3 Phoenix Suns players whose trade value increased in 2023

3 Phoenix Suns players whose trade value increased in 2023.

2. Landry Shamet

Hard as it is to believe, Landry Shamet is even younger than Booker, at 25-years-old. That in itself is encouraging, because he had his moment during the postseason with the Suns, and there is no reason to think he won’t be able to do that again in future.

Shamet’s increase in value is twofold however, and it goes beyond his modest on court productivity. He certainly has deficiencies on the defensive end, and is more a player who can excel in the right matchup. During the slog of a regular season, he is going to go through peaks and valleys, but is always capable of popping up and pouring in 20 points on any given night.

What Shamet does have is a ton of confidence, and a willingness to move without the ball and spot up in the corner. These are skills that mesh well with the likes of Durant and Booker, but which are also coveted throughout the league. In that game four win over the Nuggets to even the series, Shamet had 19 points and shot over 60 percent from deep.

He still has three years left on his deal, but the final year is a team option, and he will never make more than $12 million in a season. In other words it is the kind of contract that can be moved relatively easily, and so Shamet’s value increased not only because the Suns know they can count on him to hit big shots in the playoffs. But he also gives them some much needed roster flexibility.

Shamet has never averaged more than nine points in his time with the Suns, but he has made over 40 percent of his shots from deep while with the team. With Durant now along for the ride, the strengths of Shamet are going to be highlighted on more nights, and if this leads to more points scored or an increase in trade value to the point he is traded, both are positive outcomes.