The Phoenix Suns are starting to work things out.
Winners of five of their last six, after a 1-5 start, the team is now 5-6 and recently beat the streaking Houston Rockets after outplaying them down the stretch. However, questions remain about starting guard Jalen Green’s fit as he continues to average career lows as a scorer and from three, and the team is lacking a starting-level point guard alongside Devin Booker.
Questions have further arisen about his future in Phoenix after NBA Insider Chris
Haynes reported Friday that the Suns have interest in acquiring point guard Dejounte Murray from the Pelicans, who recently requested a trade. With the two making similar amounts, the teams could trade them for each other without including any additional salary. But with heightened expectations after a surprising 2025-2026 campaign, the Suns could be looking to deal Green to more than just New Orleans to help their point guard problem. His $36 million salary gives the franchise some flexibility if they can find a good trade partner.
Three trades for Jalen Green
Practical
Suns Receive: Jalen Green
Pelicans Receive: Dejounte Murray
A common trade structure, the aforementioned deal is a classic “my problem for your problem” type of deal. Similar to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers swap of Darius Garland and James Harden back in February, Green and Murray fit each other’s situation better than their current ones.
Now 30 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, Murray better fits a team looking to compete for the playoffs this season, and since Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver took over leadership in New Orleans, the Pelicans have been acquiring young players such as Jermiah Fears and Derik Queen to build for the future.
With rumors continuing to heat up about both guards’ futures, this seems like the most likely and easiest deal the Suns could pull off.
Possible
Suns Receive: Tyler Herro
Bucks Receive: Jalen Green, 2027 First-Round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah)
While Herro would create the same problem Green does from a point-guard perspective, he’s a significant upgrade and would give the Suns a more efficient, reliable scorer. With the Bucks already out most of their future picks because of their failed efforts to build a competitive roster for Giannis Antetokounmpo during his final years in Milwaukee, and potentially facing punishment for the contract they gave Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks could be looking for every opportunity to add future draft compensation.
In the last year of his four-year extension he signed back in 2022 when he was with the Heat, the Suns would likely need some assurance that Herro would be willing to stay in Phoenix before making the deal, but he would be a major talent upgrade over Green and had the same college coach as Devin Booker in John Calipari.
Unlikely (But would be perfect for the Suns)
Suns Receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers Receive: Jalen Green, 2027 First-Round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah)
The Portland Trail Blazers already have too many guards, and adding another inefficient, G League Ignite alum guard alongside Scoot Henderson would not make sense for one of the league’s biggest surprises through the first four weeks of the season, even if it got them a first-round pick; acquiring Holiday would make a world of difference for the Suns.
Playing alongside Booker in multiple Olympics and facing off against him in the 2021 NBA Finals, Holiday is a proven veteran playing in a bench role because of the Blazers’ guard-heavy roster. He doesn’t need the ball to score and knows how to win at the highest level. He’s the only NBA player this decade with multiple Olympic Gold Medals and Finals victories. He’s made the playoffs six straight seasons and helped both the Bucks and Celtics break their 15+ year title droughts. Many consider him to be the piece that made Boston’s 2023-2024 team such a dominant one.
From June:
Who else should the Suns consider for Green?
