The Phoenix Suns have more than a couple of things in their favor as the March 25 trade deadline approaches.
The most important item: the quality and upside the team has shown over its past 46 games.
The Suns’ 34-12 run since the league restarted last year shows they don’t necessarily need to swing big at the trade deadline, but there are moves to consider.
From shooters to rim protectors, the Phoenix Suns’ options figure to tempt GM James Jones and the personnel department.
Just survey the lay of the land.
Seems obvious, but there is always the temptation of hitting the panic button and leaping before you look.
The next seven days will bring a sliding scale of options. Some won’t be acceptable; others could find relevancy.
The Suns no longer have their mid-level exception, used in the acquisition of Jae Crowder, but they do have their Bi Annual exception.
The most efficient plan includes using the BAE to ensure they have the advantage in acquiring a buyout candidate.
While teams without the BAE can offer only a minimum, the Suns could throw the extra money at one, so Phoenix, now a preferred destination for buyout players and those who could help choose their destination, should be prepared to get something done quickly.
The Suns already have a comfortable, affordable and talented deep end of the bench, so the urgency to gain further depth is not as high as that of other contenders.
And the team is undeniably competitive, as evidenced by the unanimous amount of respect shown from around the NBA community.
That’s the first move: wait it out and scan the buyout list, don’t force anything but be prepared to pull the trigger if the right fit becomes available.
Most industry insiders don’t expect Phoenix to make a splash, but there is no doubt that Jones will closely monitor any option that makes the Suns more formidable now — without sacrificing the team’s promising future.
Phoenix Suns moves for the trade deadline: 4. Acquire shooters
The team should test the waters looking to go strong to acquire shooting depth.
Suns fans know that poor shooting can doom a playoff run — or an entire decade.
That said, this group is on fire, hitting 47 of 83 in the win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night — 56.6% — and, entering Wednesday’s games was second in the NBA in field-goal percentage at .489.
While a healthy serving of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, playoff-savvy Jae Crowder, Dario “Steph Curry” Saric from long range and the two Cam shooting engine seem to offer enough marksmanship, basketball can be funny, and we’ve all seen things go cold in a hurry.
Langston Galloway and Abdel Nader have shown flashes, but the pre-trade-deadline market could yield more help.
Jones surely has his list of the best shooters who may become available, and there are a few names that could stir interest.
The most attractive — if long shot — possibility is a buyout of J.J. Redick. There is no doubt that at this stage of his career, he’s looking to be part of a strong playoff contender.
He’s not really moving the New Orleans Pelicans forward, with 8.7 points per game on only .364 shooting from 3-point range. He’ll turn 37 in June and has missed a week with a heel injury.
A change of scenery and the prospect of an extended playoff run serve as valuable recruiting tools.
New Orleans may be ready to set him free, and the cost to the Suns may prove to be digestible, if not appetizing.
Phoenix Suns moves for the trade deadline: 3. Fill that last spot
The roster stands at 14 players as of Wednesday.
This doesn’t mean parting with any players or much money; just the extra guy for added depth.
The real reason is that there may be a player who offers a little more than what Jalen Smith — or even Jevon Carter — may bring during the playoffs.
Perhaps he’s bringing a few years’ worth of experience to the team so that, in an emergency situation (injuries to Ayton and/or Kaminsky), the Suns would not have to cross their fingers and ask Smith for 20 or more quality minutes.
This low-risk, high-reward “break glass in case of emergency” move would offset the lack of playoff experience, too.
After Chris Paul and Jae Crowder, it’s pretty pedestrian.
Booker, Cam Johnson, Galloway, Ayton and Mikal Bridges have not played in the postseason, while Kaminsky and Cameron Payne each have had only a taste.
The team has received — and will continue to receive — volumes of information and education from Paul and Crowder, but one more voice couldn’t hurt.
If nothing else, it could ultimately help the team and would certainly placate fans who can’t stand inaction at the deadline.
While the team will have to address key issues during the coming offseason, there are no expiring contracts that could or should be moved; there aren’t going to be teams clamoring for the Suns’ meager draft-pick offerings, since they don’t appear headed for the lottery.
The market should be full of fringy guys who could make sense. Wayne Ellington, George Hill, Trevor Ariza and others could fit.
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.
Phoenix Suns moves for the trade deadline: 1. Grab the backup center
The Suns should jump into the backup center pool.
It will be interesting to see the players who ultimately are bought out and land on the open market over the next week.
When the reality finally defeats the speculation, we can really examine the best options.
For now, the concentration is on players such as JaVale McGee, Andre Drummond and Hassan Whiteside.
And, as mentioned in No. 2 above, see what price tag LaMarcus Aldridge carries.
As we’ve noted previously, while McGee would certainly fill the backup center/energy guy/rim protector role adequately, Whiteside is the clear favorite if he’s available, amenable and affordable.
Why do the Suns need to seriously consider making this move? The Saric small-ball 5 plan is working well — especially with Saric stretching defenders with his 3-point accuracy — but the playoffs bring problems at the other end of the floor.
Anthony Davis figures to be healthy, so the Lakers are still the class of the West.
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic is virtually unguardable — for Ayton and Saric — and bringing aboard another six fouls could only help. Especially if Whiteside is the one in possession of those six fouls.
McGee, Aldridge, Whiteside.
Assuming the buyouts are in place, all are worthwhile pursuits to help solve the weakness at the defensive end.