Value of Oso Ighodaro to the Phoenix Suns will soon explode

The Phoenix Suns are undoubtedly going to be sellers this coming NBA season at the trade deadline, as they look to turn some of their veteran players into future draft picks and young talent with upside that need a change of scenery. Which is why both Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale are so important to the franchise right now.

Both are elite 3-point shooters who are still in their prime - even if O'Neale is now 32-years-old - and who have multiple years left on their current contracts. In other words they're the kind of player that fringe contenders and playoff rosters looking for that one extra shooter talk themselves into, and often overpay for.

Oso Ighodaro's worth is going to skyrocket for Suns.

Another under the radar player to watch who could end up fetching the Suns a nice little haul is second year forward Oso Ighodaro. Although his rookie season was above average at best, he was able to play and outwork more illustrious teammates such as Kevin Durant some nights on the court.

He's now packed on some muscle and looks up for the challenge of becoming more of a leader on a roster that has gotten younger, and he's now going to get the chance to do just this. Durant's departure also means there are minutes that need to be filled - and although Nigel Hayes-Davis is the right addition out of Europe - Ighodaro is going to get some looks.

But as we've already discussed here, that may actually put him in the shop window while he remains on a rookie contract for the next couple of years. The need for teams to have an imposing forward who can both play next to more traditional bigs - while also getting some minutes at the five themselves - has never been greater.

Ighodaro possesses that versatility, although he has competition in the form of centers Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams and even Nick Richards. Both Allen and O'Neale can play at the three - as can Ryan Dunn - which again limits the impact Ighodaro can have. The whole roster exists to elevate Devin Booker anyway - and while Ighodaro can do that defensively - so too can others out there.

Which is why you shouldn't be surprised when Ighodaro begins his sophomore season well, and immediately becomes a trade target for other teams. Not that the Suns need to sell - he could end up a part of their bright future - but Dunn looks like their draft pick from that class they are higher on keeping long-term.

Ighodaro is going to fetch them more than Allen, O'Neale or Richards, and he might even be the key to Jonathan Kuminga trade talks beginning once more. Even if none of that happens, he also has a chance to build upon the 17.1 minutes he managed last season, and all for a head coach who is going to want to play him often. This is a win-win for Phoenix.