Phoenix Suns: 3 potential trades for Mike Conley

Trade No. 2

Bridges has the most upside as a 3-and-D wing who can guard multiple positions, but if the Suns can talk Memphis into Josh Jackson’s alpha mentality, tenacious defense and upside as a former top-five pick who’s only halfway through his second NBA season, this is another avenue they could pursue.

Josh Jackson hasn’t made the leap in year 2, but he’s still only 21 years old and has played much better off the bench of late. In 11 January games so far, he’s posted 14.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals a night, shooting 47.6 percent from the field and a respectable 35.3 percent from 3. He’s really been better since the start of December, the hitch in his jump shot has been drastically reduced and a change of scenery could accelerate his growth.

Giving up on Jackson’s potential so early would be tough call, and his development would be sure to ignite upon his arrival on Beale Street (as pretty much every other jilted ex-Sun’s career has done upon leaving). However, if the Grizzlies are interested in him, Anderson, Elie Okobo and a first-rounder, that’s a pretty fair exchange:

Okobo is the salary cap filler, and though he has potential as a score-first guard, he’s struggled in his limited time on the floor. The defensive instincts and playmaking upside Melton has shown thus far makes Okobo more expendable, and since Phoenix should be shielding Melton from trade talks if at all possible, Okobo is the alternative if Memphis requires another youngster to groom.

As for the draft pick, there’s an inherent risk with offering an unprotected first-rounder as soon as 2020. That would give the Suns one season to get their collective s**t together, and should the injury-prone backcourt of Booker and Conley fail to stay healthy, there’s a very good chance that first-rounder could be another top-five selection. Hell, there’s a good chance it’s still a lottery pick even if Conley and Book do stay healthy.

However, at some point, the Phoenix Suns have got to stop worrying about the next NBA Draft and start getting back to playoff-caliber basketball. This young team has accepted losing as its reality and a part of its culture, and the whole point of trading for Conley would be to kickstart this franchise back to more competitive habits.

This is a risk that has to be taken, and an unprotected 2020 pick from a current bottom-feeder would certainly catch the Grizzlies’ attention compared to what other potential suitors can offer.