The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
It’s a tough decision for the Suns to consider: trading Grayson Allen. He has truly proved to be a winning player throughout his tenure in the Valley. He came to the Suns as part of the deal that sent Deandre
Ayton to Portland and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. Even if he was not the biggest name involved, you could argue that his impact has been greater than what the Suns sent out.
Allen arrived in Phoenix and immediately put on a show in year one, shooting a career best 46.1% from three-point land. This allowed him to secure the 4-year, $70 million contract he is currently on and win the fans’ hearts here. That being said, he has played fewer games each year he has been here and has a sizable contract to trade.
Even though I value Allen for what he brings to the team and have learned a lot this year with his offensive game, now may be the time to move on from him. Though he only suited up in 51 games this year, he was still valuable to this team. He had a career night, erupting for 42 points and breaking a Suns franchise record with 10 threes in a game. He can still shoot the hell out of the rock, make scrappy plays on the defensive end, and even create a lot driving to the basket.
That is why it would make sense for the Suns to keep him and continue running with the veteran. However, there are signs the Suns are finally moving on from him.
To start, his contract is a very tradable asset. Coming in at a bit above $18 million this year is nice, as it could fit into multiple teams’ books without handicapping too much. With him still a solid scorer on offense and a quality bench player for a contender, it could be worth the swing for some teams. This could come in handy for the Suns, as they are dealing with some key free agents—one of them being Collin Gillespie, who has potentially taken that offensive bench crown from Allen.
You also have Koby Brea, the two-way sniper, whom the Suns took in the draft last year from Kentucky. I personally thought his shot would be bigger this year, but going into the next one, he is also competing with Gillespie and Allen for the offensive three-point bench player role. This could lead the Suns to realize that the youth movement they preached should begin.
This could also help the Suns shed money, making it easier on their books. As we know, the team is paying $20+ million in dead cap each season as they stretched and waived Nassir Little and Bradley Beal over two offseasons. This already limits how much they can spend, so saving money is always key for future offseasons.
With Allen gone, you then have to wonder what the Suns could get in return for him. Well, there are a bunch of options; it just depends on what the team would rather have: a player who can fit a role they are missing or some draft capital. Since the Suns traded their future picks away to acquire additional capital, whether it be a first-round pick or multiple seconds, could help the team in multiple ways.
The team could also consider using the contract to secure a piece that would help the team. As we know, the clamoring has continued for a power forward to come to Phoenix, where fans have clung to every name mentioned to fill that role. Well, with Allen not only being a solid contract and player, but also someone the team could net in return.
Names like Obi Toppin, PJ Washington, and Santi Aldama could all be obtained while using Allen’s contract. Those could be guys who, yes, are not screaming star players, but could fill a role better fit for the team’s direction, adding some size to the front court. All while freeing up space for the young guards and wings to continue to grow. Personally, I’d explore the option of bringing in a power forward for Allen.
There is a reality where this exercise does not matter. The Suns could say that we value GA more than anyone else and want to keep him. He is part of the core and has been a great piece, so let’s not disrupt this. Mat Ishbia preached continuity at the end-of-season press conference to make sense. The front office should consider this as his deal nears its end; it could be the best the Suns get for him after such a great year.
