in the playoff picture and beyond.

Of the unusual number of stars potentially available this offseason, Kawhi Leonard is one of a select few who would seemingly be at the heart of the least amount of drama for any team who could acquire him, and might even be the easiest (which is obviously a relative term) star to acquire based on his generally congenial personality.

So when news broke on June 6, that the New York Knicks have asked and been granted a meeting with the superstar free agent, I couldn’t help but wonder: if they  can get a meeting, why can’t the Phoenix Suns?

Yeah, yeah, I know: New York is supposedly  at the heart of basketball in the NBA.

A franchise that hasn’t been relevant in decades, is somehow still more revered than any other franchise in the league save for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kawhi had been tied to the Knicks last season as well in trade discussions which has to account for something, although Greg Popovich decided on sending him to Toronto.

However, if Kawhi is not necessarily heart-set on joining the Knicks (or moving to New York in general), and is truly looking for the right  situation (then truthfully, he’d stay in Toronto), the Phoenix Suns are just as good of an option for him as the Knicks are, and, be honest with yourself: better.

To begin with, while the Knicks have the opportunity to sign two max free agents, it is nowhere near a foregone conclusion that they will – they haven’t signed  a star free agent since Amar’e Stoudemire, and look how well that era worked out for them.

The Suns have one max star already on the roster and the potential for a second star who has yet to reach a max contract as well, and Phoenix can very easily open up enough cap space for one max free agent.

James Jones:

"“Hey, New York:” literally every major available star has spurned you in free agency even though you have the most cap space of any team according to Sportrac. We know you have the third overall pick, but we will offer you the sixth pick for the 55th overall pick if you take Tyler Johnson‘s contract. Nooooo. We’re not signing Kawhi Leonard. *wink* *wink* Oh wait, this is in writing and not over the phone. You saw that ‘wink wink.’ Yes, we’re signing Kawhi… Alright, alright. We’ll throw in T.J. Warren as well, but we want a future first back! Fine, lottery protected. But you can’t have M.J. the goat! Yes, he is named after that  M.J. Sarver figured it was the closest we’d ever get… Great…Thanks.”"

All sarcasm aside, the ability to open the necessary cap space for Kawhi would be easy enough that even if the money was not available at the moment a contract was agreed upon, it’s not like he would have any reticence at agreeing to a deal as the ability for Phoenix to move the needed parts around would be anything but difficult.