With December 15th rapidly approaching, a majority of the free agents will be able to be traded, and discussions ahead of this deadline will pick up. With the deadline itself being under two months away,
happening on the sixth of February. This means rumors will start to swirl around the league on who is available, and possible deals can happen. So, with all that being said, I wanted to look at each player on this Suns team and put them in a tier based on their likelihood of being moved before the season ends.
There will be four tiers for these players, and they are listed here.
- Not Happening
- 1% Chance
- Possibly
- Names I’d Look Out For
All right, with all that being said, let’s get this started and look at the roster. The Suns have 17 players on the roster. They have 14 guaranteed roster spots and three two-way players, and yes, two-way players will be evaluated too because they can be traded.
An example of this occurred last year when former Sun Jared Butler was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline for Reggie Jackson. The 76ers, who were tanking, wanted to take a flyer on a young piece and did with Butler on the two-way and converted him to a standard deal when he arrived. The Wizards then waived Reggie Jackson, leaving an open two-way spot.
With that being said, though, let’s dive into the first category
Not Happening
This may be the largest pool of players because of the Suns’ overall success this season.
Jamaree Bouyea
This would make sense, as he was just brought in on a two-way and has earned minutes in this rotation with the injuries. Similar to Collin Gillespie from last year, this could be the Suns’ diamond-in-the-rough player. They cannot trade him and need to see what he can do in a guaranteed spot here before moving him.
Koby Brea
Brea would not be moved, as he was just selected in the last draft by this team. They felt he was the best shooter in college, and he has yet to prove that in the league with his limited play. Therefore, the development is still needed, and that means moving him makes no sense.
Isaiah Livers
Livers is the final two-way player, and it does not make sense to move him either. When he’s been healthy, he’s been a solid scorer on the wing and could develop into a nice piece. Another two-way player who has gotten an opportunity in the rotation should not be moved, but a spot should be created for them.
Devin Booker
Now that the two-way contracts are out of the way, let’s focus on the big dog in D Book. Clearly, they are not going ot be moving off of him. The franchise has stated multiple times that they are building around him and he is their guy. The recent extension he just got, which still hasn’t kicked in, shows that he is the definition of the Suns, and they are doing everything around him. So NO, he is not leaving, regardless of whether websites still have him in mock trades.
Collin Gillespie
Even if the front office dared to try this stunt, the fans would make sure their voices were heard. Arguably the fan favorite this year, Gillespie has deserved this appreciation in the Valley. Someone who was on a two-way and played due to injuries is single-handedly carrying a big chunk of this offense with the injuries to Devin Booker and Jalen Green. All while on a minimum contract, trying to prove his importance in this league. The Suns cannot lose him and will not, as he has become so valuable to them.
Mark Williams
One of the significant offseason acquisitions is to shake up this team and bring out this new identity and culture. Williams has been such a breath of fresh air at the center position, something this team has been searching for since the fall of Deandre Ayton and his time here. Even with his limited minutes, he continues to get better during his short tenure here, saying this feels like home. With a statement like that, alongside his outstanding play, it only makes sense that he is a part of the now and long-term plans.
Khaman Maluach
Similar to Brea, he was drafted by this team just a couple of months ago, and as a raw talent, he has yet to play much. Even if he has had a slower start, this is fine and not something to panic over. The Suns drafted him based on the potential of what he could be in this league, not on his ability to be an impact player in his rookie year. If that were the case, this team would have looked elsewhere, and it could be another reason why they traded for Mark Williams, anyway, insurance. He still has potential and can be someone for this team.
Rasheer Fleming
Once again, a rookie they traded up to draft is not being moved before he has had a significant chance to show what he has got. The Suns have exceeded expectations, allowing Fleming more development time in the G League than in NBA minutes. That said, later in the season, if he continues to develop, he could work his way into a solid role off the bench with his great defensive instincts and three-ball.
Jordan Goodwin
Goodwin has made himself a solid spot in this rotation in his return to Phoenix this year. After a solid year with the Lakers, he transitioned and plays a very similar role here. He has also been consistent on the offensive end, just as he was last year. His ability to hit a three-point shot (37%) this year has been practical, helping him in more ways than one. With his contract being a minimum deal as well, it does not make sense, as his value is worth more to this team than it is on the open market.
1% Chance
Dillon Brooks
You may think I am crazy putting Brooks here, but let me explain. Yes, he is the engine that keeps this Suns team going; he is always willing to fight and is the definition of what this team wants to be on both sides. That all being said, he has been super effective for this team and has also played up his value.
