Phoenix Suns: 3 Players Who Won’t Finish 2021-22 Season on the Team

Phoenix Suns Players Likely to be Traded this Season: Abdel Nader

The Suns signed Abdel Nader with their bird rights exception this summer, welcoming him back to the team even after barely playing last year due to a lingering knee injury. Having suited up for just 24 games with Phoenix and already certain to play behind Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, Nader’s place on the Suns feels very unknown at this time, naturally jeopardizing his position with the team.

With this considered, if a big-name free agent were to reach a buyout agreement with their old team down the line, like what happened with Andre Drummond last year, Nader embodies the first person to cut should the Suns need any extra room.

Phoenix still owns an additional roster spot to fill, putting a one-man buffer between Nader and his potential exit from the team for now. However, significant time still stands between the Suns and the buyout market’s opening, during which they could easily fill that slot and push Nader back onto the cliff.

During the games he did play though, Nader averaged a modest 6.7 points per game while shooting a more noteworthy 41.9 percent from outside. If Nader stays healthy and continues to shoot well, he might swap positions as the “first man out” with Elfrid Payton or Frank Kaminsky, depending on the position played by whichever bought out player they chose to pursue.

But for now, Nader sits below the rest. Like with Saric, this comes not due to any disappointing play on Nader’s behalf, but rather just the business of the game.