Why the Phoenix Suns should do it
This is the kind of trade that the Phoenix Suns need most: deal from a position of strength to fill in major holes at other positions.
In this case, the loss of T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson, small forwards, of whom the Suns have too many and still have second-year 3-and-D stud Mikal Bridges on the roster, is a worthy loss for Jones to have the opportunity to fill in their two gigantic holes at point guard and power forward with two young players – both who have had better careers to this point than Jackson.
Dennis Smith Jr. is only 21-years-old, and while not a strong shooter at the moment, is a solid distributor, under a rookie contract and thus can grow and develop with the young core of Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton for many years to come.
Kevin Knox was a target of Ryan McDonough’s in 2018 but ended up going to the Knicks. After one season in the league, Knox is still only 19-years-old but had a very solid offensive season for New York finishing with averages of 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 34.3% from 3 on 364 attempts.
The deal also saves Phoenix money – which plays big in how they handle the future of their current fourth wing, Kelly Oubre.
Phoenix Suns
Jackson and Warren will make a combined $18 million next season, whereas the combination of Knox and Smith Jr., will be around $7 million.
Furthermore, the Suns will trade the sixth overall pick. In this proposed deal, I could see the Pelicans passing on the sixth overall pick this season as they likely would not want to add three top-six picks and instead would take a future first round pick (presuming they would agree to some protections).
However, should the Suns’ pick be moved as well (which I am personally 100% okay with as I do not see any of the potential talent available at that position being worth taking the time to develop), the player’s salary will be approx. $4.8 million this season according to the NBA’s rookie scale.
The combined approximate savings of swapping Warren, Jackson, and the pick, for Smith and Knox is $15 million this coming season alone.
With so many fans fearing that Oubre might be offered too much money for the Suns to match in restricted free agency, the savings of these $15 million should be more than enough to cover that cost, all but guaranteeing his retainment.
Plus, according to Sportrac, the Phoenix Suns already have $22 million in “practical cap space,” space that could still allow them to go after other players in free agency, particularly to add veteran depth in key positions.
With the savings, Phoenix could potentially sign Ricky Rubio (who I wrote about recently) as a veteran counter-balance to the young Dennis Jones Jr., while also seeking a cheaper veteran power forward, possibly Anthony Tolliver (his best days were always with the Phoenix Suns anyway).
With this deal, a Phoenix Suns potential starting lineup would be:
PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Kelly Oubre/Mikal Bridges
PF: Kevin Knox
C: Deandre Ayton