Phoenix Suns lead crazy day of trade deadline deals
By Mark Carman
The sun never sets on the moving parts in Phoenix
Goran Dragic looked like he would be the starting point guard in Phoenix for a long time. That changed when the Suns shockingly signed free agent Isaiah Thomas last summer. Now both are gone and Brandon Knight is in on a wild NBA trade deadline deal day in the desert.
More from NBA
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- 3 reasons the Blazers should trade Damian Lillard to the Heat and 2 reasons they shouldn’t
- LeBron James, Giannis, Damian Lillard all want that Mbappé money
- Jaylen Brown signs richest contract in NBA history without a left hand
- NBA rumors: Pistons determined to trade Killian Hayes
Signing Isaiah Thomas last summer in a panic move out of Eric Bledsoe fear was foolish. Trying to accommodate Thomas by having Dragic play off the ball compounded the mistake. However, a nice recovery for the Suns pulling in Knight out of Milwaukee, who for some reason felt the need to trade one of the more explosive young scoring point guards in the league. Perhaps Jason Kidd wanted a more traditional PG like himself, but by any measurable Knight is the better player than Michael Carter-Williams, who the Bucks ended up with. (Knight shoots 6 percent better, scores 3-points more per game and is only .8 of an assist lower, but has one less turnover lower albeit on a better team.)
Dragic landed in Miami along with his brother Zoran Dragic for Danny Granger, John Salmons and two first-round picks. Knight comes from Milwaukee along with Kendall Marshall via Philly for Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis. The Suns then felt the need to jettison Isaiah Thomas as well to Boston for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round pick. John Salmons and Kendrick Marshall will both will be waived.
Phoenix holds a 1/2 game lead on Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It was a busy day for the Thunder as well, reworking their roster. The difference between the Suns and Thunder is OKC is loaded for a push this year, while the Suns are still trying to come up with a roster that can compete in the West. Having a more definitive plan on who are keepers will help the Suns moving forward. They allowed the Eric Bledsoe situation turn into a near roster overhaul. That is too much power for a good, but not franchise changing guard.
You can get a recap of the rest of the NBA trade deadline deals here.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle