5 reasons the Phoenix Suns should avoid a Kyrie Irving trade
4. Josh Jackson would need to be included
Bledsoe is the starting point for any Kyrie Irving trade (and pretty much any other trade for a star), but Josh Jackson is the make-or-break point.
According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, a Kyrie Irving trade would already be done if the Suns had been willing to offer a package of Bledsoe, Jackson and Phoenix’s 2018 first round draft pick coming from the Miami Heat (top-seven protected).
However, as Arizona Sports 98.7‘s John Gambadoro reports, Jackson remains off limits in any Irving trade. ESPN‘s Ramona Shelburne added that the Suns have reassured their new No. 4 overall pick of this as well.
The Phoenix Suns will NOT include Josh Jackson in any trade for Kyrie Irving.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 25, 2017
On paper, the Suns seem like a perfect trade partner for Kyrie Irving, or any available star for that matter. They have the collection of established talent (Bledsoe), desirable young players (Jackson, T.J. Warren, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis), draft picks and even veteran salary cap filler (Tyson Chandler, Jared Dudley) usually required to pull off a blockbuster swap.
But even though ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Suns are one the teams that has made an offer for Kyrie already, the Cavaliers are seeking a blue-chipper in any deal, per ESPN‘s Zach Lowe.
Even for the contingent of Suns fans that’s still high on Dragan Bender, the only players on Phoenix’s roster that fit that description are Devin Booker (obviously off limits) and Josh Jackson, who the front office was ecstatic to select when he slid to No. 4.
No offense to T.J. Warren and how much fun it is picturing him with the Cavaliers, but the Suns probably aren’t going to get away with substituting him in for Jackson here.
For the last 21 minutes I have been thinking about how good T.J. Warren would be with LeBron
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) July 21, 2017
It’s a stretch to say the Suns should hold off on trading for one of the best point guards in the league who hasn’t reached his prime because they want to keep an unproven 20-year-old, but Jackson is the defensive presence and potential franchise pillar Phoenix needs alongside Booker on the wing.
To that end, the Suns would be right to say no to any Kyrie Irving deal involving Josh Jackson, just as the Cavaliers are wise to continue asking for him. If the Suns were going to move their No. 4 pick, Kristaps Porzingis was the play on draft night, not Kyrie Irving two months later.
With Aug. 4 approaching, the Suns will soon be able to legally trade Jackson. Only time will tell if owner Robert Sarver can remain patient and if this front office will stand by its word as it tries to repair its league-wide image when it comes to player relations.