The Phoenix Suns are coming off of a season where the franchise led the league in wins. That season ended sooner than they had hoped in Game 7 of the second round to the Dallas Mavericks. That led to uncertainty around the future of Deandre Ayton, while a new rift between Jae Crowder and ownership created another player on the table to be traded. For now, the Suns are just four games over .500 and are in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference playoff teams.
- Robert Covington
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Harrison Barnes
- Julius Randle
- Kyle Kuzma
- Buddy Hield
- John Collins
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The Suns have a window to compete right now. Chris Paul is not getting any younger. He has two more years on his deal after this year, while Devin Booker is set to be an extremely expensive player starting in 2024-25. That year begins a $50 million salary for Booker, which is followed by two seasons of $54 and $58 million in salary. That means that the Suns likely need to commit to winning this year and next if the team is going to get the most out of their core, especially since the team has seven players with expiring contracts on the team this season.
As for draft picks, the Suns own their first and second-round picks for every draft between 2023 and 2030. Some players on the market could help get the Suns back to the 60-win team they were last season. If the team wanted to make a splash, the Suns have the draft capital to make that happen. Plus, the team also has the contract of Deandre Ayton to dangle as well. A lot could happen, but these are the best trade targets for the Phoenix Suns.
Robert Covington
Crowder gave the Suns an enforcer that could play interior defense and occasionally shoot from outside. Torrey Craig has filled that role for now, with Josh Okogie backing him up. When healthy, Covington can provide a role similar to that of Crowder. This year, Covington is averaging the least amount of minutes played since his rookie season. If he could get inserted into a more regular role, we could see that production rise.
Covington is a career 36.0% shooter from three-point range. This year, that number is down to 31.1%, which is his lowest amount since his 22-game stint with the Rockets during the 2019-20 season. If the Suns wanted to flip Crowder for Covington, the only direction that his production can go is up.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
This would likely cost the Suns a little bit more because of his start to the season. Bogdanovic missed time at the beginning of the year. In 10 games, Bogdanovic is averaging 17.7 points and shooting 39.8% from three-point range. The Suns could play a small lineup with Bogdanovic in the rotation with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton. With that said, you are looking at a rotation that has two legitimate outside shooters.
The cost for his services would likely be a bit more. Bogdanovic has a player’s option for $18 million next season. The team could send the $10.1 million owed to Crowder with the expiring contract of Dario Saric with a first-round pick, and that would likely persuade Atlanta. Crowder wouldn’t be a bad snag for Atlanta either, given his abilities to help guard players like Giannis Antetkounmpo inside.
Harrison Barnes
Given the play of the Sacramento Kings, this would have to be a deal done in February. It would all ride on if the Kings are in the playoff picture. For now, the team is in the sixth spot in the West. However, anything can change, and Barnes would give the Sun’s a similar player to Bogdanovic. The only difference is that Barnes has experience playing the power-forward position.
Barnes owns an expiring contract of $18.3 million. He is averaging 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds and is shooting 47.8% from the field. With that said, after five consecutive seasons of shooting at least 38% from three-point range, Barnes is shooting a mere 30.8%. Could that be of the additions of Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray? Either way, if the Kings want to try and flip Barnes for a pick because of their intent to let him go in free agency, he might be able to get back into the swing of things in Phoenix.
Julius Randle
This is another hypothetical that rides on how the Knicks are playing in February. If the Knicks are out of the playoff picture, trading the contract of Randle is not a crazy idea. The team could sell high, given that Randle has two years left on his contract with a player’s option for $29.4 million in 2025-26. The Knicks could add the contract of Deandre Ayton and a ton of first-round picks. The core of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Ayton has potential.
Randle could slide into the rotation and even play the center position if needed. Randle is averaging 23.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. During his All-Star season in 2020-21, he shot 41.1% from three-point range but has since shot 30.8% and 33.6% this season. This would give the Suns three All-Stars in their lineup.
Kyle Kuzma
This would be an ideal scenario for the Suns. Kuzma has a player’s option for next season worth around $13 million. He is averaging 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. That includes shooting 34.3% from three-point range. Kuzma can play the power forward position as well, giving the Suns one of the better small-ball lineups in the league.
Having Kuzma and Booker on opposite sides makes this sound like a scary offense. His rebounding numbers are what makes this very interesting as well. Realistically, the Suns could probably keep Ayton on the team by flipping Crowder, one more player, and two first-round picks. Having Ayton and Kuzma together could make this team rebound ten times better, while his overall game would help spread the floor and give him the ability to shoot inside and out.
Buddy Hield
If the Suns wanted to play a small ball lineup, then the addition of Buddy Hield would make this team just as good as if the team had Kuzma. Hield is averaging 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and is shooting 40.9% from three-point range. Hield is naturally a gifted outside shooter. For a team that is lacking in that department, Hield would make an immediate impact.
Hield has a contract worth $21.1 million this season and then has one more year on his deal for next season worth $19.2 million. The Pacers signed Ayton to an offer sheet during the offseason. The Suns could inquire about Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. That would be about $39 million in salary, so the Pacers would need to take Ayton and Crowder. Then, the draft capital would need to be sufficient for the team to take Crowder’s expiring contract.
John Collins
Despite the major regression from John Collins this season, it feels like Collins would succeed with the Suns. There is something about playing with a steady point guard like Chris Paul that brings the best out of players that are seen as flops. It was just two years ago that Collins averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and shot 39.9% from three-point range. That type of talent doesn’t just magically disappear.
Playing alongside Paul could bring that type of play from Collins potentially. He is a 6-foot-10 stretch power forward that could provide the Suns with outside shooting and steady rebounding. Collins is making $23.5 million this season and is due increments of $2 million the next two seasons with a player’s option of $26.5 million for 2025-26. The Suns have expiring contracts of Saric, Craig, and Crowder, along with draft capital. This gives the Suns that stretch power forward for at least two more years, while the Hawks can use the money they save from Collins to search for something that gets better with their players.
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