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Phoenix Suns: 10 Potential Trades As Sellers Before 2017 NBA Trade Deadline

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and center Tyson Chandler (4) run up the court in the first half of the NBA game against the Miami Heat at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and center Tyson Chandler (4) run up the court in the first half of the NBA game against the Miami Heat at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Jan 22, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Suns beat the Raptors 115-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Raptors Go All In

According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Toronto Raptors are another potential suitor for P.J. Tucker as they attempt to go all in on challenging the Cleveland Cavaliers for Eastern supremacy. Their trade for Serge Ibaka signals as much, and adding Tucker to that bench would really help on the defensive end.

Tucker has defended — and enjoyed success against — everyone from Carmelo Anthony to Anthony Davis to DeMarcus Cousins this season, and that kind of versatility off the bench would be a huge boon to the NBA’s 16th ranked defense.

Jared Sulinger has been virtually useless to the Raptors this season, so why not get a defensive upgrade who could actually make a difference in a close playoff series?

The Suns would push for a future first-rounder (especially since Toronto still has one in 2017 even after dealing one to Orlando in the Ibaka trade), but the Raptors are going all in on their present. They have little need for first round picks that will probably be in the mid-20s as long as their core remains intact.

Would a 2019 pick be good enough for the Suns? You bet it would. Even better, Sullinger’s contract would come off the books this summer.

However, a first-rounder for a rental like Tucker — even a useful rental for a pick that doesn’t project to be very valuable — might be too much to give up for Toronto. This is one team that can afford to give up first-rounders right now, but it remains to be seen if McD could actually squeeze one out of Tucker.

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