Each year when the NBA trade deadline rolls around, fans of each team scour the trade rumor mill to try and get a sense of what their favorite squad’s front office plans to do.
For Phoenix Suns fans, that may have led them to believe general manager Brian Gregory is set to flip Jalen Green — the key piece of last summer’s Kevin Durant blockbuster — once again for another new face.
In December, that’s exactly who NBA writer Jake Weinbach reported would be included in a potential trade package for Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis. It’s one such example of Green being floated in trade speculation.
Fortunately for Suns fans, it does not appear as though Phoenix has any intention of moving on from Green so shortly after he was acquired.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported this week, “Previously, Phoenix made a blockbuster trade deadline splash to acquire Kevin Durant. Don’t expect such fireworks over the next week.”
Here’s why.
Suns continue to view Jalen Green as ‘metaphorical trade deadline acquisition’
Scotto reports that the Suns view Green’s return from injury — well, a more prolonged return from injury — as their own trade deadline move.
They’ve effectively been without Green for the majority of the season to this point as the 23-year-old guard battles a recurring hamstring injury.
After not playing since early November, Green made his much-awaited return to the court on Jan. 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers. He played roughly 20 minutes, scoring 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go with three assists and two rebounds.
In the next game against the Atlanta Hawks, Green logged just four minutes of action before pulling up lame after a driving layup. He did not return to the game and has been sidelined since.
Getting him back healthy, whether that occurs before the Feb. 5 deadline or after, effectively functions as an in-season acquisition without the Suns needing to surrender any assets to improve the roster.
That outlook matches a report from ClutchPoints NBA reporter Brett Siegel earlier in January, when he tweeted “the Suns have made it clear Green is not available.” At the time, Siegel was referencing rumors that would ship Green to the Milwaukee Bucks — who now appear to have pivoted to the potential reality of trading two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo instead of building around him.
Again, Green was the major young piece returning to Phoenix for KD. The brilliance of culture-changing Dillon Brooks having a career year has overshadowed the acquisition of Green in that trade, but Suns fans (and the Suns brass) still don’t really know what this team looks like healthy.
Trading Green again before you even know what you have would follow in a long line of short-sighted decisions from the Suns in recent years — including but not limited to the decision to trade for Bradley Beal after acquiring Durant in the first place.
Standing pat is never the most exciting thing a team can do at the trade deadline. And while moving Green does not seem likely at all, Scotto also reports the Suns may look to duck under the luxury tax threshold. So, on that basis, a small move like moving Nick Richards' expiring contract could be in the cards.
Outside of that, as Scotto says, don't expect fireworks at the deadline for Phoenix.