Even if they do not trade for a superstar, Phoenix Suns fans would love to see James Jones pull off some sort of a deal that shakes things up and gives a little bit of hope.
Unfortunately there isn’t a whole lot out there for the Phoenix Suns to target at the moment, so for the first time in a while, James Jones could primarily be targeting more cap space for this summer, and/or draft picks – both of which would work to his advantage in his future attempts to acquire that next star this summer.
This piece is a series of both potential and legitimate trades the Phoenix Suns could make by the NBA’s trade deadline, some being more exciting than others, but all as likely as I could possibly conceive.
There are no “gotchya” trades in this post where I somehow pull a magic rabbit out of a hat and acquire, say, Chris Paul for a few second round picks (although, at least then the Suns would finally have their All-Star).
These are all serious and plausible, and as fair as I could come up with, each one of them worked out on ESPN’s Trade Machine for contractual accuracy.
As I am writing this introduction and putting the final touches on the post, it is now rumored that the Phoenix Suns are in talks with the Detroit Pistons for Luke Kennard. Unfortunately in my page about the Pistons, I did not have Kennard coming back to the Valley of the Suns – although I am certainly not against it.
So while I was tempted to go back and make a change to cheat and come off as a great predictor of the future, I am sticking to my gut and the original deal that I had conceived.
Atlanta Hawks
Out right now, Jabari Parker would fill the Phoenix Suns’ need at power forward. Although not a great 3-point shooter (just 27.0%), he is more athletic and a better scorer than Dario Saric, providing much-needed offensive help to Devin Booker and company.
The acquisition would let Monty Williams move Saric to the bench where he will not only thrive, but the team will benefit with new-found depth that they currently do not have. If Kelly Oubre too is moved to the bench, than the second unit will have a tremendous boost that should push Phoenix into more wins down the stretch.
This deal is just a one-for-one as Atlanta is already out of the playoff race, and while they can replace Parker with Aron Baynes (who would probably play pretty well alongside Trae Young), the loss of a decent scorer will allow the Hawks to sink a little bit further, and tank for a better pick.
Boston Celtics
Do you think that the Celtics would like Aron Baynes right about now?
I bet they do – especially as they are a team who could be sneaky good come playoff time and make a real run at the Eastern Conference crown. Added depth with the story of bringing an old friend home would give them a boost in the nasty Eastern Conference.
James Jones should propose Baynes for Grant WIlliams and Brad Wanamaker and continued salary cap relief. With this deal, the Phoenix Suns would get power forward and backup point guard depth, while moving on from a player who never lived up to the hype of his first 11 games.
Granted Williams and Wanamaker are young and unaccomplished, they are better than who the roster in those positions at the moment, which should help the Suns down the stretch – while also both free agents after this season which will maintain the large cap space that James Jones has created.
Brooklyn Nets
While I was initially targeting Joe Harris here, I absolutely could not find a trade that worked for both teams, especially in regards to what the Nets would get back considering their tremendous salary cap issues (they literally are working in the red with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, and Spencer Dinwiddie under contract).
Aside from Harris, the Nets basically have nothing that the Phoenix Suns would want, or what Brooklyn can take back, so we’re going to go with our first of a couple of second round pick swaps here.
We’ll presume that the Nets want a slightly higher second round pick than the one they’ve got and will be willing to swap Denver’s and Indiana’s (they hold each) for the Suns’ – which will be in the low 20’s when all is said and done.
Phoenix can then use those two seconds in other deals on draft day.
Charlotte Hornets
Marvin Williams isn’t the kind of impact power forward one would hope James Jones could acquire, but, again, he is better than what the Phoenix Suns have and will help the team down the stretch run by moving Saric to the bench.
This too isn’t a very sexy trade being that the only other moving piece is Tyler Johnson, however, like Brooklyn, there just isn’t a whole lot to work with there.
By acquiring Williams, Phoenix creates a little bit of depth at power forward while also maintaining the cap space that would have been created in Johnson’s contract expiring – even saving Robert Sarver a couple of million of dollars with the contract discrepancies.
Chicago Bulls
The prize with this trade is 22-year-old Lauri Markkanen, the former Arizona product who showed a ton of promise last season before regressing just a tad in 2019-20. Adding him as a stretch-four would be tremendous for the Suns’ offense, and he instantly becomes another piece that Jones can build around for the foreseeable future.
