The Phoenix Suns have done a ton of business with the Charlotte Hornets over the last couple of seasons, and it could eventually help land their Eastern Conference counterpart, Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis linked to Hornets after moving problem players to Suns
Jake Fischer was back with some pre-training camp rumors over on Bleacher Report recently, and he revealed that the Hornets are still in the mix for the 30-year-old former All-Star from the Sacramento Kings. That is a feat made possible by the Suns taking three frontcourt players off Charlotte's hands, all of whom bring their own problems that the Hornets are surely glad to be rid of.
Center Nick Richards was the first, although he was a stopgap solution during the Kevin Durant era and is already long gone. A backup the Suns tried to use as a starter, the Miami Heat are about to learn the limitations of having him on their roster.
Next up was Mark Williams, who the Suns were comfortable sacrificing a pair of first-round picks for in hopes he could become their center of the future.
Still only 24-years-old and having received a three-year, $38 million extension to stick around this offseason, he is already being pushed hard for his starting berth by sophomore Khaman Maluach. It is not that Williams is a bad player—he's the best true center Phoenix has had since Deandre Ayton—but his health will always be a concern, and featuring in just 60 games each season would represent a great return.
Thankfully, the organization should be able to move him if required, thanks to his team-friendly deal and the lack of elite centers on the market currently. The same cannot be said for Miles Bridges, who will be looking for an extension as soon as possible and who lands in Phoenix with off-court baggage.
He was a fine player for the Hornets, but the prospect of upgrading him for Sabonis makes a ton of sense and is further proof that the front office in Charlotte has gotten its act together.
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It is not that the Suns lost any of these trades with the Hornets (still don't love that Williams deal...), but they have saddled themselves with players who have clear limitations or a bad image.
The Hornets, meanwhile, were brave enough to trade away face of the franchise LaMelo Ball for a chance at a brighter future. Sabonis sure would help in that department, and he is ironically the perfect forward to pair with Devin Booker.
If Phoenix can package some of these veteran players for a co-star of their own in the future, then all is well that ends well. But right now it is hard to shake the reality that the Hornets may have successfully used The Valley as a dumping ground for good players before potentially landing a great one.
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