3 non-Kevin Durant trade targets for the Phoenix Suns
By Karan Jain
Phoenix Suns should target Josh Hart
In the 2021/22 regular season, Josh Hart was one of five players to attempt at least six drives (min. ten games played) and have a field goal percentage over 57% on these shots. He sat alongside an elite club of slashers and drivers, including the likes of Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Combine this with Hart’s other complementary skills such as his shooting and defensive ability, and this is exactly the type of player the Suns need to target. Hart shot an absurd 56.8% from corner three-pointers last season, a skill that would be extremely useful if the former Villanova man was acquired by the Suns.
Highest Corner 3PT% among qualifying players in ‘21-‘22:
— NBA University (@NBA_University) July 18, 2022
1. Tyrese Maxey 57.6%
2. Josh Hart 56.8%
3. Kevin Durant 56.5%
4. Paul George 55.8%
5. Trae Young* 55.2%
6. Robert Covington 55.1%
7. Zach LaVine 52.1%
8. Jalen Brunson 50.0%
9. De’Anthony Melton 49.2%
10. Max Strus 49.2% pic.twitter.com/C4zLcCys9P
Hart produced some career-best from once traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Portland Trail Blazers in the CJ McCollum trade mid-season. With superstar Damian Lillard out injured, Hart and others were given the freedom to explore their offensive repertoires.
As a result, he averaged a career-high 19.9 points in 13 games with the Trail Blazers, doing so on over 50% from the floor and an extremely solid 37.3% from three.
Hart is also an extremely good rebounder for his size, having averaged eight rebounds per game in the 2020-21 season. For an average (ranked 13th) rebounding team last season, the Suns could do with some help in this department.
With the Trail Blazers looking to compete, acquiring the 27-year-old Hart will not be easy. However, with the abundance of wings that the Blazers have including the newly drafted Shaedon Sharpe, the Suns may have the assets to obtain the 6’4 wing.