Sometimes you have to give up talent to obtain talent, and Phoenix will have to offer both Kelly Oubre and Mikal Bridges to get Marrkanen – while also taking on Cristiano Felicio‘s bulky contract (which runs through next season).
But to add a player that probably will take a step forward in a good offense right away, and looks to be the kind of go-to scorer over time that the team desperately needs, he could be the catalyst to the franchise becoming a regular playoff participant beginning potentially as early as this season, but likely by next year for sure.
Cleveland Cavaliers
You know how much I love Kevin Love.
But while I was very high on the Phoenix Suns acquiring him early in the year when it looked like they were much more of a sure thing for the playoffs, I have soured on he (and his gigantic contract) a bit.
That said, for the sake of argument, he is still a near 20/12 guy, and easily the best stretch-four available.
So, Tyler Johnson and Aron Baynes for Kevin Love, their 2021 first round pick (their 2020 pick is allocated 11-30 to the Pelicans, and the presumption is that they would not want to trade the right’s to the 1-10 because they are angling to fall in that range) and Milwaukee’s 2022 first round pick.
The Suns would be taking on a TON of salary here (over $100 million beginning at the trade deadline), but they are getting a star, albeit on the downside of his career, while Cleveland is getting massive and instant cap relief.
The picks help swallow that horse pill – and so too would the winning.
Dallas Mavericks
James Jones: “Um, yes, we’re inquiring about Luka Doncic‘s availability. We’re willing to trade former first overall pick Deandre Ayton…Hello? Hello?”
At first I was thinking of basically using Kelly Oubre as a chance to get another first round pick, so I focused on Courtney Lee and Dallas’ 2020 first for Oubre and cap space (Lee’s contract is up after this season).
Unfortunately, Dallas can’t trade another first round pick until 2025 at the earliest, so, never mind.
I was also thinking of Aron Baynes for a couple of second rounders, but they can’t take anyone on without giving up equal salary and they don’t have anyone on an expiring contract meaning that Phoenix would have to take on a contract they don’t need or want.
So, swapping of seconds: Phoenix’s 2020 second for Dallas’ and either Houston or Golden State’s, whosoever is better.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are making a solid push towards the Western Conference Finals and aren’t going to just give anything up willy-nilly. Not only that, but aside from the likes of Jamal Murray or Nikola Jokic (who Denver isn’t moving), there really isn’t anyone on the roster the Suns would want.
Therefore, Torrey Craig‘s expiring contract (which they would immediately waive) for Ty Jerome.
Yeah, Phoenix would be giving up on Jerome really early, but they don’t have time to develop a backup point guard and can use the additional cap space this offseason (Jerome is signed for three more years) on a veteran backup who can help right away.
If only Ryan McDonough had drafted either Murray or Jokic, then Denver might be calling Phoenix for players right now, and not the other way around…
Detroit Pistons
Earlier in the year I made the argument that the Phoenix Suns should target Blake Griffin.
But now that he is out for the season, that ain’t going to happen.
I too would not be entirely against trading for Andre Drummond if he could be used in the right manner.
However, nothing makes more sense than Derrick Rose for Aron Baynes.
Rose is adding money to the salary cap next year (which I have been primarily attempting to avoid in these trades), but with how good he can be, h e (maybe more than anyone else discussed yet) helps Phoenix right away, and truthfully, the Suns could add him in a trade this summer again too as he will have a market because of his veteran value (and 2021 expiring contract).
For the Pistons, the trade creates more cap space for them (something they are trying to do in a huge way by dumping off Drummond) as well as helps to expedite the tanking.
Golden State Warriors
Great Googly Moogly: the Phoenix Suns can actually acquire D’Angelo Russell.
Let’s do it, and take it seriously: Kelly Oubre, Aron Baynes, Jevon Carter, and a 2nd round pick for good measure.
Sure, Golden State doesn’t get to see what the team was like with all put together since both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will be gone until after the trade deadline, however they are getting Oubre who would pair really well with Draymond Green making for a nasty wing set who will play well with Steph and Klay when they finally do return.
