It’s been a while since I dove into one of these articles, so let’s have some fun this afternoon. With the offseason inching closer and closer with less than a month to the draft, things will heat up once the season is over. This leads to even more discussion among fans about what the team should pursue, with the deadline to strike fast approaching.
Some speculation has already transpired, and this name has popped up a bit. At first, I overlooked it, but after further analysis, it makes sense for
the Suns.
That is right, ladies and gentlemen, today we will be discussing PJ Washington as an option to fill the power-forward void that this team needs. Will he change the position overnight? Probably not, but his added size and skill set could be perfect for filling a need, while still allowing the young guys to develop.
How could it get done?
Well, for the Suns and Mavericks, this one could fall apart in multiple ways if they do a one-for-one swap. The Suns could trade either Grayson Allen, Dillon Brooks, or Royce O’Neale to get this one across the finish line. In two of these deals, the Suns would be taking back more money, making it harder to re-sign their key free agents.
If you send out Dillon…
Or Grayson…
How about Royce?
Which would most likely get done?
Even though this deal could be done in three ways, it is clear which is best for both parties. By trading O’Neale, the Suns take on almost $9 million extra, which would make it difficult to re-sign Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin.
With a trade involving Dillon Brooks, yes, the Suns would save money but also lose a big leader in their locker room. Brooks came over this year and embodied what the Suns want in their new basketball program identity. It would make no sense for them to move off him, especially if they are planning to work on an extension and he is at Mercury games all the time.
That leaves us with the last deal: trading Allen away to bring in Washington. Even though the Suns do take on more money, this would create a need for size in the front court while still leaving some other salary to trade for.
Why could this one get done?
As we know, I usually turn down these trades because they involve large salaries and more moving parts. In a deal that uses Grayson Allen to get some more size, it makes sense for both clubs. Even if Allen has been a huge guard, the rotation is too deep.
If the plan is to maintain continuity, I’d expect neither Devin Booker nor Jalen Green to be traded. Bringing back Gillespie and Goodwin as well already leaves the team with four guards. Not to mention that they have Jamaree Bouyea and Koby Brea as well, trying to pry minutes away and find themselves in this rotation.
That makes it hard to plug Allen into this rotation if you want the other guys to grow as well. Allen also had a very solid year this season. Yes, he was injured and only suited up in 51 games (his lowest since 2020-2021), but he also had some stellar performances, like the game vs the New Orleans Pelicans, where he set a franchise record for most threes made in a game with 10.
He can still provide some solid three-point scoring while also attacking the lane and being an underrated driver. Allen still provides those hustle plays as well, which lead to steals or big moments, allowing him to showcase an ability to be effective on both ends. On a team where he can be either the 5th starter or a key bench piece, he will be valuable.
Ultimately, though, with Gillespie’s rise this year, it does look like Allen could be the odd one out. The Suns could still value the veteran and want to bring him back, but in a year where he balled out, they could also sell high on him.
By bringing in Washington, the Suns then add a true power forward to their rotation. This then allows them to use O’Neale as a bench piece or as an additional trade asset to garner another addition. Washington can come in and be the starting four, while Rasheer Fleming and Ryan Dunn still get minutes as well.
This addition will not change the narrative immediately, but it fills a hole the team has. It needs more size, more rebounding, and an additional floor spacer to hit some threes. Washington fits that tier perfectly for the Suns without sacrificing their entire arsenal.
Washington’s contract may be a hindrance, since his extension kicks in this year under a four-year, $90M deal. This may scare some Suns fans off, but with him turning 28 as the NBA season starts, he still has time to grow and is not an aging point. Allowing him to fill the role for now, but if down the line he is injury prone or someone passes him in the rotation, he can be a tradable contract.
His deal is around $20 million a season, with it increasing slightly every year. This would still avoid overpaying amid rising salaries and give the Suns a plug-and-play piece now and a question mark for the future.
For Mavericks, this would also make sense given their direction. With the firing of Jason Kidd and a new front office being brought in, it seems the build around Cooper Flagg will begin. That means they will look to sell their veterans or players who play a similar position. With the Mavs having Washington play the same role they would want Flagg in, it could make sense to move off him. Why stunt Flagg’s growth with Washington there?
The Mavericks also have a logjam of these wings/forwards. The one thing they do need is more three-point shooting, as they ranked 26th in the league at 34.4% as a team. Putting a player like Allen on that roster could help them address an area of need while also giving the Suns one.
Allen’s contract is also shorter than Washington’s, giving them an out on paying him long-term and trying to make the fit work with Flagg. For a Mavericks team that does not have its first next year, a retool could be a big risk, but if they can get additional draft capital or some players fit their playstyle, they could be a surprise, just like Phoenix this year.
This one could solve problems for both teams, so I’d consider it if I were in Brian Gregory’s shoes. With this trade, Washington is not the end-all be-all move, but it helps the Suns take a step forward in a gauntlet of a Western Conference that keeps getting stronger. What do you think, though? Would you consider this deal? Why or why not?
