It’s no secret that the Phoenix Suns have a strong interest in NBA veteran Jimmy Butler, but how far are they willing to go to acquire the 6x All-Star? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Suns may be willing to offer up one of their last remaining draft picks.
“Phoenix has also discussed using the one first-round pick it is still allowed to trade (2031) in various talks around trying to acquire Butler, multiple league sources told ESPN.”
The Phoenix Suns have spared no expense to build a championship team around their young star, Devin Booker. Since their rise in the 2019-20 season, the Suns have been a strong force in the West due to the impact of stars like Booker, Chris Paul, and (most recently) Kevin Durant.
So far, the Suns have yet to make a run past the NBA Finals but new team owner Mat Ishbia (who purchased a majority stake in 2022) has taken the franchise’s championship pursuit to another level. Not only did he trade for Kevin Durant while he was still fresh on the job, but he also made a deal to secure Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards to create the ultimate big three.
The Suns have been somewhat limited in how they can fill out the supporting cast and, so far, depth has been their biggest weakness. To unite their current big three, the Suns sacrificed everything, including their depth and their long-term future.
The 2031 first-round pick is the last of its kind that the Suns have to trade, meaning they’d be giving up the draft capital necessary to rebuild in the post-Kevin Durant era.
With no first-round picks for the foreseeable future, the Suns would be handicapped to make any progress in the West when their current star-studded core inevitably splits up. But that is the price that the Suns are willing to pay to acquire Jimmy Butler, who fits everything that the Suns have been looking for as a partner with Booker and Durant.
With averages of 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this season, Butler isn’t in his prime form but he’s still making an impact on the court and his two-way game could help cover a lot of the Suns’ biggest issues right now.
As the ongoing situation in Miami unfolds, the Suns will be closely monitoring the scene for their best chance to make a move. As it stands, Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause makes it hard for them to get involved in any significant trade but if he’s willing to waive the no-trade clause, it will open up a world of possibilities for the Suns.
Of course, there can be no doubt that Mat Ishbia is all-in on the championship pursuit in Phoenix but trading away your team’s future for the sake of immediate success is a bargain that doesn’t always pay off. For the Suns’ sake, it’s imperative that they use that 2031 pick in a meaningful way or things could get downright ugly in a few years.
For now, the Suns are only focused on their next game: tomorrow, January 18th, against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. On Monday, January 20th, they face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse at 3:30 PM EST. Finally, the Suns face the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday, January 22nd, at 7:30 PM EST.
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