The Phoenix Suns have made a trade to acquire Royce O’Neale and David Roddy in a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies. The Suns have reportedly given up three second-round picks with unnamed players headed out to match salaries.
“Memphis is sending David Roddy to the Suns for a pick swap as part of a three-way with Phoenix and Brooklyn, sources tell The Athletic. Suns pick up O’Neale and Roddy for their postseason rotation.”
Memphis is sending David Roddy to the Suns for a pick swap as part of a three-way with Phoenix and Brooklyn, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns pick up O'Neale and Roddy for their postseason rotation.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
Shams Charania has since shared that the Suns have two open roster spots after this deal, implying that four players were sent out in this deal. John Gambadoro has revealed the traded players are Chimezie Metu, Yuta Watanabe, Jordan Goodwin, and Keita-Bates Diop.
Suns are sending out Metu, Goodwin, Yuta, KBD
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 8, 2024
O’Neale is a former teammate of Kevin Durant‘s from the Nets. He’s averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds this season, promising to be a veteran 3-and-D forward to reinforce the Suns frontcourt. Roddy is averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Grizzlies as a young wing that has a lot of room to grow. Both players are great additions for Phoenix as they fill out their rotation with quality players for the second half of the season.
The Grizzlies continue to blow up their roster for short-term tax benefits and long-term draft assets. The Nets were rumored to trade O’Neale for the last few weeks but had to move off their first-round asking price to send him to a contender like the Suns.
The Suns Have No More Moves Left
The Phoenix Suns have taken their final swing at building a contending roster this season with this move. The No. 6 seed in the West will have to contend with major improvements made by teams around them, like the Mavericks and Thunder. This was the best move affordable to them, as they took filler players out of the rotation for two quality players.
The Suns have a few pick swaps and one more second-round pick left at their disposal, but it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to find another upgrade before the deadline in an hour and a half. Acquiring O’Neale and Roddy is good enough, though exploring the addition of a point guard won’t be the worst idea.
The Suns have two open roster spots but cannot look into the buyout market for upgrades as a team over the second tax apron. This means guards like Kyle Lowry, if they become available, won’t be in the running for a job with the Suns. However, there are free-agent guards still available for the Suns to look into such as Jaylen Nowell or maybe even John Wall.
Killian Hayes has been waived by the Detroit Pistons and is eligible to be signed by the Suns as well.
Regardless, this is a step up for Phoenix. Whether it’s enough for a title in the West, we’ll have to wait and see.
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