Phoenix Suns: 6 potential 2019 NBA Draft trades
2. The obvious trade that won’t happen
Mike Conley will turn 32 years old before the 2019-20 NBA season begins. He’s missed 12, 70, 13, 26 and 12 games over the last five seasons, respectively. He’s owed $32.5 million next season, with a $34.5 million early termination option for 2020-21 that he’d be crazy to turn down. Gambadoro has repeatedly ruled Conley out, and it appears he’s a top target for the Utah Jazz.
And yet, the Phoenix Suns should absolutely trade for Mike Conley if they have the chance to do so in the coming weeks.
It’s easy to see why a Conley trade could backfire, and there are plenty of pitfalls to even working out a potential deal, but the Suns — and their fanbase — are kidding themselves if they think they’ll be able to do much better in the draft, on the trade market or in free agency this summer. Mike Conley might be the best point guard who’s realistically available right now.
When the Memphis Grizzlies moved up to No. 2 in the draft lottery, they essentially earned the right to draft their next franchise point guard in Ja Morant. That made Conley even more available than he already was, given his age, hefty contract and Memphis’ new direction.
Even with his injury history, age and contract factored in, Conley played in 70 games last year and was the consummate professional for a terribly disappointing Grizzlies team. He averaged a career-high 21.1 points and 6.4 assists per game, shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range.
Those numbers are lightyears ahead of what the Suns had last year, and still significantly ahead of most of their other options this summer. Conley is still a very good defender, he’s a locker room leader with experience and he’s the mentoring type. Maybe he doesn’t want to spend what’s left of his prime in Phoenix, but he wouldn’t pull a Trevor Ariza and just mail it in either.
For a deal to work, Tyler Johnson would almost certainly have to opt into his $19.2 million player option to become trade-eligible. This seems unlikely to happen before the draft, since he has until June 29 to do so, but let’s just pretend he does for a minute:
Johnson is a useful backup and combo guard, but he’s really best used as the third guard on a competitive NBA team. Warren is fully expendable at this point, as is the No. 6 overall pick if the Suns can snag an above-average point guard who’d make Devin Booker’s life easier.
(Even if Johnson waits until after the draft to opt in, the Suns could still move him, Warren and whoever they select with the No. 6 pick, as long as that rookie still appeals to Memphis.)
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies get an offer far better than they’re likely to receive elsewhere, adding the No. 6 pick to their second overall selection that will almost certainly become Ja Morant. Between two top-six selections and Jaren Jackson Jr., the foundations of the rebuild would be laid out, and Warren and Johnson are still young enough to help the team grow without bottoming out.
Despite the obvious drawbacks of a Conley trade, plenty writers have agreed for about a month now that such a deal would make sense for both sides, including scribes from the Arizona Republic, Bleacher Report, The Daily Memphian and The Ringer.
There’s inherent risk, but what would the Suns really be giving up for a legitimate chance at giving Booker help and giving this rebuild legs? A combo bench guard with one year left on his contract, an injury-prone wing who doesn’t fit with the team’s long-term plans and the No. 6 pick in a weak draft class? That’s more than worth the gamble for a Suns squad that desperately needs to take a step forward next season, even if it only means approaching 30-35 wins.