The Phoenix Suns are exploring new avenues to bring talent to a championship capable roster. With even more teams making a case for a being a title contender, the Suns will be competing for some valuable trade pieces.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Two newly approaching targets are Boston Celtics guard Malcom Brogdon and Atlanta Hawks center-forward John Collins, per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“The Suns acquiring either of those veterans might require a third team to accept Paul’s outgoing salary—such as the Houston Rockets with their $60 million of cap space and counting—but Brogdon and Collins are a pair of players Phoenix has registered interest in during trade conversations with Boston and Atlanta, respectively, that date back to the trade deadline, sources said.”
Both players would bring immediate talent to Phoenix. The overall hurdle for the Suns, however, remains the same. Currently, the Suns have no legitimate cap space to pursue high-level veterans from their own means.
Brogdon is set to earn $22.5 million for the 2023-24 season, part of an extension that would carry into the 2024-25 season as well. Collins, 25, is in the midst of a 5-year, $125 million deal as well.
The Suns currently have three players due for an excess of $30 million next season. With that, they find themselves already over the threshold at $132.9 million, even after removing Chris Paul from the financial fiasco.
Aside from going after aging veterans, Phoenix will be relying on third parties to get involved in larger deals.
All Roads Lead to Ayton
It’s been widely reported that the Suns are expected to move off of Deandre Ayton as well. Ayton is due $32.4 million next season.
The clear path for the Suns front office has been to build around both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. As of late, Ayton has become an outlier with his performance last season.
Bringing in Brogdon would immediately solve the absence at guard depth. Brogdon averaged 14.9 points and 3.7 assists last season for the Celtics, earning him the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Collins would give Phoenix more valuable depth to tinker with in the frontcourt. Much of last season saw the Suns deploying a big man lineup of Ayton, Jock Landale and Bismack Biyombo. Bringing in Collins could give them more of a small-ball look from the center position.