The Phoenix Suns finally get to pair Booker up with one of his two boys (we’ll discuss the other soon enough), and keeps both players away from Minnesota.
Houston Rockets
The Phoenix Suns do not need another center, per se, but it also wouldn’t hurt to have Capela and Ayton on the defensive end of the court.
Sometimes it’s fun to have an embarrassment of riches at a position (just ask Jerry Colangelo about having Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash on the roster at the same time).
On offense, for now, Ayton can stay at the mid-range (which is what he likes anyway, for some reason), while defensively, the two would vacuum up every rebound. Ayton too can actually let Capela be the primary rebounder so Deandre can burst out more on fast breaks.
Plus Capela becomes another trade chip in potentially making a run at someone like Karl-Anthony Towns this summer while potentially keeping Ayton in that deal, or using him in a subsequent deal.
And you thought I was going to wait until Minnesota to bring Towns back up, didn’t you?
Indiana Pacers
How about Kelly Oubre for T.J. Warren?
Or not.
While the Pacers would love to fleece the Suns again, they really do not have anything that Phoenix would want. T.J. McConnell would be nice as a veteran backup point guard, but he is under contract through next season as well which means that James Jones would lose some of his well-structured cap flexibility there.
Indiana too doesn’t even really have second round picks to move in a pick swap either because they are literally all tied up from previous trades through 2026.
So Elie Okobo for Alize Johnson
Johnson would be immediately waived and the Suns would keep someone like Jared Harper to hold down the roster spot while creating a bit more cap space this summer by losing Okobo’s long-term contract.
Los Angeles Clippers
For some reason the Phoenix Suns have been tied to Ivica Zubac.
But, why?
Not only is he not a stretch center, but while just a backup center, he would add over $6 million to the cap in each of the next three years beyond this summer.
Acquiring him without another major piece (but who?) is just not logical.
The Suns could do a bit of a salary dump with Kelly Oubre for Maurice Harkless and Patrick Patterson as well as the Clippers’ first round pick this season though.
This sucks for Phoenix, but keeping Bridges in the starting lineup and using Harkless off the bench might work while not only taking back a first but also creating around $40 million in salary cap space this summer.
Los Angeles Lakers
This is a big one: Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins (who would be immediately waived), Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker (who would also immediately be waived), for Kelly Oubre, Aron Baynes, and Mikal Bridges.
Yes, the Phoenix Suns are now basically wingless, but moving Booker to the three with Danny Green sliding into the two could work with Dario Saric then coming off the bench behind Kuzma as a quasi-small/power forward.
With this deal, Phoenix locks up a lot of their current cap space with the addition of Green through next season (a pretty redundant player with Devin Booker), but get their power forward of the future in Kuzma, the addition of both which makes the Suns better right away and give a lot of hope for the very near future.
The Lakers get another scorer in Oubre, a good, and young, 3-and-D player in Bridges, with front court depth in Aron Baynes to help them in their Championship run.
Memphis Grizzlies
Pretty much a salary dump, the Phoenix Suns are hurt right away with the loss of Kelly Oubre.
However, Jae Crowder is a better 3-point shooter which would help stretch the floor right now, while also not being quite as ball-dominant as Oubre.
Grayson Allen also gives the Suns additional shooting from the backcourt through next season.
In the end though, what James Jones is buying is cap space that will total around $40 million again.
What he would do with such cap space is beyond me at the moment, but I am sure it could be used positively somehow.
Miami Heat
Aron Baynes and Chiek Diallo for Meyers Leonard and the least favorable 2022 second round pick from between Philadelphia and Denver.
The Phoenix Suns would basically just be doing the Heat a solid, providing them with depth for the playoff run, and upgrading them at center while Phoenix gets to have a center come back in return, potentially helping the team still attempt to scratch and claw their way to the playoffs.
I wish there was someone else the Suns could potentially trade for, and my instinct was to target Goran Dragic, but Miami is soundly entrenched in the fourth seed in the playoffs and thus is fighting to maintain home court in the first round – they’re not giving up on their starting point guard.
Milwaukee Bucks
Contractually, Giannis Antetokounmpo for Devin Booker works, I’m just not so sure that the Bucks would make that trade.
