The Phoenix Suns only made one move at the trade deadline, but prior to that deal with the Milwaukee Bucks actually happening they were linked with several players.
One of which was Guerschon Yabusele, who was with the New York Knicks and clearly needed a change of scenery. It only would have taken giving New York Nick Richards to land him.
Yabusele already making his mark with the Chicago Bulls
Instead it was the Chicago Bulls who ended up landing the Frenchman, and they also cleverly got involved in the Suns' trade with the Bucks to land Richards to back him up as well.
Nobody is saying Chicago is about to make some noise in the East, but this was a smart way to end the Nikola Vucevic era without plunging a ton of money into the center position ahead of the summer.
Yabusele is clearly playing for another contract in the league, and he's already started a game for the Bulls and is playing close to 30 minutes a night.
We don't hate this range either, and the Suns certainly could have used it in the recent defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers in which they were ice cold from deep. Devin Booker wasn't impressed.
GIVE GUERSCHON YABUSELE THE HOT SAUCE 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mjpuwbbsbk
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) February 8, 2026
Although he gives up size as a forward playing at the five, averages of 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds are by far and away career highs for the 30-year-old.
The sample size is obviously tiny, but if you watch him play then you will know that Yabusele would have been a perfect fit in head coach Jordan Ott's defensive schemes.
He plays with an intensity that would fit alongside Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie, and would have been a clear upgrade over Richards for the backup spot in Phoenix.
How do we know this? The Bulls literally have both players on their roster right now, and rather than start an actual big in Richards, have Yabusele in that spot with Richards coming off the bench.
Perhaps the Knicks were never going to want just Richards, and it's not like Yabusele is worth much more than that. Even adding a second round pick would have felt like too much.
The Suns also accomplished their main goal of getting under the tax at the deadline, while also creating a roster spot that is presumably going to be used on Jamaree Bouyea.
But they're clearly trying to make the playoffs this season, and Yabusele could have provided excellent cover off the bench for 20 minutes each night.
The Knicks looked a center short in their rotation at the time, and surely could have been talked into taking Richards for the rest of the season.
Hardly a misstep for the front office in The Valley, but further proof that there are guys out there waiting to be picked up on the cheap who can make a difference.