The San Antonio Spurs are right there when it comes to winning a championship, no doubt about it. Most likely not this season, but it is coming for a franchise that boasts Victor Wembanyama.
The same unfortunately cannot be said for the Phoenix Suns, and building slowly around Devin Booker means getting back to the finals this decade is far from guaranteed.
De'Aaron Fox for Jalen Green is a trade that works for everybody
That's a bold statement, and you only care about this from the perspective of the Suns, so let's tease this one out. Fox isn't going all in for a superstar in the way owner Mat Ishbia has already said that the franchise will not, so that is a great start.
Green is increasingly looking like the odd man out in The Valley as well, as his fit next to Booker is questionable. If all you're giving up is a streaky scorer who doesn't defend at an elite level (in other words, really not a Jordan Ott kind of player), then that is not a steep price to bring in a true floor general.
Which is what Fox is, and this offseason is the time to go and get him. It is clear the Spurs don't have a need for his services long-term, with both Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper having the backcourt locked down for the rest of the decade at least.
His decision making in Game 4 of the NBA Finals was a great source of amusement for rival fans, but Fox is an elite guard and would be the best co-star in the backcourt Booker would have had since Chris Paul.
The 28-year-old is on a similar timeline to Booker that allows the Suns to try and win now, while he's a much better two-way threat than Green.
If you're trying to sell the Spurs on this, then having the best defender in the world alongside some excellent individual defenders would allow them to carry Green on that end of the court. A luxury the Suns do not have.
He could then step into the open jumpers than Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie routinely get while his ability to create some would be an improvement on that duo as well. The Spurs could then see what they have with Green and if he helps them get over the hump, and flip him anyway if it doesn't work out.
Opportunities like this don't come around very often, so what do you say?
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