The Phoenix Suns are entering a high-stakes season where they hope to emerge as top contenders in the Western Conference to maximize their win-now timeline with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. The team has given away all its Draft assets from now until 2030, signifying the franchise is as all-in as it could be. But the West is stacked at the top and the Suns are coming off a first-round sweep loss in the 2024 Playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves without many changes.
The biggest offseason addition for the Suns was point guard Tyus Jones, who took a way under-market veteran’s minimum contract to bet on himself on the contending Suns who desperately needed a low-maintenance playmaker like him. Outside of that, the roster is mostly similar and relies on better injury luck to improve their ceiling.
It’s hard to look at this roster as presently constructed and call this a contender, as they likely will be fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament. We’ve come up with three trades that the Suns need to make to improve their chances at contention in the 2024-25 season.
Cameron Johnson
Suns Receive: Cameron Johnson, Trendon Watford
Nets Receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Josh Okogie, 2031 First-Round Pick Swap (PHX)
The Suns should consider bringing back one player to their roster who was traded away as part of the Kevin Durant package in the winter of 2023. Cameron Johnson was a homegrown star for the Suns and played an important role in their resurgence from lottery fodder to an NBA Finals-worthy franchise. Johnson’s talents are wasted on the tanking Brooklyn Nets, so the Suns could maximize acquiring him.
Johnson averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season, providing another strong shooting option to the trio of Durant, Booker, and Beal. Given the success Grayson Allen had as a 3-and-D forward, Johnson is set up for success with a clearly defined role within the Suns offense. His additional offensive versatility can be a valuable tool, though his defensive stability will be relied upon on the wing regularly.
Watford averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds last season, serving as a solid backup big man. This deal wouldn’t be possible until December 15 due to Josh Okogie’s summer contract extension, so both teams will have to wait to agree on this.
The Nets are headed to the bottom of the lottery and need to start adding high-impact veterans who can be a great example for the young stars on the roster. Nurkic fits that mold, averaging 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists last season. He would be a great mentor for Nicolas Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Noah Clowney while also being a trade asset the Nets could leverage.
Josh Okogie is another solid veteran who’ll be good for the locker room while the first-round pick swap could be golden, especially with the questions around the Suns’ future.
Clint Capela
Suns Receive: Clint Capela, Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Matthews
Hawks Receive: Jusuf Nurkic, Josh Okogie, Royce O’Neale, 2031 Second-Round Pick (DEN)
The Suns had a playmaking hole to fill in their lineup last season after committing to moving Chris Paul for Bradley Beal, so getting a passing hub center like Jusuf Nurkic made sense for them. After addressing their hole at point guard with the efficient and diming Tyus Jones, the Suns should focus their center resources on players who’ll commit to the gritty defensive work the team needs.
Clint Capela averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season, proving to be an adequate rim protector and rebounder. The Atlanta Hawks have a new direction they can move in by promoting the younger and more versatile Onyeka Okongwu, leaving room to trade Capela away.
Offseason acquisition Larry Nance Jr. would also be a better fit for the veteran Suns, averaging 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Garrison Mathews averaged 4.9 points last season but will be in this trade to make up the numbers as the Suns have to receive three players in exchange for three players. This deal can’t be executed before December 15 due to Okogie’s summer contract extensions.
Nurkic and Okogie would be good fits on the Hawks, while O’Neale averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season and would be an ideal winning wing option for the Trae Young-led squad going through a makeover.
Zach LaVine
Suns Receive: Zach LaVine, Jalen Smith
Bulls Receive: Bradley Beal, Ryan Dunn, 2026 Second-Round Pick (DEN), 2031 Second-Round Pick (DEN)
The Suns have been in a tight asset management situation since they acquired Bradley Beal, as his salary (5-year, $251.2 million) has pushed the team way over the second apron without any hopes of those concerns being gone anytime soon. With Beal’s no-trade clause, he is in the position to veto any trade he’s in.
To complete a Beal trade, the Suns need to find a partner in an attractive city with a bad contract on a star player who’s on the trade block. The Chicago Bulls seem like the perfect partner with the disgruntled Zach LaVine on the books (five-year, $215 million).
LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season in an injury-riddled year and could be a more explosive addition as a wing scorer than the more on-ball Beal.
LaVine could even be the best sixth man in the NBA if required in a rehabilitation season that would allow him to dominate second units or be an electric third option next to Booker and Durant due to his off-ball movement. Jalen Smith would be a fantastic get on top of that, averaging 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds last season with the Indiana Pacers.
The Bulls want to remain competitive, with Beal as a No. 1 or No. 2 option being a better bet than LaVine after the hard feelings between the franchise and player after the last few seasons. Beal could be a great mentor to the likes of Coby White and Josh Giddey while playing in one of the biggest NBA markets and hoping to make them contenders.
Ryan Dunn would be a tremendous future asset given his defensive potential, with the Bulls potentially having a use for him right now as a win-now defensive wing.
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