Phoenix Suns: 5 trades team should make before deadline

4. Terry Rozier

Technically this could be another Troy Daniels trade, but unlike the others that are simply looking to cash in on his expiring contract, this move would be made with the purpose of making Terry Rozier the Suns’ starting point guard moving forward.

Daniels’ 3-point shooting isn’t enough to get the job done, even with the Boston Celtics knowing they won’t be able to afford to keep Rozier in restricted free agency this summer. Danny Ainge would probably ask for a protected first round pick in the distant future.

There are a few obvious reasons Rozier might make sense in Phoenix. He’d be the easiest point guard to acquire on the trade market who might actually fill in as a capable starter one day. He’s still young at 24 years old, which fits with the timeline of Phoenix’s rebuild. Trading for him would give the Suns the inside track to re-sign him this summer, since they’d be able to match any offer.

There’s also no question he’s performed better when he’s been empowered with a starting role:

• 2017-18 (starter): 16 GP, 15.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, .381/.389/.750 shooting splits
• 2017-18 (bench): 64 GP, 10.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, .401/.377/.780 shooting splits
• 2018-19 (starter): 8 GP, 15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.1 APG, .472/.417/.941 shooting splits
• 2018-19 (bench): 43 GP, 7.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, .359/.335/.761 shooting splits

The sample sizes are small, but Rozier’s performance as a starter in the playoffs during Boston’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals only reinforces it: Scary Terry is indeed much more frightening when he’s in a starting role — as he would be in Phoenix.

However, there are obvious pitfalls here. Rozier is a good defender when engaged, but he doesn’t possess Melton’s stifling upside on that end. Scary Terry has never shot 40 percent from the field in a single one of his four NBA seasons, and he’s not much of a playmaker.

If the Suns are going to trade for a younger point guard, it needs to be a more established one, or one with immense upside. Rozier is an inherent risk because of his erratic play this season, and Phoenix might be better off just sticking with Melton rather than giving up a future draft asset for another youngster trying to prove he’s a starting-caliber point guard in this league.