NBA Trade Rumors: 3 players Suns can trade for after missing Kyrie Irving

While the Suns had all the assets to make a good offer for Kyrie Irving, his trade to Dallas frees them to pursue a better fit.

With new ownership in town and a core that has been contending in the last two seasons, the Phoenix Suns have made it clear that they’re buyers in the trade market despite a relatively middling record. An example of the Suns’ ambition could be seen very recently when they became one of the four teams reportedly involved in the ongoing Kyrie Irving sweepstakes before the Mavericks eventually got the All-Star guard.

The Suns have plenty of trade assets to offer before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Jae Crowder’s trade request just before the season has certainly been a loss for the team however it also presents itself with a trade opportunity as Crowder is on a fair contract and is seen as a prototypical 3-and-D wing across the league. Along with Crowder, who makes about $10 million this year, the Suns also have notable expiring contracts of Dario Saric and Torrey Craig. Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne are also players on non-minimum contracts that could be included in a potential deal.

In most trades, the Suns would probably like to keep their core of Booker, Paul, Bridges, Ayton, and Johnson however if the right opportunity presents itself, most of this core may not remain untouchable. The Suns also find themselves in the rare situation of already having a contending core while having all of their draft capital for the next seven years.

Having missed out on Kyrie Irving, Here are three other players the Suns should consider trading for with their wealth of assets

3. Kevin Durant could change everything for the Suns

The most ambitious target on the list, Kevin Durant would make the Suns’ championship favorites if he were to be traded to ‘The Valley’. Prior to his injury, Durant was averaging 29.7 points per game on an absurd 67.3 true shooting percentage. If he were to end the season with these numbers, this would be the most efficient 25-point-per-game season in NBA history!

Durant also showed commitment on the defensive end which helped the Nets become a top-3hree seed in the Eastern Conference prior to his injury in January. Over the last few seasons, Durant has also taken his playmaking and passing to another level. Durant ranked in the 96th percentile for Basketball Index’s playmaking talent metric this season largely thanks to his passing ability after creating advantages from his scoring gravity.

Durant and the Suns are no strangers to each other as Durant included the Suns on his trade wishlist last summer. That request was likely linked to his teammate Kyrie Ivring’s failed contract negotiations. A similar scenario is happening now with Irving requesting a trade after extension talks between Irving and the Nets’ fell through and the guard got his wish this time as he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

There has been no update on Durant’s morale following Irving’s trade request and Phoenix will likely need Durant to request for a trade to have any chance of acquiring him. Insider Chris Haynes reported that the Suns are ready to pursue the former MVP again if he does become available on the trade block.

Currently, Durant is signed to a four-year contract and hence the Nets have negotiation power in a potential trade.

For a Durant trade, the Suns will likely only consider Devin Booker as untouchable. The Suns have contracts to match Durant’s salary with promising players such as Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, and Cameron Johnson. Just as important is the fact that the Suns have the ability to send a haul of picks and pick-swaps. Depending on the Nets’ priorities and other moves, this can also be a multi-team trade.