The final trade
The primary player that the Clippers would trade in this scenario has already been identified as Pat Beverley. However, the Phoenix Suns also need to give up someone too, obviously.
Luckily, Hoops Habit has identified the most likely Phoenix Suns players to be traded in the past. No. 1 on the list: T.J. Warren.
Without going into too much detail, T.J. Warren isn’t a great fit on the Suns, and as previously stated, there’s a big logjam on the wing.
The Clippers could really use a scorer like Warren, who could either start if Gallo is injured, or form a killer one-two punch off the bench with Lou Williams. Lou Will and Warren are better scorers than most starters, and putting them next to two of the three of Mike Scott, Montrezl Harrell and Marcin Gortat would make for one of the best second units in the league.
Warren is younger than Beverley, and on a reasonable long-term contract for a player entering his prime. Wesley Johnson is just a salary throw-in to finish the deal, and he’s on an expiring contract too.
The Clippers get a young player who can both help them in the current playoff race and could also be part of their next core along with SGA, Robinson and Harris. In return, they only have to give up two veterans who likely wouldn’t re-sign next year. To even things out a bit more, they’ll throw in a second round pick, and even then that’s the only long-term asset they give up.
It may seem like the Phoenix Suns are just mortgaging the future for the present, but keep in mind that they’ll also free up future cap space in the move. With Ariza’s and Tyson Chandler‘s deals coming off the books, now combined with freeing up the $10.8 million owed to Warren, they’ll have close to enough cap space to make a max-level offer.
On the court, the deal makes a ton of sense for both parties, and it will also help both teams to build for the future. It seems like only a matter of time until the Suns make a deal like this one.