The Phoenix Suns' roster is most certainly full after a busy offseason, and it will be interesting to see what kind of lineups they use when preseason play gets underway next month. Not only is their main roster packed with players who will be looking for minutes, their new G League affiliate has guys to keep an eye on as well.
Not only that, but a pair of rookies in Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro will also try and force their way into the conversation. Neither figures to be mainstays in the second unit as of now, but both have the kind of defensive upside that made taking them in the NBA Draft this year a smart move.
Now some former Suns are now getting looked at elsewhere out West.
That's because the Sacramento Kings are rumored to have brought in a trio of guys who once played in Phoenix for workouts ahead of the new season. One of those is Nassir Little - waived by the Suns to save a little bit of money and open up a roster spot a few weeks back - and who has apparently gotten interest from a number of former title-winning teams.
We're not at the point where it can be considered a mistake letting Little go - they couldn't find a trade partner to take his three-years, $21 million on - but it is worth noting that he looks like value on a minimum deal to rivals throughout the league. Still only 25-years-old, he could well be worth a flyer for the Kings.
Nassir Little was in trade talks going into trade deadline, but Jusuf Nurkic brought his name up after Wednesday's practice.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 9, 2024
"Hopefully we can get Nas, give him a chance to play."
Nurkic, Little teammates in Portland, part of 3-team trade before camp. Little still with #Suns. pic.twitter.com/EDdianZSZ4
Next up is Jae Crowder - who despite having spent a couple of seasons in The Valley - is a player fans would seemingly gladly take back. Between Crowder, Torrey Craig and current Sun Josh Okogie, one of these three with similar skill sets is never too far from playing for the Suns. Crowder's exit from Phoenix was not very pretty, and at 34-years-old there isn't much left in the tank.
Again though the Kings could do worse than bring him off the bench for 15 minutes per night to provide defending and average 3-point shooting. Crowder is something of a nearly man having shown up to play on teams either just before or after making the NBA Finals, although the Kings don't quite have ambitions that high for this coming season.
Then there is T.J. Warren - who ever since his breakout performance in the NBA's Bubble - has suffered through injury and inconsistencies. He is somehow only 31, and across two stints with the Suns has managed an impressive 13.8 points per game. The kind of offensive output they would like to get out of both Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale this coming season.
It is telling that of these three players, Little is the one who would make the most sense with this Suns team. The caveat being as long as it was on a minimum contract, which it would not have been. The Kings are welcome to try out Crowder and even Warren, because the Suns have moved on from both and are in a better place now.
It is comforting to know that none of these guys would crack a 10 man rotation, and that is without even including Okogie, one of the two rookies and the enigmatic Bol Bol. One of them may stick in Sacramento - Little looks the most likely - but this just proves the organization continue to move in the right direction and build a better and deeper supporting cast than in year's past.