3 players the Suns should want from Mavericks in potential Kevin Durant trade

The Phoenix Suns have seen one of their star players in Kevin Durant brought up in trade rumors as the trade deadline approaches, although all indications from their camp are that he will remain in The Valley beyond Thursday. This marks a worrying change of pace from the last number of weeks, when they appeared to be buyers as opposed to sellers.

With Jimmy Butler stuck in South Beach for now and Bradley Beal unwilling to waive his no-trade clause, it is the possibility of moving on from Durant which has followed up the unthinkable deal that saw Luka Doncic land with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Golden State Warriors looked to be the organization that were most eager to reunite with the 36-year-old Durant.

Then the Dallas Mavericks entered the race late in the day.

This is the same franchise that just turned Doncic into Anthony Davis, and who have a General Manager in Nico Harrison who several sources have claimed does not anticipate being in his current role for a long time. If he wants to win now - just like Suns' owner Mat Ishbia desperately does - then Durant would certainly appear to help make that happen.

The actual path to a deal is difficult - and would likely require a third team and some picks changing hands - but after the Doncic deal, is not impossible. If the Suns do decide to re-tool around Devin Booker - the franchise's all-time top scorer - then these are the players they absolutely have to enquire with the Mavericks about getting some combination of back.

3. Naji Marshall

Forward Naji Marshall would appear an obvious place to start, and this is as much to do with his current contract than anything else. He in under contract for two more years after this one, and will make less than $10 million in each of those seasons. That's a similar amount of money to what Josh Okogie was making, with the Suns turning him into Nick Richards last month.

It is what Marshall can do on the court that should interest the Suns just as much, as he would automatically become one of the better wing defenders on their roster. Still only 27-years-old, he has been a steady presence for a Mavericks roster that lost Doncic to injury on Christmas Day, before losing him to Los Angeles altogether.

He has started 14-of-37 games played to this point, and his 24.3 minutes per night is actually a career high. So too are the 10.7 points he has averaged, although his 3-point shooting has fallen off a cliff (30.8 percent while tying a career high 2.8 attempts per game). In some ways he is the inversion of Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, which is what this roster needs.

A more physically imposing wing who can make a difference defensively, and who can both protect Booker and take more difficult matchups from him on any given night. Marshall obviously wouldn't headline any potential trade that sent Durant to Dallas, but he would be a nice addition to the rotation if this were to happen.

2. P.J. Washington

Adding P.J. Washington to the roster would have a twofold impact, and it would begin with what he could bring to the starting five. If Durant were to head the other way then there's every chance Washington would start, he's a four who can shoot the ball really well but also play down a spot in certain lineups when required.

It is no coincidence that the Mavericks ended up making a run all the way to the NBA Finals last season once they traded for Washington, and he took over six attempts per game for the Mavericks in the playoffs. This season he is up to 38 percent from 3-point range, a feat he only surpassed once before while with the Charlotte Hornets in his second season in the league.

The addition of Washington would also make one of both Allen and O'Neale expendable, with both having value around the league right now. So remaking their roster to include Washington - plus another player from Dallas - and then swapping Allen for another area of need such as long-term point guard or another big man would seem to make a lot of sense.

The fit next to Booker and Richards looks nice on paper, while he is nearly a decade younger than Durant. Like Marshall before him, both are on a similar timeline to Booker, who at 28-years-old should in theory be in his prime right now. A pattern is beginning to emerge here of moving on from Durant in favor of players who can help them win now, but still have room to grow.

1. Dereck Lively II

This is the hardest and most unlikely player of all to get out of the Mavericks - but if the Doncic deal thought us anything - it is to dream big and see what you can pull off. Center Dereck Lively II looks like a future All-Star - and although he is out right now with a fractured ankle - that shouldn't deter the Suns if trade talks do heat up here.

Fellow big man Daniel Gafford would be the more likely of the two that were offered to the Suns - the money is easier to make fit as well as Lively is still on a rookie deal - but Lively II is the player Phoenix should be after. He's already played in the NBA Finals in what was his first season in the league, and he did not look out of his depth.

His energy and tenacity have been sorely lacking in The Valley for a long time now - and while Richards is doing what he can - he would be such an upgrade at the center position. Best of all, he would both help Booker now but also be a nice bridge to the future alongside the likes of Ryan Dunn as he is only 20-years-old.

Besides, if GM Harrison doesn't envision sticking around beyond the next few seasons of trying to win a championship then what does he care? This is one of the few chances the Suns have to add a young player with a ton of upside, and correct the mistake that was going all the way in with Durant and Bradley Beal. Durant should still command a haul, and Lively II would help headline any deal.