After being eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the West Semifinals, the Phoenix Suns are once again forced to regroup after yet another disappointing playoff loss. The Suns had the best record in the NBA last season but failed to make the Western Conference Finals after being stopped by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
This season, they went all in at the NBA trade deadline and acquired Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in hopes of making a run to the NBA Finals, only for those hopes to be dashed by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
After giving up so much to acquire Durant, getting better this offseason may be difficult, but perhaps not impossible. In fact, they may have an ace or two up their sleeve that could result in them acquiring an all-star. Phoenix already has two of the most explosive offensive players in the NBA in Durant and Devin Booker.
However, adding a third star could be enough to get them over the hump and result in them finally winning an NBA championship next season. Let’s take a look at three potential trades that could land Phoenix that third star, starting with one that would land them a six-time all-star.
The Chicago Bulls failed to live up to expectations this season, and they could be looking to make big changes this summer, including making seven-time all-star DeMar DeRozan available. That could benefit the Suns as they look to build around Booker and Durant, although DeRozan is perhaps a questionable fit.
Even then, few can deny his talent and his ability to score and create consistently, even at 33 years old. If the Suns are serious about moving on from Ayton, the Bulls may be interested in trading for him, possibly increasing the likelihood of a deal between the two teams.
The Bulls, after all, failed to make the playoffs despite a core that featured three all-stars. With Nikola Vucevic becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer and the team choosing not to extend him, they are probably hoping to get younger at the position, and Ayton would allow them to do just that.
Thus, a straight-up swap of Ayton for DeRozan might work for both teams. Ayton would allow the Bulls to get younger while the Suns get a talent upgrade and a third star. Of course, acquiring DeRozan would leave the Suns without a starting center, but with them being a contender, they could sign a ring-chasing big in free agency for the minimum. Or, they could move Chris Paul in a deal that nets them a center.
NBA Trades: The Phoenix Suns land James Harden in a major sign and trade.
The Suns have recently been linked to Philadelphia 76ers star and former MVP James Harden, who can become a free agent this summer. The Suns, of course, won’t have cap space to sign Harden outright, but they could work out a sign and trade with him and the 76ers. Phoenix could send back Chris Paul and Landry Shamet, giving the 76ers some compensation for losing their second-best player.
With Harden, Phoenix would have their Paul replacement, albeit a 33-year-old one. Still, he is a player who is capable of taking over games with his scoring and passing. Pair that with Durant and Booker, and the Suns would have the most explosive offensive trio in the NBA. Of course, that could work out about as well as it did for Brooklyn with Durant and Harden. Then again, that experiment likely failed because of Kyrie Irving, not Harden.
As a result, there would be limited downside to acquiring Harden for Phoenix. Especially with the Suns possibly looking to move on from Paul this summer. Using him in a sign-and-trade to acquire Harden would kill two birds with one stone, including giving Phoenix a third star.
NBA Trades: The Phoenix Suns land Kyrie Irving in a major offseason trade.
Ayton struggled in the team’s playoff series against the Nuggets, and rumors state that he could be traded this summer. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are rumored to be interested in Ayton, making them a potential trade partner. However, their first order of business will be to re-sign All-Star Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks acquired Irving in a blockbuster trade from the Nets but failed to work out an extension with him, leaving the door open for him to bolt in free agency.
While there don’t appear to be many potential landing spots for Irving, the Suns could be an option, though it would require the Mavericks’ help to make it happen. If Irving agreed to join Phoenix, the Suns and Mavericks could work out a blockbuster sign-and-trade in which Paul and Ayton are shipped to Dallas while Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. join the Suns.
For the Mavericks, although re-signing Irving is probably their top goal, if he agrees to join Phoenix, playing ball on a sign-and-trade would at least get them a player that they are rumored to be interested in. It would also land them Paul, who, while nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, could help Dallas next season.
After that, things would be very much up in the air for Dallas unless Ayton thrives with the Mavericks. Despite that, the Mavericks can’t afford to let Irving leave for nothing. In fact, they would almost certainly take back Paul and Ayton, even if it’s a lateral move at best for a team that underachieved this season and missed the playoffs.
Irving would be a wildcard acquisition for the Phoenix Suns.
As for Phoenix, adding Irving in a sign-and-trade for the cost of Paul and Ayton, a player who, although talented, has underachieved, would be a steal. Despite being a headcase, Irving is also incredibly talented and could give Phoenix an impossible-to-stop offensive trio when paired with Booker and Durant. Additionally, McGee would give the Suns a stop-gap starter and Hardaway Jr. would improve their depth and provide more shooting.
Adding Irving could make the Suns the team to beat in the West, though it may also backfire. He’s caused headaches for the three teams he was previously on and hasn’t been in Dallas long enough to do the same. Still, it’s clear that the new Suns’ owner Matt Ishbia wants to win now, and if Irving wants to come to Phoenix, Ishbia could potentially make that happen.