The playoffs are a wake-up call for NBA teams. Only one team holds the trophy in the end, but it's championship-or-bust for a handful of them, forcing them to make substantial roster moves in an effort to change that outcome.
There's one team in particular that, if they fail in the postseason, may be primed to move some big-name players, leaving some intriguing trade targets for the Suns.
The Suns should be keeping a close eye on the Knicks
The Knicks are one of those aforementioned teams in championship-or-bust mode. After trading 5 first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, they officially opened their championship window. That trade may be one they regret now, as it depleted their asset pool and Bridges' impact has been less than they had hoped.
But that's no excuse to stand pat, and a major roster change may be inevitable. In that case, New York will likely be forced to move one of their premier talents, like Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby.
Karl-Anthony Towns could be the much-needed co-star to Devin Booker
Jalen Brunson is likely viewed as untradeable by New York, but beyond that, everyone should be on the table, which makes Karl-Anthony Towns the perfect trade target for the Suns. He can fill the hole next to Booker as an All-Star scorer, and provide the Suns with plenty of size and lineup flexibility as a sharpshooting 7-footer.
It sure may seem like the price for a player like that would be high, yet in reality, it may not be. Yes, he's a star, but a 30-year-old star set to make over $118M over the next two seasons. Those two factors alone will scare many teams away, which leaves a golden opportunity for the Suns to seize, using the team's limited remaining assets to acquire an All-Star talent.
OG Anunoby would be an ideal fit in Phoenix
As a 6' 7" wing with elite defense and multi-level scoring ability, OG Anunoby is the most coveted type of talent in the NBA. On the trade market, he may even yield a higher price than KAT.
And yet, his price, too, maybe be lowered by his contract situation. Teams fear the penalties of exceeding the salary cap limits, and the over-$136M remaining on his contract over the next 3 seasons may be pushes teams away. Again, it would be on the Suns to take on the risk of trading for a hefty contract, and use that as their leverage in making a deal for a high-quality player with limited assets.
A reunion with Mikal Bridges is a realistic option
Fan-favorite Mikal Bridges could also find his way back to The Valley. He's easily the most attainable of all the Knicks' top talents, and now may be the time to buy-low on him.
That price is low for a reason, though, with his numbers are on the decline as he enters the first year on his 4-year, $150M extension and turns 30 years old. It's hard to imagine a scenario where it's worth taking that on, but maybe a return to a fanbase that once beloved him is all he needs.
The Suns' path to making the trade
There's widespread belief that the Knicks will be all-in on the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes this summer, and that may be the Suns' cue to swoop in.
In this deal, the Knicks would likely be sending Karl-Anthony Towns, whose contract almost matches Antetokounmpo's. Realistically, the rebuilding Bucks could be more interested in the flexibility of the young, potential-filled Jalen Green (and the $62M remaining on his deal over the next two seasons) over the older, more expensive option with KAT.
The Suns could then sweeten and meet the salary requirements with the likes of Grayson Allen or Royce O'Neale, and maybe even Khaman Maluach, if necessary.
This framework goes for Anunoby, too. The Knicks probably wouldn't view trading KAT or OG for a package featuring Jalen Green as an upgrade, which means the Suns would need to jump into a multi-team deal to make it happen. A Mikal Bridges swap for Jalen Green could work, but in that case, the Suns would probably be the uninterested side.
This offseason, the Suns face the challenge of finding ways to improve the team from this past season with limited assets at their disposal. To accomplish this, they'll need to take advantage of the ever-changing NBA landscape, and the Knicks could give them the perfect opportunity to do so.
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