Suns trade deadline plans are already crystal clear

The Phoenix Suns may still be some time away from returning to training camp - although it is on the horizon - but already it is possible to map out what much of the 2025-26 season is going to be like for them. After giving up on their hopes of winning a championship with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in town, the Suns have pivoted to re-building around Devin Booker.

Only that's not a phrase you're going to hear very often in The Valley this coming season, with "re-tooling" the wording of choice. This is to try and convince fans, Booker and probably even themselves that they're going to quickly build a roster from the ground up around their 28-year-old superstar that is capable of contending once more. That is not going to happen.

Suns going to be sellers at deadline again this season.

In fact it is going to have to get a little worse before it can start to get better, which is why the Suns are going to be sellers come the trade deadline. The reason for this is obvious, even if they aren't in control of their lottery pick next season and so should be trying to make the play-in so they can begin to build some positive momentum.

But it is clear from the rumblings out of Phoenix this summer that the front office would have traded Grayson Allen, Nick Richards and Royce O'Neale if they could have. Allen and Richards having already been mentioned as the two guys - alongside four second rounders - that the Suns tried to package together to acquire Jonathan Kuminga. Talk about wishful thinking.

Although none of those three players the team are trying to shift are currently of much interest, come the trade deadline they will be. All three don't make crazy money - and in the case of Allen and O'Neale - still have multiple years left on their current contracts. A fringe contender could easily talk themselves into a player in Allen or O'Neale who could shoot over 40 percent from deep.

If it doesn't work out they could also be moved again in future - albeit not for very much - and all the Suns will be looking for is as much draft capital as possible. Either that or a younger player who needs a change of scenery, with Phoenix suddenly one of the better locations in the entirely league for a player to get minutes and shots up to rehab their value.

A first rounder for any of their available trio seems unlikely, but there is no doubt the Suns will be looking to sell and take on prospects and picks. Which does mean this rebuild is going to take longer than anybody would like, but the team has to sink that little bit lower and lose a couple more veterans, before they can begin their long climb back to the top.