
1. Phoenix Suns
The Boston Celtics could make the best offer for a Porzingis trade, but the Phoenix Suns have both the necessary assets to get a deal done and the desire to bolster their ongoing youth movement.
In other words, they’re a more realistic trade partner for the Knicks since Boston seems more content with stockpiling assets than actually cashing them in.
According to Arizona Sports‘ John Gambadoro, the two sides already held a discussion that revolved around Porzinigis for the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft and 20-year-old phenom Devin Booker, which the Suns understandably turned down.
Porzingis is way more of a sure thing as a future franchise cornerstone, but it wouldn’t make sense for the Suns to include Booker in a deal; they’d want to pair the two together as a superstar tandem for the long-term.
Other than that though, everyone on Phoenix’s roster would become expendable.
If I’m the Suns, the Knicks can have literally anything besides Devin Booker for Porzingis.
— conrad kaz (@conradkaz) June 20, 2017
Are the Knicks interested in a proven two-way point guard like Eric Bledsoe? Go for it. Are they enticed by T.J. Warren‘s ability to get buckets at only 23 years old? Have at him. Does the potential of Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender intrigue them? Take ’em. The No. 4 pick? Sure thing.
While the Suns would prefer to keep one of the Warren-Chriss-Bender-No. 4 pick foursome, any and all of those assets would be on the table — even at the cost of taking on Joakim Noah‘s horrible contract in the event of a deal involving Bledsoe (since the salaries would need to match).
Here’s a look at a few different Suns-Knicks trades revolving around Porzingis, to give an idea of the assets Phoenix brings to the table and the various scenarios that could unfurl without Devin Booker being included:
The Knicks need a point guard who isn’t Derrick Rose, and though they could get one at No. 4 or No. 8 in hypothetical trades like this, Bledsoe could be a stop-gap between now and the long-term future when that rookie is ready to lead.
It’s not like Bledsoe is some hack stand-in either, since he’s stayed healthy his last two seasons and averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this year.
Knicks have made calls about Kristaps Porzingis, aiming for a top-four pick to get Josh Jackson. - @WojVerticalNBA https://t.co/zT5sHvQJGZ
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) June 22, 2017
Warren’s mysterious head injury hindered his production halfway through the season, but he started and ended the 2016-17 campaign on a strong note, averaging 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 56 percent shooting after the All-Star break.
As for the two Suns youngsters being offered, Bender is a versatile big who may be able to shoot, defend multiple positions and function as a secondary playmaker. Chriss is a super athletic 4 whose three-point shot impressed after the All-Star break, though his toughness and dunking ability has somewhat overshadowed his defensive and rebounding flaws.
Noah still has three years and a whopping $55.6 million left on his contract, but that may actually help the Suns talk down the Knicks as far as what they have to give up. Taking on Noah and trading for KP would mean one of Alan Williams or Alex Len is gone in free agency, but that was probably the case anyway.
Noah’s arrival would also signal the end of Tyson Chandler‘s time in Phoenix, and general manager Ryan McDonough would need to line up a separate trade for him, but that could be taken care of.
In the event the Knicks are scared away by a point guard with a history of knee problems — even if Bledsoe was healthy the last two seasons and has played at an All-Star level — they could focus on acquiring assets like Warren, Bender, Chriss and/or the No. 4 overall pick.
Marshall Plumlee would need to be included in a couple of these deals for salary-matching purposes, but if Phoenix could focus on one of these options where they only have to give up one of Warren and the No. 4 pick (so they could either keep Warren or draft a rookie wing), they’d be well off with a two-man tandem of KP and Booker.
Chriss and Bender both have a lot of potential, but they’re also very flawed, and young projects with high ceilings don’t always pan out. They’re nowhere near sure things, which Porzingis absolutely is on both ends of the floor.
Phoenix could build its core from there, minimizing the draft bust potential by trading for a sure thing who is still on the same timeline as Booker and whatever young pieces are still left.
The Suns have the assets to make a move for a Jimmy Butler or even a DeAndre Jordan, whose name came up Tuesday night. They could be the third team in a Paul George deal that brings Kevin Love to the Valley, or they could facilitate sign-and-trade for Paul Millsap.
Next: 2017 NBA Draft - 5 possible draft-day trades we want to see
But if they’re smart, the only acceptable trade for putting all those assets to good use would be to pair Kristaps Porzingis and Devin Booker as the next chapter of Phoenix Suns basketball.