3 Trade Deadline Deals Involving Suns Big Man Dario Saric

An NBA championship requires all hands on deck, and with the Phoenix Suns sailing in that direction, they need contributions coming in from all their roster spots. Unfortunately, that leaves the beloved but injured big man Dario Saric as trade bait for the next few weeks as we move toward the February 10th deadline.

With Saric having torn his ACL during last year’s NBA Finals, the odds stand heavily against him making a return to play this year. Due to that, he comes as no use to a Suns team currently switched onto “win now” mode.

Saric’s banged up knee also makes him valuable only to the small fraction of teams who have already waved their white flags and started looking toward next year. Despite possessing starting-level skills as a career 11.7 point, 2.0 assist, and 5.9 rebound per game player, at the end of the day, he still resembles a guy unable to make it up and down the court.

Put simply, trading Super Dario will still be a rather complicated task. His talent makes him an intriguing option for the right team, but the risk factor attached to his injury cannot just go tossed out the window.

However, a few deals remain not just possible, but highly beneficial for both the Suns and whoever they cook up negations with. Looking at these three mock exchanges, the Suns need to pursue something similar to at least one of them, bidding farewell to Saric and bringing that last set of hands on deck.

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.

Phoenix Suns trade Dario Saric to the San Antonio Spurs, get Thaddeus Young

How about one more swing at Thaddeus Young? His numbers and overall contributions to the Spurs this year remain minimal, but with Saric literally providing nothing, he still arrives as an upgrade for the Suns by default.

To complete the deal, Phoenix offers the rebuilding Spurs two pieces that play into their timeline quite nicely. Frank Kaminsky first comes along as a cheap development project. The Spurs love taking on such players more than anybody, making their appetite for the breakout forward larger than anyone else’s.

But Saric represents the true prize for San Antonio. As a young player still at just 27-years-old, but also with extended playoff run between his days with Phoenix and the Philadelphia 76ers, he resembles the perfect guy to lead the Spurs through their rebuild with both a promising future and winning experience.

However, with Saric possessing an extra year on his contract, the Suns need to sell San Antonio on both involving him in their future and Kaminsky’s likelihood to re-sign especially if their front office hears rumblings of any better deals coming from other teams.

But if the Suns come to the table alone with Saric, Kaminsky, and another second rounder to polish things off, it makes sense for the Spurs to agree. Young enters free agency after this year, so rather than letting him walk for nothing, this trade grants them an opportunity to at least collect some sort of reward.

Phoenix Suns trade Dario Saric to the Houston Rockets, get D.J. Augustin

Committed to a rebuild and with guards Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Josh Christopher in the fold, it makes zero sense for the Houston Rockets to continue handing journeyman ball-handler D.J. Augustin double-digit minutes each night.

Meanwhile, the Suns need some help at the point guard spot behind Chris Paul. Cameron Payne continues to play at an inconsistent level, and Elfird Payton resembles a true non-factor, averaging his fewest assists, fewest points since his rookie year, and his most turnovers per 36 minutes this season.

But if Augustin comes to the desert, everyone’s problems go away, as the Rockets attain more freedom to develop their players and the Suns add some ball-handling insurance. At the same time, Phoenix saves some cap room and grants Houston another young and talented player to build around next year in Saric.

Locked up at the center spot with Alperen Sengun and Christian Wood, the potential combination at power forward of Kenyon Martin Jr. and Saric grants Houston perhaps the entire league’s most promising frontcourt core. The Rockets would likely agree to this idea immediately and even proceed to take Payton as a filler to balance out the money.

Augustin then takes Payton’s spot within the rotation while also becoming a “stay ready” guy for Payne’s off-nights. His 5.5 points and 2.2 assists per game this year might not jump out at you, but his .414/.415/.868 shooting slashes are all better than that of Payne’s and Payton’s for the year.

His veteran presence and poise especially come playoff time can only help the Suns as well. Adding Augustin comes at no expense to Phoenix, and resembles a home-run addition from all angles.