The NBA's trade deadline is fast approaching, and already the Phoenix Suns have fallen victim to one of the more outrageous stories you are going to see out there.
No, Dillon Brooks will not be going to the Los Angeles Lakers. They already have problems with another former member of The Valley.
Suns fans want these three players gone by deadline
There are some actual trade candidates on this roster, and fans in Phoenix want them gone for one reason or another. All are liked and have performed admirably, but this roster is moving on without them.
Nigel Hayes-Davis
It's nothing personal, but to say it hasn't worked out for one of the best players in Europe across the last few seasons in what was meant to be his NBA redemption story would be an understatement.
The idea of Nigel Hayes-Davis with the Suns was a sound one. Veteran who comes in and helps the youngsters learn the ropes of the league, while taking some of Kevin Durant's minutes and giving this side something like eight points and a couple of boards/assists each night.
Here's a minute of Nigel Hayes-Davis: pic.twitter.com/pFhXh9jjIE
— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) December 7, 2025
Instead head coach Jordan Ott has built a much more competitive than expected roster, which excels in all of the ways that Hayes-Davis does not. They need tenacious defenders who give their all each night, whereas the skill set of Hayes-Davis looks like an unnecessary luxury with this group.
Grayson Allen
Suns fans will be sorry to see Grayson Allen go, but the time has come. Coach Ott is quickly getting the best out of younger guys like Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Rasheer Fleming and we're even seeing some Khaman Maluach minutes.
Royce O'Neale looks like the ideal, and cheaper, player off the bench in future units, while Allen still has some trade value. Knocking down just under 40 percent of a career high 8.2 efforts from deep each night is going to keep you employed in the NBA.
It just won't be in Phoenix, as we've reached the crossroads between this roster not needing Allen, his trade value remaining stable and injuries beginning to creep into the picture.
Nick Richards
The most obvious guy who will be on the move before the deadline, but also unfortunately the most difficult of the three to move. Nick Richards is a fine backup center, but other organizations aren't going to overpay for him.
He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so getting much more than a second round pick seems unlikely. There was some talk of a deal with the Toronto Raptors that would have saved them some money down the road, but that went cold.
So although some teams do look a big man short (including somehow the Denver Nuggets), Richards is not impactful enough to give up anything of real value and everybody knows this. A deal will get done, but it will be a small one for all involved before Richards hit the market again in the summer.