2 potential trades should the Phoenix Suns turn their attention to another gettable All-Star
Yesterday, before the Kevin Durant update, we dissected the Phoenix Suns‘ best and worst case results for big name trade candidates – Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell.
When examining the latter, there was no suggestion that the Suns should have any interest in the Utah Jazz guard. But while Phoenix and almost every other franchise are moving on from Durant after his recommittal to the Nets, should attention turn to the other All-Star player?
Should the Phoenix Suns inquire about All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, even if it’s simply a way of pressuring the New York Knicks to up their offer?
The Knicks have been the only prominent team in major discussions for Mitchell, aside from the Miami Heat who have a connection through Dwyane Wade and are routinely mentioned with big name trade candidates.
The Athletics‘ Shams Charania reported on the latest dealings between the Knicks and the Jazz regarding Mitchell. Most notably, Utah have rejected the Knicks’ offer of Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier and five first-round picks.
That amount of picks is noteworthy, but Toppin’s evolution is still a question mark while Fournier is simply there for salary filler. It leaves the door ajar for the Suns, or any other team, to propose something more substantial, even if it’s simply to put pressure on the Knicks to cough up more.
Why would Phoenix want Mitchell though? They already have an All-Star backcourt in place with Chris Paul and Devin Booker. While that’s true, perhaps it’s the kind of drastic move needed to catapult the Suns back into the NBA Finals. More importantly though, it’s an idea that would solidify the Suns future, and their aspirations of sustained success, for another four or five years at a minimum.
There would be two ways of going about it, one more emphatically drastic than the other. There’s no indication that Utah would even accept the following deals, though they are in improvement on the Knicks’ current offer.