Can’t hurt to ask though, right?
At this rate too, with the Bucks owning home court throughout the playoffs, they aren’t likely to want to really move anyone for fear of screwing up what they have built, and would only want to add small pieces so as to not upset the balance that the Championship-capable team is thriving on.
Therefore, let’s have some fun: Jevon Carter for Dragan Bender.
Bender has looked really good in the G-League, while not getting any time on the court for Milwaukee.
So let’s bring him back on his current two-way contract, and see how he fares in Monty Williams’ system and with their coaching (in particular, Mark Bryant).
Minnesota Timberwolves
Let’s give the Timberwolves an offer for Karl-Anthony Towns they cannot refuse.
I’ll get back to you on what it is at another time…
However, if there is any hope of acquiring him in the near-term, Towns needs to pull a Goran Dragic, like, today, and demand a trade.
When that happens, James Jones can be the first call and offer Kelly Oubre, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges for Towns, then this summer, work on a way to land D’Angelo Russell.
In this current trade, Phoenix can even throw in their first round pick as well to help sweeten the pot.
Towns is, of course, the jewel in every Suns fan’s eye, representing the hope that we all have that Devin Booker will remain here for a very long time.
It has to start in Minnesota though, and then Jones has to offer a trade the Timberwolves just cannot refuse.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are both a team that does not have players that they would be willing to trade and that the Phoenix Suns would really want (of course, the Suns want Zion Williamson, but then again, so does everyone else), and a team that doesn’t want to upset the roster too much with their still having a chance at making a late playoff push.
So, let’s help them make that push and trade Kelly Oubre for Derrick Favors and the Lakers’ 2021 first round pick (which is 8-30 protected this year and then unprotected in 2022).
The deal gives the Suns even more cap flexibility this offseason because of the loss of Oubre’s $14+ million for next season, while also acquiring a valuable first round pick, which will not be received next season, but will be available come 2022 – a very good future trade chip.
New York Knicks
It actually really sucks that Marcus Morris has a prior (broken) relationship with the Phoenix Suns because, aside from him being a trouble-maker both on and off the court, he is exactly what the roster needs right now: another scorer who can shoot and play the four while also working on an expiring deal.
I suppose James Jones and Robert Sarver could ask him if he would be willing to play here, although probably not. Neither Sarver nor Morris seem to be the type that can forgive and forget – something that has hurt the Suns’ current owner in the past.
That said, the Phoenix Suns could still trade for Morris but demand a second round pick just to get him out of the Knicks’ hair, while sending over Tyler Johnson to make the contracts work.
Jones would then immediately waive Morris (why both even calling him), and move on.
Eh. I know it’s pretty lame, but it’s really the best deal that can be done with New York.
I mean, do you really want Frank Ntilikina?
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder were not supposed to be there, and yet here they are, in the playoffs, and with the potential to be a four (or even three)-seed in the Western Conference.
Like Milwaukee before them, they are not looking to subtract but only want to add to try and vault themselves into first round home court advantage territory.
And the Phoenix Suns can help get them there by offering depth at both power forward and center while only taking on an expiring contract in Andre Roberson – as well as a 2020 first round pick for the help.
Phoenix, of course, loses a lot of front court depth in this deal, but maybe if it did come down to this, James Jones can find a way to add another piece to help make up for it (or Frank Kaminsky can finally come back healthy and help out that was as well).
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are terrible, and yet they are still holding onto the 8th seed in the playoffs.
The Eastern Conference really sucks.
As much as Suns fans might want Aaron Gordon, the Magic are likely not going to even consider trading him until the summer while they continue to attempt to make another run at the postseason – as futile at it would be.
So, here the Suns are, shooting for the acquisition of second round picks, hoping to nab as many chips that can be used for potential other trades: Dario Saric for Khem Birch and the Magic’s and Lakers’ 2020 second round picks.
Phoenix helps the Magic make that push to the playoffs while acquiring two seconds which hopefully would not be kept but used as trade chips in subsequent deals over the summer.
Philadelphia 76ers
I tried for a fun trade where the Phoenix Suns acquired Ben Simmons, but it wasn’t possible without a third team and that too was getting far too too complicated for a trade post who’s goal was at least being as realistic as possible.
