3 Trade Deadline Deals Involving Suns Big Man Dario Saric

Phoenix Suns trade Dario Saric to the Portland Trail Blazers, get Larry Nance Jr.

With last week’s news about Damian Lillard’s coming out, the Blazers might already be looking toward next year. If that is true, then a player like Saric makes perfect sense for them.

Almost from the get-go, Larry Nance Jr. has struggled to fit in with this new Portland team, currently fielding his lowest minutes per game since the 2017-18 season. With the Blazers paying him roughly $10 million to barely play and average just 6.9 points per game, they would likely jump at an opportunity to part ways with the alleged Patrick Star lookalike.

In doing so by trading with the Suns for Saric, the Blazers maintain their trajectory to build around Lillard with him also expected to heal up by next year. They also create some much needed cap space to improve the team, and attain a different versatile big who might fit better than Nance Jr.

Meanwhile, the Suns attain a piece which fans have had their eyes on for some time. As a lob threat for Chris Paul, tough defender on the block, underrated passer, and additional floor spacer, Nance Jr. promises to fit well within Phoenix’s highly functioning basketball machine.

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Nance Jr. also belongs in a Suns uniform. With his father having played his first six and half NBA season in the desert, this represents something of a homecoming for him.

As a sweetener, Phoenix throws a second rounder into the mix as well. With that, this deal represents a true win-win exchange for both teams.