With a number of players entering free agency this summer, the Phoenix Suns have a multitude of questions to answer.
The biggest of which (literally and figuratively) is what the front office will decide to do with restricted free agent center Mark Williams.
The 7-foot-1, 24-year-old was acquired from the Charlotte Hornets last summer for a package that included multiple first-round draft picks. On paper, that makes it seem like the Suns have to bring Williams back to justify the loss of assets.
However, there is another unique option the Suns could explore.
Phoenix Suns should entertain sign-and-trade routes for Mark Williams
As PHNX Sports mused in a recent podcast, exploring sign-and-trade options for Williams may be the Suns’ best path forward.
The Suns have the ability to match any offer extended to Williams with the right of first refusal given his restricted free agency. That could also allow them to negotiate a sign-and-trade with any NBA team looking to acquire Williams’ services.
It wouldn’t be the first time a restricted free agent for the Suns wound up in a sign-and-trade scenario. More than a decade ago, Phoenix worked out a sign-and-trade with the Hawks that sent star guard Joe Johnson to Atlanta while netting versatile forward Boris Diaw and two future first-round picks. The Suns also got a $6 million trade exception in the deal.
Now, that’s not to say Williams has equivalent value. It’s unlikely the Suns will be able to get multiple first round picks (or any first round picks) in a sign-and-trade scenario for Williams. However, it should be an option the Suns look to explore regardless.
We’ve made the case that the Suns should consider not re-signing Williams. The combination of Williams’ poor rim protection numbers, shoddy health record and the collective promise of both Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach may ultimately make the former first-round pick expendable.
Add in the fact that the front office will likely aim to re-sign breakout point guard Collin Gillespie, and the financial constraints the Suns face become pretty apparent.
The pipe dream sign-and-trade scenario for Phoenix may be yet another huge swing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, but the combination of Williams, Jalen Green and a draft pick probably doesn’t meet the threshold Milwaukee is looking for… that also ignores reporting that there have been “zero discussions” about the Suns acquiring the league’s marquee trade chip.
A much more likely scenario, which the PHNX Sports guys touched on in their podcast, would be a sign-and-trade sending Williams to the Bucks for power forward Bobby Portis, who’s been linked to the Suns at times in the past.
Whatever the case, the Suns must do their due diligence on the sign-and-trade front to try and ensure they don’t lose Williams for nothing this offseason. While the health issues and lack of availability in the postseason present drawbacks, Williams is still young and talented enough to get attention on the open market.
It's now on GM Brian Gregory to figure out the best pieces the team can net in return.
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