Phoenix Suns: A potential trade with the Houston Rockets

Why the Phoenix Suns do it

The obvious get for the Phoenix Suns here is the first round pick. Even if it ends up being the 30th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, a first round pick is a first round pick.

The Suns own all their own first round selections, plus the Milwaukee Bucks’ pick from the Eric Bledsoe trade, which could convey as early as next year. Being able to add three firsts to a young core of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Josh Jackson would be fantastic for the rebuilding Suns.

It also affords them the opportunity to make a trade if one presents itself. Not necessarily a “Let’s throw all our picks plus Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender in the ring for Anthony Davis” kind of deal, but a deal like the Mikal Bridges trade could always be on the horizon, and first round picks are the currency of choice in the NBA.

Ryan Anderson could fill a valuable role as well. Right now, he’s essentially a better version of Dragan Bender, and hopefully he could teach the latter a thing or two about being a stretch-4. The ability to have one of Anderson, Bender or Ariza at the 4 would be very useful for a team that might be space-challenged with Josh Jackson at the 3.

It’s not even just an upgrade from Bender to Anderson, though: it’s an upgrade from Warren to Anderson. Warren (or Ariza) would likely have had to play mostly as a 4 to make room for Booker, Jackson and Bridges on the wing. Swapping out a guy who shot 22.2 percent from deep last year for one who shot 38.6 percent is a world of difference.

Moving Tyson Chandler also allows Marquese Chriss to slide down a position. He can battle with the newly-acquired Richaun Holmes to be Ayton’s primary backup, and his lack of shooting touch won’t hurt him as much at the 5.