Suns should target this undervalued role player when trade restrictions lift

Although the Phoenix Suns are miles above the second apron and so cannot enter trade talks easily, that does not mean they are out of moves entirely. The prospect of trading any one of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal appears minimal, but the organization still have ways they can enter trade talks.

Their two most obvious choices to deal - both in terms of money they're making and talent that rivals would want - are Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic. Making either available puts the Suns in some conversations they currently cannot get access to, although that is a risky move. Which is why dealing some guys on the minimum when restrictions lift could be the way to go.

Enter MarJon Beauchamp of the Milwaukee Bucks.

In two seasons in Milwaukee, Beauchamp has played 100 regular season games, earning 12 starts. Last season he shot an impressive 40 percent from deep - and although that was on only 1.6 attempts per game - combining that stroke with the fact he can play the three could hold some appeal to the Suns.

Just as intriguing to them is the fact he is on the kind of contract that the team could easily absorb. The only issue there is that the Suns would have to wait until the middle of December - when their own host of guys signed to veteran deals become available to trade - before making a move.

Complicating matters further is the fact that - according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports - the Bucks appear to favor getting a defensive-minded wing back for Beauchamp. The Suns have plenty of guys they could move and the salaries would effectively match up, from Bol Bol to Monte Morris, but a defensive-wing is not one of them.

Which is where Josh Okogie enters the picture. Many were surprised to see the team bring him back on a two-year, $16 million deal this summer, but the thought process always seemed to be that it would make his a more valuable trade asset for the franchise. On that money - even if he's not worth it in the eyes of many - it allows the second apron Suns to make deals with Okogie's new number.

The problem with that is the demand for Okogie around the league isn't massive, with the 26-year-old a fine player, but not one who moves the needle for fringe contenders. Rebuilding outfits wouldn't appear to have much interest either, because the Suns aren't going to attach a pick just to get Okogie off their books. Not when they've had such success with the draft this year.

The Bucks have their own financial difficulties to move through, but could a Beauchamp and some other player for Okogie deal work for both sides? For any Suns fans out there who think this is underwhelming, remember how you felt when all the team could get for Deandre Ayton was Nurkic and Allen? How did that work out again? Exactly.

On top of this teams and their fans tend to overvalue their own guys, and the reality could quickly become that there is no market worth getting into for Okogie. Which could lead the Suns back to Beauchamp - who although on a minimum deal - at least has one more year after this one on his current contract. So they'd be giving up no control as Okogie's deal is the same length.

Beauchamp of course played for current Suns' head coach Mike Budenholzer, and there's a lot to like about his potential fit in The Valley. Defensively he's not as good as even Okogie - but when you consider he isn't going to get a look in himself on a consistent basis - the fact Beauchamp can shoot the ball well becomes more appealing.

This might not excite, but it is the kind of deal the Suns are going to be linked with as the season progresses. The front office did an excellent job getting Royce O'Neale at the deadline last season, while David Roddy did not work out. The price of Okogie on a 2-for-1 to make the maths work might seem too steep, but there's reason for both sides to consider this when Okogie is trade eligible.