Top 3 trade targets of Phoenix Suns!
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
The Suns made a pitch to the Brooklyn Nets about getting Kyrie Irving and may have wanted to keep him paired with Kevin Durant, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. They could try getting Irving again this summer when he enters unrestricted free agency.
It would be risky for myriad reasons, not least of which is the fact Irving last played more than 60 games in 2018-19 and has topped 70 games once since 2014-15.
Still, if Phoenix wants a more dynamic point guard than an aging Chris Paul—who turned 38 last Saturday—then Irving would certainly qualify. Despite all the time missed these past few seasons, he has averaged 27.1 points on 49.1/39.5/91.4 shooting since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Suns could perhaps build a sign-and-trade around Ayton, which could weaken them on the interior, but they might decide the perimeter upgrade is worth it. An attack featuring all three of Durant, Irving and Booker sounds like a cheat code and would put opposing defenses into an endless stream of pick-your-poison decisions.
Damian Lillard, Portland
If Paul is on the Suns roster by the June 28 deadline, his $30.8 million salary becomes fully guaranteed. By waiving him before that date, Phoenix would owe him only $15.8 million. Wojnarowski noted that Paul's personal preference would be to remain with the Suns, but swapping him out to insert Lillard is an attractive move for a franchise starving for its first NBA championship.
Lillard, who is set to turn 33 in July, is five years younger than Paul and has much more offensive potency. He ranked third in the NBA with 32.2 points per game this season while adding 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Adding Lillard to a roster that includes stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker would make Phoenix the instant favorite to win a title next season.
At this stage in his career, Paul can no longer be counted on as a top offensive option. He averaged a career-low 13.9 points this season, and he suffered a groin injury in the playoffs that doomed the Suns' chances, as they fell in the second round to the Denver Nuggets.
Royce O'Neale, Brooklyn Nets
It feels too soon into Durant's tenure to say Phoenix definitely needs a major shakeup, but clearly, this rotation isn't deep enough.
Filling the final starting spot with a two-way contributor like Royce O'Neale could be the kind of upgrade that completes the championship puzzle.
The veteran swingman plays a low-maintenance game built around defense and a three-point attack that keeps adding volume without losing efficiency. This season, he averaged a career-high 2.1 triples per outing while matching his previous best with a 38.9 percent conversion rate.
If Phoenix can find the trade chips needed to nab O'Neale, this would be the best way to supplement what the franchise already bet on being a championship core.
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