Roster moves that could make the Phoenix Suns a playoff team in 2021
By Ryan Bawek
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There are a few names that will likely be free agents this summer that I did not include on this list for different reasons: Danilo Gallinari and Jerami Grant
Gallinari was fantastic this year for one of the biggest feel-good stories in the league in the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he will be 32 when next season starts and has always had durability issues. He also will be one of the hottest commodities in an underwhelming (that is putting it lightly) free agency crop and may command $20 mill+ for multiple years.
Grant would be a good addition, as a 26-year-old two-way athletic freak entering his prime (especially considering he shot 40% from three this season), but all indications point to the Nuggets bringing him back and letting 35-year-old Paul Millsap walk this off-season.
This is from Mike Singer of the Denver Post on January 31:
"“Do the Nuggets trust Grant to be their power forward of the future as was suggested at his introductory press conference? He is undersized for that position, but adds several components that Millsap can’t bring, like agility and shot blocking. My guess is that Grant will decline his player option and the Nuggets will do their best to re-sign him.”"
The Suns feel like a talented young power forward (and a legitimate backup point guard) away from bringing playoff basketball back to the Valley for the first time since Amar’e Stoudemire graced a Suns uniform in 2010.
dark. Next. The Suns should trade their 2020 lottery pick
They may need to be willing to trade the original “Valley Boy” Kelly Oubre to do it, though.