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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
Dec 26, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) blocks the shot of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The First Noel (Trade)

Thanks to T.J. McConnell playing so well as the starting point guard, Nerlens Noel slowly reviving his value ahead of Jahlil Okafor, and the imminent return of point forward Ben Simmons, it’s unlikely the Philadelphia 76ers will be in the market for a high-profile point guard like Bledsoe.

However, even with Joel Embiid hurt and the playoffs slipping out of reach, the Sixers are clearly on the rise. The Process is finally taking shape, and adding a two-way player like Bledsoe — who wouldn’t be expected to be as much of a playmaker with Simmons on the court — could be a huge boon to Philly’s ascent.

The Suns should have no interest in trading for Jahlil Okafor and his defensive flaws, but if Philly is okay with clearing their center logjam by moving Noel instead, a Bledsoe trade would make some sense.

With Alex Len still being an enigma and heading for restricted free agency, the Suns could take an alternative path and go all in on the restricted free agency of a more defensively inclined big man. Noel is more injury-prone than Len, but his ceiling is also much higher at this point.

If McDonough could swindle the Sixers into giving up a future first-round pick as well, that’d be even more reassuring, since Noel’s injury history and regressive numbers this season (8.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 0.9 BPG in 19.4 MPG) don’t exactly make him a sure thing.

However, the Sixers would probably rather wait it out with McConnell and see how Simmons handles his point forward role, especially since trading Okafor should be the priority over trading Noel. Under that line of reasoning, including a future first-rounder — even with so many at their disposal — would be borderline insanity for a player Philly might not actually want.

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