Team officials “love” the chemistry the Suns have established this season and aren’t looking to make a trade ahead of this season’s deadline unless it’s an “amazing” deal, sources tell Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
As Rankin writes, the Suns’ front office – led by general manager Brian Gregory – is open to having trade conversations leading up to February 5, but is happy with its current roster and the team’s direction.
Phoenix is also eager to see how guard Jalen Green fits in with this group, per Rankin. Green was one of the club’s major offseason additions but has been limited to just two appearances as a Sun due to hamstring issues. He’s on track to play on Tuesday for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half months. Given the timing of his return, the former No. 2 overall pick could function as a de facto deadline acquisition for the Suns.
After trading Kevin Durant and waiving Bradley Beal over the summer, Phoenix was widely viewed as a retooling team that would take a step back and end up firmly in lottery territory. However, the club has exceeded expectations and is off to a 26-17 start. While they currently hold the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, the Suns are just a single game back of the No. 4 Timberwolves.
Although the Suns are wary of shaking up their roster in a major way, that doesn’t mean they won’t make at least one minor move at the deadline. As Rankin points out, veteran big man Nick Richards is viewed as a trade candidate on his $5MM expiring contract. Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro have been Phoenix’s primary fives this season, while 2025 lottery pick Khaman Maluach is considered the team’s center of the future, making Richards the odd man out.
The Suns are also operating just narrowly above the luxury tax line, and while owner Mat Ishbia has shown a willingness in recent years to pay a premium on player payroll, ducking out of tax territory would be a financially prudent move with future repeater penalties in mind. They could accomplish that as part of a Richards trade.
Additionally, power forward is one area that the Suns may want to upgrade going forward, Rankin writes, noting that they pursued Jonathan Kuminga last summer and have been using two wings – Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale – as their starting forwards this season. Still, addressing the four could be an offseason priority rather than something Phoenix looks to do during the season.
Dillon Brooks is the greatest teammate ever. He leaves a trail of love wherever he goes (MEM, HOU, PHX). Ill take his antics every day if it means my team is united and plays for each other. Worth it.
that is not what happens of he wouldn’t be traded. He causes chaos and gets the team out of synch by his dunb fouls. Just watch he will be over agressive and cause a flagrant or an ejection. You can’t do that in the playoffs.
Yeah, he can go overboard at times and needs to be on the court more than he realizes. I think the point is the Suns are much happier to have them than to not.
If he just plays the game the right way and not let emotions take over he would be coveted by every team being a 2 way player.
Are you still taking about Brooks or Draymond now?
could be both
This is the way
Suns results speak for themselves. But Dillion is extremely cringy to watch play and his shot mechanics make a Shaq free throw look good.
Mechanics or no Shaq would’ve never shot .351 from deep and .851 from deep. As long as you can get your shot off and it goes on at a halfway decent rate no one cares about mechanics.
The Suns had to shoot over 50% from deep just to beat the Nets last night. They played with a lot of fire but they’re missing something. I would not rule out a trade.
Jalen Green coming back is kind of like making a trade. Lets see how he fits in but he definitely gives them another scorer at the rim.
I do wanna point out something though. Nurkic was trash in PHX but he is balling out of control in Utah. Take that for whats it worth. The old regime didnt know how to utilize Nurk perhaps.
The old regime couldn’t figure out how to use Durant and Booker effectively, you expect them to figure out Nurkìc?