The Phoenix Suns have had a worrying start to the new season with how dreadful their defensive numbers have been, but the Oklahoma City Thunder can claim to be in a worse spot. Despite starting the campaign 4-0 and beating the Suns in the process, they have lost both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to long-term injuries. It's time then for the Suns to test their resolve to see if the Thunder will overpay for role players to shore up their rotation.
Suns could steal some valuable picks for back end rotation players
It is ironic that the Thunder, as the deepest team in the entire league in terms of talent, have had to trade away or let go of players such as Lu Dort because they couldn't afford to keep them all. Now they need short-term solutions who can also play in their switch-everything system around reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Suns have a couple of guys who could interest them.
Ryan Dunn is the most obvious choice; he's able to defend multiple positions, and the Thunder would not need anything out of him offensively. Which is just as well, because he offers precious little. The asking price for Dunn right now is likely a second-round pick. Perhaps slightly more if he can turn into a small-ball center for the Suns in the wake of Miles Bridges being a disaster in that role, which came against the Thunder.
Would the Thunder part with a pair of second rounders for Dunn if they panic and need a young and cheap role player to fill the void temporarily? Three seconds? Surely not out of the question, given how asset-rich the organization is, and how this is a special situation in which they need to pay over the odds for what could effectively be rentals to keep their championship window open.
Jordan Goodwin the player who makes most sense for Thunder
If the Thunder were really clever about targeting the Suns for somebody who could easily play with their second unit, then Jordan Goodwin would be the answer. They're not the only team that should have interest; he makes a ton of sense for the Orlando Magic. Goodwin has the height and defensive chops combined with the 3-point shooting stroke to do a discount impression of Dort.
He's also capable of playmaking some in Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench, and switches at a level defensively that most backup guards in the league cannot. Goodwin is worth more to the Suns than any other team, but if the Thunder offered up an actual first-round pick for his services, they would be foolish to reject the offer. They have no future until they can go out and get some picks, and the Thunder are in a vulnerable state while being asset-rich to approach about a deal.
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