With no Booker and Green as of late, he has had to be the central part of this offense, and even with Booker, he was also doing it. I do not see this happening unless the Suns see a younger star out there who has low value. If the team wanted Brooks for that said star, maybe they would do it, but with how impactful Brooks has been, I do not see that happening
Ryan Dunn
Similar to Brooks Dunn, he has been solid for this team as a defender and stepping up in his role. Last year, the rookie saw sporadic minutes, and this year he has at least a bigger role that he feels more comfortable in. I do not see the Suns moving him, as they still believe in a sophomore player, but there is one case I do see. That would be if the Suns were adding some win-now talent, keeping Brooks, and using Dunn as some filler, since they have minimal draft capital. Will the Suns put themselves in that position, though? Most likely not.
Oso Ighodaro
If this were the first week of the season, fans would have a different outlook, but now Ighodaro has impressed in his new role. With Williams starting, Ighodaro can serve as the backup and thrive in a role better suited to him. He helps the Suns with his pass-first play and could be a piece they use to build around as this backup big.
The only reason I see him being traded is if he is used as a throw-in on a trade, but the Suns have another center who makes more sense for that.
Jalen Green
He has yet to suit up for a full two games for the team. Therefore, the likelihood of him being moved is very slim. The Suns have no idea what he is or can be for this team. Why give up on that possibility to see what he can be?
Now, they have been good without him, which makes him expendable. Who is to say the player they get back fits better? Who is to say he won’t take away from another big star who is already here? This leads me to believe the Suns still want to bet on and believe in Green, at least for this year. The only way he gets moved is if it is a trade for another young player who is also injured, which I do not see happening before February.
Possibly
Nigel Hayes-Davis
This one was probably the hardest one for me to place. Hayes-Davis is back in the NBA after some dominant years overseas, trying to find a spot back here. So far for the Suns, he has been given the opportunities to do so, especially early on in the year.
Unfortunately for Hayes-Davis, a lot of what he does best and succeeds in does not show up in the stat sheet. This leaves fans to question his impact on this team and what he can really do. The reason I have him here is that they could move off him, especially if they want to develop a younger player (Fleming). I could also see them holding onto him, though, especially if he has little to no value to the association. He can be a veteran leader for this one year, before his contract expires, if that is the case.
Grayson Allen
The most confusing contract on this roster for evaluating trade potential. Allen is on a contract of slightly less than $17 million this year, with increases over the next two years. With his contract being so high and teams being hindered by aprons, that is a primary reason he is possibly over another category.
Will teams see the value of Allen at this number and be willing to add it, or would they try to draft or sign a cheaper alternative? I also think Allen’s value to the Suns franchise and front office is higher than it is across the league. He is a solid starter, but on a championship-winning team, is that true six-man that gets you over that hump offensively? Will a team be willing to offer the right package for that, or will the Suns even be comfortable letting him go? Those questions keep him here.
Names I’d Look Out For
Royce O’Neale
O’Neale has been a valuable part of this team on both sides this year, so this one was hard to say definitely. If the Suns continue to be this hot team, then I think he has a chance of staying, but he does seem like one of the most movable players for many reasons.
One, he has been playing fantastically this year, shooting almost 41% from three and averaging 1.3 steals. Many teams around the league could use a veteran wing who is a switchable defender capable of playing either the three or four position.
Secondly, his contract is relatively minor compared to Allen’s, making only around $10 million for the next three years. All that, paired with the fact that the Suns already have a younger replacement on the roster, could make sense for them to trade O’Neale if the statements above align with their direction.
Nick Richards
Last but certainly not least is the player I expect to be traded before the season ends, and that is Nick Richards. Richards was acquired by the Suns at the last trade deadline for Josh Okogie, a trade many fans, including me, thought the Suns had hit a slam dunk on. Only to find out Richards looked so great because of how horrendous this center rotation was last year.
Coming into this season with the acquisitions of Williams and Maluach, and with Ighodaro on the roster as well, it was known that the center room was crowded. This season, Richards has fallen to third in the rotation and only gets time in certain matchups or when Williams is out due to a back-to-back. With his contract only being $5 million and center being a position of need, it would make sense for them to move off him for anything this year.
To save money for their key extensions in Gillespie and Williams in the offseason, and also to get another piece or pick that could help down the line.
Final Thoughts
I have no idea if I am right on any of these predictions, as it is all down to Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia to determine what this team looks like. We put our faith in them this offseason, and look at what they have done so far to shake up everyone’s opinions of them. The outcries of Ishbia do not know what he is doing, and his best friends have now gone silent under the dominance of this Suns team. I believe from the beginning, and you should too, regardless of what moves are made this trade deadline!
