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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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Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Celtics Settle For Tucker

The Boston Celtics are another contender reportedly eyeing P.J. Tucker, and with their plethora of assets to offer, this might be McDonough’s best chance of walking away with a future first round pick.

Though superstar trades like Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin and Paul George will be higher priorities for Boston, if the asking price for those star targets is too high, general manager Danny Ainge could set his sights lower in an attempt to bolster the league’s 18th-ranked defense.

Tucker is one potential solution, and he’d probably be one of the cheaper acquisitions for Ainge that wouldn’t require him to break up a core he likes so much. The real prize would be a future first-rounder, but to balance salaries, Jonas Jerebko would work:

Jerebko is a rotation player under Brad Stevens, but he’s not an essential piece and Tucker’s versatility could help make up some of his minutes at the 4 anyway. Jerebko’s salary comes off the books this summer, so the Suns could either re-sign him as a veteran presence to ease the pressure on Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender or let him walk.

If Jerebko is too important to give up for Tucker, Tyler Zeller‘s contract also gets the job done.

The real question is what kind of first-rounder the Suns might be able to extract from Boston for their 31-year-old veteran. The Brooklyn Nets picks are obviously out of the question, but the Celtics own two extra first-rounders in 2019 (one from the Memphis Grizzlies, one from the Los Angeles Clippers).

The Grizzlies’ pick is top-eight protected, while Lob City’s pick is lottery-protected. Both franchises could look very different two years from now thanks to their aging cores, which would be something for Ainge and McDonough to consider because of the pick protections.

However, whether it’s one of these extra firsts or one of Boston’s own in the distant future, the Suns would be able to overstep their boundaries a bit if the Celtics had to settle for Tucker.

However, Ainge’s attention will probably be set on higher profile moves at the deadline, and even if the Celtics don’t land a blockbuster deal, the time spent on negotiating could open the door for another Tucker suitor to land him first.

Ainge also notoriously overvalues his assets as a stubbornly patient type, so sacrificing a first for a 31-year-old rental might be a bit much, especially if the Celtics feel confident they can sign Gordon Hayward in free agency and reunite him with Brad Stevens.

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