3 Targets for the Phoenix Suns to Pursue at the Trade Deadline

The Phoenix Suns are putting together another masterpiece this year. With a few strokes of the paintbrush, they strung together 18 straight victories a few weeks ago. Coloring in all white spots and polishing off the corners, they’ve also included marquee wins against the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Already halfway through the regular season, you can almost see the picture: a team racing back toward the NBA Playoffs not as the “feel good story” or “new team” this time around, but as a lethal unit seeking revenge.

With his increased efficiency accounted for, Devin Booker finds himself enjoying one of his finest seasons to date. Deandre Ayton successfully rekindled the fire he brought to the playoffs last year, and Chris Paul remains that savvy veteran—carving up defense each night like a hot knife.

Cameron Johnson’s emergence as a top tier 3-point shooter has their offense humming even when the starters hit the bench. JaVale McGee adds to that as well, proving to be one of offseason’s most underrated signings.

All that wrapped up into one product and held together by a few other pieces has the Suns sitting atop the NBA’s throne with a league-best 31-9 record.

But with the NBA trade deadline now less than a month away, that does not invite the Suns to just sit tight and shoo away any opportunities to improve the team further. Right before the deadline last year, Phoenix acquired Torrey Craig, who ended up playing an integral role for the team especially during the postseason.

With the chance to add one or more similar glue guys this week, the Suns need to keep an eye out for these three players becoming available.

*** This report does not include Thaddeus Young with Jalen Smith being the cheaper and statistically better option to play power forward right now ***

Phoenix Suns Trade Deadline Target: Terrence Ross

Terrence Ross 2021-22 Stats: 12.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.2 APG (.416/.313/.870)

The Orlando Magic’s openness to trade swingman Terrence Ross might be the NBA’s worst kept secret. As a veteran role player, he sticks out like a sore thumb on a team clearly looking to rebuild.

Ross simply does not fit Orlando’s timeline and realized it immediately after they traded away Aaron Gordon last year, leaving him as the only long standing veteran on the team.

But with the Suns, his identity as an aging, yet useful sparkplug off the bench fits more adequately. With Mikal Bridges still needing a backup and Phoenix always looking for more veteran leadership, Ross checks both those boxes as a 30-year-old forward.

Still with some speed and bounce, even being a former dunk contest winner, Ross also promises to help fuel Phoenix’s fast break oriented offense. He can break through at any point in transition and finish over just about anyone, weaponizing the Suns offense to an even greater extent.

Ross also finds himself on a tear lately. So far in January, he is averaging 21.3 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent shooting from three, both up significantly from his season totals. He seems to be polishing himself off just in time for trade season, and the Suns might want to take a look.

Phoenix Suns Trade Target: Cory Joseph

Cory Joseph 2021-22 Stats: 7.5 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.1 RPG (.457/.417/.846)

Cameron Payne remains an important ball-handler for this team off the bench, but with his field goal and 3-point percentage both significantly down this year, and his turnover rate at a career-high, the Suns might want to add a bit more insurance behind Chris Paul.

Into the fold steps Cory Joseph.

As another veteran on a young team, Joseph belongs elsewhere, and the Pistons surely want to give more minutes to franchise cornerstones Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes at point guard.

For this season, Joseph averages fair numbers for a point guard off the bench, able to both facilitate and score. However, his shooting numbers look the most encouraging especially with regard to Payne’s issues this year, shooting above 40.0 percent from three.

Joseph also resembles a solid defender and despite having played for Detroit, a team which often finds itself well out of games before the final buzzer, he has illustrated an ability to hit clutch shots from time to time this year. He also gives the Suns championship experience having won a title with the Spurs in 2014.

His cheap contract makes him easy for the Suns to acquire if they were to part ways with players like Elfird Payton and Abdel Nader. If Phoenix threw in a second round pick, the Pistons would surely take the deal, allowing everyone to walk away feeling like winners.

Phoenix Suns Trade Deadline Target: Justin Holiday

Justin Holiday 2021-22 Stats: 10.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.6 APG (.393/.354/.839)

The Suns do not have too many assets to throw at Indiana for Justin Holiday, so a trade between both parties only works if Indiana fully commits to a rebuild, does not get home-run offers, and then James Jones really comes through to apply the pressure.

But as another wing player, Holiday adds more depth to this Phoenix roster at its thinnest spot. Although his skills extend out at the defensive end as well, he represents one of the league’s better catch-and-shoot guys.

https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1465100640959430661?s=20

So far this year, Holiday ranks top-30 in catch-and-shoot points per game. His percentages might not look like that of a knockdown sniper’s, but Holiday’s offensive identity as a glue guy who shoots it when you kick it out to him still presents him as an ideal fit for this Phoenix team.

If trade talks do ensue with the Pacers, Suns fans might want the team to instead go after Craig, bringing him back to close out the season exactly like last year. That certainly sounds like a worthy pursuit with Craig as a beloved player and true building block for last season.

But Holiday does embody the more dynamic player with his offensive bag being just a bit deeper. The Suns need to call on him first, and if the Pacers do not budge for whatever reason, then start asking about Craig.