Mock trade sees Suns ditch first round pick for pair of defensive players

We've reached the point in the offseason - that dead spot before training camps get underway - when all manner of mock trades get thrown together for engagement. It is hard for the Phoenix Suns to get involved in this baseless - but still fun - game because they are in the second apron.

Any meaningful way of getting better has to include trading one of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal. The first two we know is never going to happen, while Beal's no trade clause and monster contract means he has no real value around the league. Especially as a 31-year-old who struggled with injuries last season.

One mock trade has appeared that features the Suns though, and it is actually one worth examining.

The idea was put together by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, and it sees the Suns engage in a three-team trade in order to add a couple of players. Adding a third team really one of the only ways the Suns can get involved in the more interesting deals to be made out there, as trading with them straight up is so difficult. What do you make of this then?

We'll get the obvious out of the way first, and that is the pick that the Bulls are receiving. It kind of looks like they're not doing anything, as the second rounder in question is the second-most favorable from the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder or Philadelphia 76ers via the Houston Rockets. Why would they have any interest in that?

It's clear with the addition of Josh Giddey - and the new deal he may sign soon - that the Bulls are clearing the decks to try and rebuild. DeMar DeRozan is gone - Zach LaVine would be if they could find somebody to take him - while Nikola Vucevic is a big who has some value in the trade market. They're here to collect an asset - albeit a small one - and keep it moving.

For the Rockets, they get another actual bench player in Josh Okogie who they would absorb into their midlevel, and they could even look at trading him again down the road. The first round pick in 2031 - when the Suns could be in no-man's land - is the real sweetener here of course, but the Rockets look ready to win more games right now.

Okogie helps as a veteran, and if he played well a contender could come calling and give the Rockets something of actual value for his services. The Suns view him much the same way right now - yet nobody has picked up the phone - so the chance to offload him as part of this deal makes sense for them as well. Losing that first-rounder does hurt though.

Finishing in Phoenix and Tari Eason is an intriguing prospect. It's not that he's a bad player - he averaged a shade under 10 points and exactly seven boards last season - he's just looking more and more like the odd man out for the Rockets. They're young and exciting, and while he's certainly a role player in the league, he'd fit better off the bench as a forward for the Suns.

Fans in The Valley are familiar with and like Craig from his time there before, although it is kind of comical that the Suns seem to constantly rotate one of Okogie, Craig or Jae Crowder into their rotation. Three players of varying ages, but oddly similar skill sets. Craig would be welcomed back, and he'd know his place would be in spot minutes off the bench.

Where it gets even more interesting is that pick from the Rockets, which would be the second-most favorable from the Rockets, Thunder or the Suns' own pick. You might remember Houston went and got a pair of first round picks belonging to the Suns this offseason, which they can continue to dangle in their faces.

Drip-feeding one of them back to the Suns through this trade would be helpful, as owner Mat Ishbia could use that down the road in another deal. That 2031 pick might have more value because nobody knows what the Suns will look like by that point, but a first round pick is a first round pick no matter the year. We might be in peak silly season right now, but this is one we can get behind.

Grade: B