Heading into this year’s NBA trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns have many more options than they did in 2024.
There are small deals as a buyer including Josh Okogie, or small deals as a seller that could include trading away point guards Tyus Jones or Monte Morris. In those, the Suns’ three second-round picks (one of their own and two from Denver) are as good as gone.
More importantly, the Suns have some big fish to fry this year. They can deal Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen or Jusuf Nurkic on much bigger salaries that would allow them to pursue more expensive rival players. And if they really want to get spicy, the Suns can include their own 2031 first-round pick, which has been accessible in a trade since draft night but stayed on the top shelf for the time being.
On today’s episode, we debate how far the Suns should go. A new report suggests Nurkic is not urgently available, but the Suns would be silly not to listen.
From my vantage point, the Suns should only explore “buying” at the deadline if they can accomplish two things at once. This was the allure of the Jimmy Butler rumors last month: Acquire Butler AND get off of Beal’s contract? Yes please.
If the Suns can pull that off elsewhere, they should. Get rid of Nurkic’s $19.4 million salary for the 2025-26 season, plus find a different role player to help the team? Now we’re talking. If all it takes is the 2031 pick, perhaps protected, that’s a deal worth rolling the dice on.
Outside of that, trading O’Neale or Allen — or trading Nurkic for an equally onerous contract — isn’t worth it. The Suns can’t dig their hole deeper while the season caves in.
