Phoenix Suns: Ranking 4 best trade-deadline options

Phoenix Suns moves for the trade deadline: 2. Stay put; be happy

It’s quite possible the trade deadline comes and goes with no action in Phoenix.

That’s fine. The move here is to see whether any opportunity is too good to pass up.

Anyone who’s watched this team coalesce the past few months knows that they are seeing a team that should be able to reach the second round of the playoffs.

The Suns’ blowout of Memphis ran their record to 26-12, the best opening 38-game stretch since the 2007-08 edition also went 26-12.

Cam Payne, who has scored 13 points with 5.3 assists over his past four games, is more than capable of taking all the minutes at the point when Paul needs a break. It would be tough to find (or afford) a player who could supplant the quality of play Payne has delivered.

Dario Saric has proved a surprisingly valuable puzzle piece.

So what kind of opportunity are we talking about? How about LaMarcus Aldridge finding himself bought out and seeking a contender to join? He famously was close to joining the Suns before signing with the Spurs years ago, and may still hold Phoenix in high regard.

At the right price, Aldridge could at least defend the bigs a little better than Kaminsky does. He is a deadly midrange shooter and would not need to play heavy minutes.