Phoenix Suns: Ranking Hoops Habit’s 5 potential Jae Crowder trades

4. Phoenix Suns send Jae Crowder to the New Orleans Pelicans for Devonte Graham and a top 20 protected 2024 first-round pick.

This trade has a little more validity than the Holmes deal, simply because of the type of player involved; it’s been widely publicised that Pheonix should be looking at further point-guard depth.

Although Graham is more of a combo-guard than a traditional point, he could provide an upgrade to Cameron Payne depending on the form of both players. As Carter identifies, his three-year, $36.3 million remaining on his contract could also be utilized further down the line.

"“That first-round pick is almost sure to convert for the Suns, giving them another trade chip to push forward — possibly along with Graham’s contract — to make future moves. In the meanwhile, they’ve got some exceptional shooting off the bench in the form of a motivated player.”"

Graham could produce 20 minutes a night for the Suns, though his 6’1″ frame and subsequent defensive issues make a three-guard lineup with he, Chris Paul and Devin Booker basically untenable.

The 27-year-old has averaged at least 28.4 minutes in each of the last three seasons. His career-best year came in 2019-20 where he recorded 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.

His three-point shooting is a major asset, but given the Suns aren’t a heavy perimeter shooting team, that value may not be as evident in Phoenix. As a championship contender, the future pick means very little unless they can on-trade it in a bigger move later on.