Who might be available if the Phoenix Suns go star shopping?
By Kyle Manthe
D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell was the most popular name floating around the Phoenix Suns all summer long.
If it was not for him being signed-and-traded to the Golden State Warriors, he would not even be on this list at all.
Due to the nature of his acquisition by the Warriors, it is difficult to fully see what Russell would have done if Brooklyn had simply let him walk to make space for Kyrie Irving.
Even though Russell landed in a great situation, he still might find his name on the trade block before season’s end.
With Klay Thompson aiming for a return right around the All-Star break, that would be the time when the Warriors would no longer “need” Russell.
Phoenix Suns
He is too talented and expensive to come off of the bench and does not compliment Stephen Curry and Thompson enough to maximize their skills. This could lead to Golden State looking to move Russell to save money and add depth pieces that fit better around their stars.
Obviously the Suns signed Ricky Rubio in free agency, however it is not out of the realm of possibility that if things go sideways and the Suns end up shopping Rubio at the deadline, or even if they are trying to make a push and upgrade from Rubio to Russell, that James Jones could even end up sending Rubio to a third team.
Discussing the topic of D’Angelo Russell’s fit on the Suns would be beating the most dead horse in the Suns world this side of Booker vs Mitchell.
Obviously Russell’s fit would be shaky, unless strides are shown on defense in the coming months, however it is hard to deny that adding him would raise the ceiling of this team, make them younger and make their top star very happy.
Russell is on a four-year max contract but because he is only 23-years-old there is no reason for him to be coming at a major discount.
A trade for Russell would be a very costly one in terms of assets required. The Phoenix Suns do have those assets should they so choose to make a move, and there is a realistic chance that that opportunity will be out there soon enough.