Phoenix Suns can benefit from Magic’s situation to nab Cole Anthony

The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a difficult spot right now, because they are unable to add meaningful depth to their roster without making sweeping changes. Both Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton have been talked about players who could be moved in order to achieve this, but even moving them does not equate to adding depth thanks to the incoming new CBA agreement.

Indeed it is likely the Suns would only be moving one of those aforementioned players, with a compelling case there to be made as to why each of them should be kept. The organization need to get creative then, because at this moment in time both Paul and Ayton look like they’ll be on the team next year.

Which is where the Orlando Magic come in, a team that has cap room and plenty of draft picks and who the Suns could steal some young talent from this offseason.

The Magic have the sixth and eleventh picks in this year’s NBA Draft. A fantastic spot to be in after back-to-back drafts that saw them take Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and then follow that up with first overall selection Paolo Banchero. Throw in Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr., as well as a healthier cap sheet than the Suns, and the Eastern Conference team are in a good spot.

In fact their front office has done so well to identify distressed assets from other franchises (Fultz, Carter Jr.) and drafted so well (Wagner, Banchero), that they now have too many players and not enough minutes to go around. With two more lottery picks about to join the fray, this likely means the end of the road for backup point guard and fan favorite, Cole Anthony.

Already it has been reported that Anthony may be available at the right price, and the Suns are a team that could come in with the kind of player who could help the Magic win more games this coming season. It would also benefit both teams to make a deal, and really everybody could be happy by the end of it.

On the surface this doesn’t look great for the Magic, but stick with the logic here. For the Suns though this is obvious, they would get a serviceable backup guard in Anthony, who is still on a rookie deal and who they can make a decision about keeping later. He represents a more full throttle approach to the position than current backup Cameron Payne, and is only 23-years-old.

Okeke is a wing who clearly needs a change of scenery, and although he has had his struggles with injury, he would be just the kind of defensive player to add to the rotation for the Suns. He too is only on a rookie deal, and combined with Anthony the two will be making just over $10 million next season. Not a bad way to add some young depth, who they can then figure out paying later.

For the Magic, they have decluttered their rotation with two guys who are about to fall out of it in a serious way. In truth Okeke has already dropped out of any meaningful role with the team, but if the Magic still believe in him, one of center Bol Bol or guard Caleb Houstan could be added to the trade instead. Two more players on small deals, who could help the Suns in their own way.

Would the Magic want Shamet? He is due $32 million over the next three seasons, but there is no doubt he could help a franchise that has had offensive woes for the longest time. Next to creators like Banchero and Wagner, Shamet would be open to knock down some shots and could be hidden on the defensive end playing alongside those two, Fultz and Carter Jr.

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The Magic do of course already have Gary Harris, and it is highly likely they use one of their two lottery picks on a shooter like Gradey Dick. But the Magic also want to flip the switch soon and start to win games, and Shamet is a player who has been in the playoffs before, is still only 26 and is on the kind of deal that will be easy to move once the new CBA kicks in properly.

The second round draft picks are hard to sell to a team like the Magic, who have plenty of young talent and nowhere to put them all. But which could be packaged in future by them as they look to get into talks involving superstars down the road. Also worth pointing out is the fact that the market for Anthony isn’t going to feature many other teams either.

That’s still a steep price for the Suns to pay for what could be two rentals if they don’t have the money to re-sign Anthony and Okeke down the road. They are trying to fill out their roster however, and Anthony is not a player who ordinarily becomes available this early in his career.

The Suns needs to seize an opportunity such as this one, to pay a modest amount to get back some young talent to fill out their rotation. If Paul is waived and stretched, it could mean adding Anthony and Okeke as two of their top nine guys, and still have money left over to go get two more bigger names. A deal that makes sense for both parties, what is not to like about that?