The Phoenix Suns know nothing of unvaccinated players, unavailable talent, or the annoying fluctuation between having a three-headed monster…and a two-headed one. Across the country though, the title-favorited the Brooklyn Nets currently find themselves dealing with all those factors, as they continue to dismiss Kyrie Irving from the team until he complies with state health and safety codes.
Through it all though, the Nets still look fearsome. Kevin Durant continues to make anyone still refusing to call him the league’s best player look foolish, averaging 29.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, while shooting a ridiculous 58. percent from the field.
James Harden struggled during the season’s first few games, rehabbing his hamstring and adjusting to the league’s new rules, but now looks back to his former self. In his past five games, he put up two triple-doubles, as well as a 39-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Brooklyn owns a 9-4 record, tied for the Eastern Conference’s top spot—which largely reflects the team’s unmatched talent from top to bottom.
The Nets undoubtedly still want Irving back as soon as possible. His return almost guarantees them a trip to the NBA Finals. But alas, that might never happen, and with the Nets surging even without their Uncle Drew, they might soon feel inclined to cut their losses and deal him.
Although the Suns possess no need for Irving with “Point God” Chris Paul running their offense, they can still throw themselves into trade talks, still taking a backseat, but helping to push a trade through while walking away with some minor upgrades of their own.
Operating as a middle man to unchain the Nets and help another team land Irving, the Suns can shake things up with these three trades.
Phoenix Suns help send Kyrie Irving to the Pelicans, get Jaxson Hayes and Tomas Satoransky
With this transaction, the Suns finally cut free Dario Saric, who most foresee the Suns parting ways with at one point or another this year. Chandler Hutchison also leaves The Valley, but his impact means very little to the Suns right now as a two-way player.
Meanwhile, Jaxson Hayes and Tomas Satoransky come over from the bayou.
Just by being healthy, Hayes already strikes as an upgrade at power forward with Saric out for the season. His athleticism makes him an intriguing piece especially to pair with Paul as another lob threat beside JaVale McGee. Also with Ayton’s absence already extending longer than originally expected, Hayes’s presence adds some more insurance for this team down low, which might become important.
Satarnosky also comes over as a sweetener. You can never have too much shooting, and with him operating as another 3-point bomber, he only makes the Suns that much more dynamic at the offensive end.
Moving onto the big ticket items, New Orleans represents one of the few cities that might want to take a chance on Irving. Currently owning the league’s worst record, a shaky relationship with prodigy Zion Williamson, and an executive who allegedly fights his old coaches, the Pelicans desperately need something to turn their franchise around.
With Irving being one of the most gifted people to ever pick up a basketball, he embodies one of the only players able to make the immediate, and positive on-court impact which this team needs. This transaction also reunites David Griffin with Irving, who he originally drafted out of Duke.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn attains Jonas Valanciunas, who helps solidify the center position between Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. Saric also poises to help the Nets out big time next year should they fail to re-sign Griffin this summer.
Phoenix Suns help send Kyrie Irving to Dallas Mavericks, get James Johnson and Jalen Brunson
Playing as a point guard, but with the Mavericks running their offense through Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson finds himself under odd circumstances in Dallas right now. Currently averaging career highs with14.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game, he looks terribly undervalued out there, and makes for a fantastic upgrade from Elfird Payton.
As for James Johnson, he also looks underutilized with the Nets, making him an easy player for them to send packing. Although he will not play an expanded role with the Suns either, he adds some more muscle off the bench. He signed with Brooklyn just this summer though, so this trade would not be possible until mid-December.
For well over a year now, mock trades have tied Kristaps Porzingis to the Brooklyn Nets. Dallas apparently tried shopping him last year but to no avail. With him struggling to stay healthy once again though, it makes sense for them to try sending him away once more.
A front court featuring him and Durant makes Brooklyn’s floor spacing terrifying for opposing defenses, and he helps fill those same persisting gaps for the Nets at the center spot. The Nets can also better deal with his shaky injury history, possessing far more depth than Dallas.
This deal brings Porzingis back to New York City as well, where he started his career and became a true star. Payton also returns to the big apple, helping to take a few minutes of ball-handling pressure off Harden’s hands each night.
Sending Irving to Dallas upgrades their offense exponentially. The artistry between him and Doncic already feels breathtaking just to imagine. Also with Texas being the least likely state to ever enforce a vaccine mandate, the Mavericks represent the safest team for him to land with. Additionally, Saric heads out as an asset with similar traits to Porzingis, making him already compatible with Dallas’s offensive and defensive schemes.
Phoenix Suns help send Kyrie Irving to the Indiana Pacers, get Torrey Craig
When Phoenix let Torrey Craig walk last year, they did so strictly due to their stiff budget situation. But with other teams inquiring about Irving, a path for him back to the Valley is now clear, setting up a potentially easy win for the Suns at the negations table.
If this trade goes down, the Nets will also walk away feeling victorious. Myles Turner gives them that premier center and Justin Holiday grants them another wing presence. As something of a bonus, Holiday might also lend Brooklyn some secrets in slowing down his brother on the Milwaukee Bucks. Elfird Payton would likely but cut though, as the Suns only send him over to even out their cap situation.
Back to Irving though, he represents a tougher commodity to sell to Indiana than to the Mavericks or Pelicans. They already carry several talented guard, making Irving slightly less valuable on their end.
But still, the Pacers look like a middle-ground team right now. They play to win, and might make the postseason, but lack the talent to even come close to contending.
But adding Irving allows them to avoid a rebuild for at least one more year, so they might jump the gun and try to snatch him up. Completing this deal also reunites Irving with Caris LeVert, who grew close to Irving during their time with the Nets.
The Suns also send away Abdel Nader to complete this exchange. He tried to replace Craig within the rotation this year, but has struggled since. Although he comes through with some heads-up plays every now and then, Craig embodies the far more talented player, making this deal worth it.
This transaction is the least likely to come into fruition, and would also not be possible until mid-December. However, it still brings home a fan-favorite player, which certainly looks like a fun thing to try