Phoenix Suns: Grading Chris Paul deal that makes them contenders
By Duncan Smith
The Phoenix Suns made the biggest splash in the early stages of the NBA offseason, trading for Chris Paul. Let’s take a look at how the deal grades out.
Well, it’s been more than nine months since NBA teams could make trades, and teams didn’t wait long for the first blockbuster deal. Shortly after the transaction period opened at noon EST, the OKC Thunder and Phoenix Suns made a huge trade involving Chris Paul and Abdul Nader getting sent to Phoenix in exchange for four players and a draft pick.
It’s a deal that’s been rumored to be in the works for days now, and the final structure is fairly similar to what was expected. Let’s take a look at the players who changed teams:
This deal includes a first-round pick which is top-12 protected in 2022, top-10 protected in 2023, top-eight protected in 2024 and becomes unprotected in 2025 if it doesn’t convey earlier.
The Thunder are left with an ever-growing treasure trove of young players and draft assets, and they remain too talented to be able to tank anytime soon. Of course, that only means that the Thunder have more wheeling and dealing left to do, because their goal in 2020 is to begin a full rebuild.
It remains too soon to predict just how that may play out, but Thunder general manager Sam Presti has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. It’s going to be fascinating to see how things play out in Oklahoma City.
First, however, let’s take a look at this trade and grade it for both teams, starting with the Thunder.