The Phoenix Suns are faced with yet another second-round exit with a brutal elimination game loss at home. Last season, it was against the Dallas Mavericks, and this year, it’s against the Denver Nuggets.
All the theoretical flaws in the Suns roster in terms of depth, size, and defense ended up to be their failing as the Nuggets blew them out in Game 6. This included them scoring 81 points at the half, an absurd amount to concede in a playoff half. Their roster is extremely barebones after the Kevin Durant trade eviscerated their depth in February. So what can they do with their inflated salary bill to add to this roster? Two big men in New Orleans might be the first move, as the Suns send Chris Paul back to the team that drafted him in 2005.
Trade Details
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Chris Paul
Phoenix Suns Receive: Larry Nance Jr, Jaxson Hayes
This deal may be surprising for many, as the Suns have painted Chris Paul as a key piece on the roster. But the realities of the new CBA rules pose challenges that the Suns cannot circumvent, meaning they need to part with big names in trade to build a roster around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
The New Orleans Pelicans Add An Ingredient To Solidify Their Playoff Hopes
After a bright start to the season, the Pelicans completely fell off the map and ended up missing out on the NBA playoffs. A whole host of problems emerged out of the camp, especially with Zion Williamson essentially missing the entirety of 2023 after not returning from an injury suffered in the first week of the year. Brandon Ingram’s limited availability was another burden that was too much to bear for the Pelicans, meaning the team needs some proven performers to help the roster elevate their game.
Chris Paul has always improved the teams he’s been traded to. Even if he can’t produce on the court, his much-appreciated leadership always impacts a franchise. They’ve also forced CJ McCollum into a playmaking role that he hadn’t performed with the Portland Trail Blazers. While he’s proven to be exceedingly capable as their primary creator, CP3’s offensive court vision is unmatched. CJ brings more to the table as a scorer and could go back to focusing on that.
Paul averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists this season. These numbers aren’t eye-popping. When you look at the context around his entire career, it becomes clear that Paul has never exceeded at scoring. The Pelicans have more than just two weapons to score and this trade allows them to keep a lot of the terrific perimeter-oriented youngsters the team has developed like Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones. CP’s play will have a positive impact on their production as well, as CP has always been able to extract the best out of his perimeter teammates.
Paul could also be a guiding light for Zion Williamson, who has struggled since being drafted into maturing. His health is constantly under question and so is his commitment to the game, something Paul can address. Players around the NBA respect CP3 immensely for a reason, and his homecoming could help this entire franchise take another step back toward playoff relevancy.
The Phoenix Suns Creatively Reshape Their Roster Under Deadly CBA Rules
The Suns’ new strategy of paying multiple players max contracts might not be sustainable after the recent CBA rules put serious limitations on how much teams can spend in hopes of success, something Draymond Green heavily criticized. The teams that are $17.5 million over the salary cap line will forgo their mid-level exception to sign players in free agency, a deadly blow to a team like Phoenix where their MLE is the only realistic way they can build a roster without signing veteran minimums. The Suns are almost $50 million over the 2022-23 salary cap of $122.7 million. They currently will have a team payroll of $165.6 million, and that is with just 7 players on contract next season.
Given they will likely shatter the second apron on the new CBA rules, they have to reinforce the roster with depth using trades. Deandre Ayton will likely be another player they look to move, but converting Chris Paul’s $30.8 million next season into multiple players will be crucial. Jaxson Hayes is a lob threat and a shot blocker that reinforces the Suns at center. He could be a crucial piece ultimately, especially if Ayton also gets moved. Hayes didn’t get much play in New Orleans this season, averaging 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds, playing just 13 minutes a game.
Larry Nance Jr. is a more versatile big that can play across the frontlines. The Pelicans are using him as a small-ball center, but he can also play as a traditional power forward, moving Kevin Durant back to his original position of small forward. Nance averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds this season, with his true impact coming defensively with an ability to hold his own on the post and fearlessly switch onto the perimeter to guard threats from there.
It also gives a Suns team that needed frontcourt defense some good players on manageable contracts. A roster that needs to be filled out with minimums will rarely contend in the NBA, and the Suns need to be practical about their options.
Both Teams Take A Step Towards Re-Tooling Their Roster
This move isn’t going to be enough for either team to become contenders in a competitive Western Conference. It definitely is one of the many moves both teams can make to improve their situations. The Pelicans have depth but need a bonafide playmaker that can keep the wheels in motion even when the quality of talent dips around him due to injuries. CP3 does that perfectly for them, also allowing CJ McCollum to focus on getting buckets once again. They have plenty of defensive options to counteract this small backcourt, with staggering the minutes of their guards also a viable option. He also adds leadership to a franchise that has looked very disorganized in recent months.
The Suns are looking at a massive salary bill even if they come into next season with seven players. This has to be worrying Mat Ishbia, especially with the MLE being taken out of their hands. Using this to add frontcourt options for the inevitability that looks like the Deandre Ayton trade allows them to address more valuable positions at guard and forward with a stronger asset than CP3. Cutting enough salary to get under the $17.5 million apron is likely not going to be possible, but distributing the money around your roster through trades definitely is. It gives them a deeper roster for 2022-23 and insurance for the injuries that the top players eventually suffer over a season.
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