In a development that had nothing to do with the Phoenix Suns, Anthony Davis returned to action for the Dallas Mavericks in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers after yet more time out through injury. Why should you care? Because Kirk Goldsberry of The Ringer thinks The Valley could make a good home for the injury-prone star. No, seriously.
Davis to Suns only works if he could be healthier than Mark Williams.
Goldsberry was on The Bill Simmons Podcast recently, and towards the end of an episode that gave a shoutout to the Suns and Collin Gillespie, he mentioned that Phoenix would be an intriguing landing spot for Davis. The Kentucky connection between himself and Devin Booker cited as a reason why.
In this situation it would have to be Mark Williams heading the other way, which makes sense as the Suns wouldn't need to have both starting calibre big men on their roster. Particularly with both having their injury issues throughout their career.
Asking Suns fans to part with Williams would be tough however, he's been a breakout player for them this season and looks like a key piece of a brighter future. He's not playing in back-to-backs just yet, but that time is coming. He is also turning in easily the best defensive season of his still young career.
But betting that Williams is only going to play more games as his career progresses is a massive gamble, and the time to turn him into something even more might just be now. He is also nearly a decade older than Williams, but that might actually be the reason to try and get a trade done.
Booker seems perfectly content right now, but how long will being part of a fun and scrappy group that at best makes it to the playoffs keep him engaged? If you trade for Davis, sure there's zero guarantee it would work out. But it would allow a ray of light through their championship window for the first time since 2021.
We all know that trading for stars, and Kevin Durant in particular, and trying to create shortcuts to success does not work. But unlike that deal, the Suns would be putting together a package featuring Williams, Grayson Allen and perhaps another player and second rounder.
That's hardly giving up the farm, and even if it works out it's not like the Suns have the desire to want to tank to get a high draft pick anyway. They don't have any of those left. In saying all of that and trying to see the logic Goldsberry is applying, it remains a tough sell.
Daniel Gafford on the other hand would be an amazing addition to The Valley, but that is a different conversation. If the Suns want to try and build the same identity coach Ott has had success with early in this season, only swap out Williams for another crock in Davis who is better on both ends of the court, it would be a massive risk for General Manager Brian Gregory.