With the NBA trade deadline roughly a month away, the rumor mill keeps churning with a flurry of big names.
Anthony Davis, the key piece sent back to Dallas from the Los Angeles Lakers in the woefully misguided Luka Doncic trade, could be moved once again by the Mavericks.
There have been reports The Brow could be shipped to the Atlanta Hawks, who reportedly would like to move on from point guard Trae Young. Meanwhile, Ryen Russillo quoted a league source who said it will be tough for Atlanta to move Young, provided that “guys hate playing with him.”
Yikes.
The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer (subscription required) broke down the possible trade landscape for Brooklyn Nets offensive star Michael Porter Jr. MPJ is a logical trade candidate provided he doesn’t seem to factor into Brooklyn’s long-term plans and could fetch a good price as he blossoms with a higher usage rate with the Nets when compared to his time with the Denver Nuggets where he won a title.
Throw in a slurry of expiring contracts that could be moved around the league and there’s plenty of smoke leading up to a deadline that The Athletic’s Sam Amick (subscription required) believes could see “minimal” movement despite all the noise.
So, where do the Suns fit in ahead of a deadline that may be more rumor than substance?
Phoenix Suns should be active in multi-team trade talks
After big swings on trades to acquire Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and, most recently, center Mark Williams, the Suns have limited draft capital and assets required for another blockbuster deal.
What they do have, however, are movable contracts that could assist other teams looking to deal via a multi-team trade.
This should be the avenue new general manager Brian Gregory pursues the most aggressively leading up to the deadline.
The Suns from a financial standpoint should be incentivized to get under the luxury tax threshold. Moving Nick Richards’ expiring contract could get them there, but it would more likely take moving on from larger contracts.
We’ve noted it here as their deadline options take shape, but the primary suspects who could be on the Suns’ trade block are sharpshooters Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale.
As impactful role players who can spread the floor with 3-point shooting, both guys carry value in the modern NBA. O’Neale is under contract through the 2027-28 season, while Allen has a player option he could exercise for that 2027-28 season. On that basis, contenders wouldn't have to worry about them leaving during the upcoming offseason as short-term rentals.
NBA teams looking to round out their rotations could certainly be interested in those players, and offloading their contracts would allow for Phoenix to acquire the financial flexibility needed to re-sign Williams or breakout guard Collin Gillespie this summer — both are impending free agents.
So, while the Suns are unlikely to be the key figure in any big deals, involving themselves as a third (or fourth, or fifth) team in a trade could allow them to meet those goals while aiding other teams looking to make a splash.
One possible example if the Suns opt to jump into the fray with the Hawks could be acquiring Kristaps Porzingis’ roughly $30 million expiring contract while sending Allen and O’Neale to an interested party (Atlanta or otherwise).
Phoenix would no doubt look to acquire draft pick compensation as well, but getting that money off the books would be a huge help with regard to retaining Williams and/or Gillespie in the summer.
Allen especially — despite his hot 3-point shooting to start the season — has looked more and more expendable as he misses time with injury and fans wait for the (second) return of Jalen Green. The continued emergence of glass-cleaning guard Jordan Goodwin in Allen's stead doesn't help his case.
If the Suns can help orchestrate a larger deal as a third or fourth party in a multi-team trade, that’s absolutely something the front office should explore in the coming weeks.