So, again, James Jones is looking for draft picks while helping a playoff team strengthen themselves, by trading Aron Baynes for Kyle O’Quinn, Raul Neto and Oklahoma City’s 2020 1-20 protected first round pick.
The pick would probably be kept by Phoenix, although it could be packaged with their own (presumably if they are making this trade) lottery pick to move up.
Aron Baynes is an improvement over O’Quinn, and Neto just helps with the contracts and would likely be immediately waived.
Portland Trail Blazers
Caleb Swanigan can only be traded by himself so there was no way to get either Dario Saric or Aron Baynes to the Blazers without taking back an extended contract or two – which I have been intentionally avoiding with these trades.
Plus the Blazers do not have a second round pick until 2026, so they can’t even do a second round pick swap as I have proposed in other trades.
Therefore, there is literally nothing to see here other than Jaylen Hoard for Tariq Owens.
So, there you go.
James Jones should have made a push to sign Carmelo Anthony when he had a chance.
Sacramento Kings
One of the few draft picks that Ryan McDonough got right, he then traded for one of his absolute worst draft picks ever: Marquese Chriss.
And now the Phoenix Suns would love to get him back – and should make a run at him.
James Jones should look to trade Aron Baynes and Mikal Bridges for Bogdan Bogdanovic – who will be a restricted free agent.
To make that work, Monty Williams would then move Booker to the three and Oubre to the four for a very long and flexible starting lineup.
Bogdan is probably going to demand around $15 million a year beginning in 2020-21, but by having his restricted free agency rights, they will have the best opportunity to sign him.
San Antonio Spurs
Is there actually anyone on the San Antonio Spurs who the Phoenix Suns would want?
Actually, no – at least not at the long-term salary retention it would cost to make such a deal (LaMarcus Aldridge, in particular)
So, a 2020 pick swap (Phoenix’s will be higher) with the Suns getting the right to swap 2021 as well.
It’s very little, to nothing, but with Kawhi Leonard now in Los Angeles, there is no one and nothing else James Jones would want to target.
Toronto Raptors
Speaking of Kawhi Leonard, who would have thought that after leaving the Toronto Raptors high and dry that they would still potentially win their Division and at least at the moment hold down the second best record in the Eastern Conference?
The Phoenix Suns would be helping the Raptors secure that Division title and thus home court through at least the Semifinals by offering them Dario Saric and Aron Baynes for Stanley Johnson (who has a player option for $3.8 million next season), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Malcolm Miller (who will be immediately waived), Chris Boucher (who will also immediately be waved), and the Raptors’2020 first round pick.
Neither would start for Toronto, but they would also both be tremendous depth options for a team that could use all the help it can get as they head into the playoffs.
The Suns, of course, get another first round pick that can be used either as is, or in a trade.
Utah Jazz
Like so many others before them, the Utah Jazz are a strong playoff team who would only look to add without losing anything significant, and at least out West, they might also prove to be the Lakers’ biggest obstacle to a title.
Emmanuel Mudiay and Royce O’Neale do absolutely nothing for the Jazz, so Phoenix will take them on as a little bit of depth (or even waive them both immediately) for Dario Saric, who helps out a good playoff team for the stretch regular season run, and even a deep run into the playoffs.
The Jazz don’t have a first round pick this year, and since they can’t swap next year’s pick, Phoenix will just have to wait until 2023 for a first round pick, or they can demand Golden State’s 2021 second round pick since Utah doesn’t have one this year either.
Washington Wizards
This doesn’t help the Suns a whole lot, but it does help boost Washington back into the playoff picture in the East.
And, hey: it would feel good to help Bradley Beal out after he too was snubbed in the All-Star selection process.
By acquiring Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, and Cheick Diallo, the Washington Wizards suddenly have a lot of front court depth to help muscle their way into the eight-seed.
Phoenix does get back Ian Mahinmi as a literal body in the post, as well as a lottery protected first round pick in 2020, which will convert to a 1-10 protected 2021 pick (which should be transferred then with the eventual return of John Wall).
Not the greatest trade in the world for the Phoenix Suns now, but at least in regards to the cap space gained as well as the first round pick acquired, about the best James Jones can do with the Washington Wizards, all things considered.