NBA Trade Rumors: Emeka Okafor could be trade chip for Phoenix Suns

Nov 10, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns mascot the Gorilla interacts with fans during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at US Airways Center. The Suns beat the Pelicans 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

The Phoenix Suns are currently 25-18 and holding onto the seventh-seed in the Western Conference playoff picture, something no one in the NBA expected them to be doing. But despite looking like they were still a rebuilding team, the Suns have gotten hot before the All-Star Break and are less than three games out of the fifth-seed in the West.

Having this much success this season may prompt the Suns to make some moves at the trade deadline, but rather than be tanking sellers, the Suns appear as though they’ll be soaring buyers. Phoenix doesn’t want to mess with their core or much of their bench, but it’s looking more and more like Emeka Okafor could be trade bait as the deadline nears.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

"As momentum gathers for the NBA’s Feb. 20 trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns hold one of the league’s most valuable assets for deal partners wanting to save themselves several millions of dollars: the expiring – and insured – contract of injured center Emeka Okafor."

Despite being injured for the Suns this regular season, Woj states the Suns have always planned on flipping Okafor for a veteran contract. We knew that Okafor would be shopped in trades, but the question now becomes who would want to take on Okafor and just whom can Phoenix get in return?

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