The Phoenix Suns are reportedly dealing Isaiah Todd and two first-round pick swaps to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Memphis now has the ability “to swap its own first for the lesser of the Suns/Wizards firsts“ in 2024 and 2030. The Grizzlies will send the Suns the Pelicans’ second-round pick in 2025 and their own in 2028 and 2029.
In 2024 and 2030, Memphis will have the right to swap its own first for the lesser of the Suns/Wizards firsts, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2023
After Toumani Camara signed his rookie deal earlier this week, the Suns had 16 standard contracts on their roster (can only have 15 when the regular season starts). After being acquired from the Wizards last month, Todd has been thought to be the odd man out with the Suns’ recent plethora of signings, but it is unexpected that it happened so soon.
The #Suns trade with the Grizzlies brings them back down to 15 standard contracts with the inclusion of Todd (still have three two-way spots remaining). They also get back some of the second-round picks they sent to the Wizards in the Bradley Beal trade.
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) July 7, 2023
Todd just had his introductory press conference yesterday and seemed very grateful to be in Phoenix. During the presser, he said that he “get(s) emotional” when thinking he could win a championship with Bradley Beal. He also said that he was excited to play with Kevin Durant after growing up in the Baltimore area around where KD did and looking up to him.
Earlier today, he was practicing with the team in preparation for Summer League after he was named to the roster for Vegas last week.
Isaiah Todd, Marcus Carr and Jawun Evans getting up shots. #Suns #NBASummerLeague pic.twitter.com/u7wp9CbMbK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 6, 2023
The 6-foot-9 Todd was selected 31st overall by the Wizards in the 2021 NBA Draft after forgoing college for the G-League Ignite. He was ranked as a five-star prospect and No. 13 overall by ESPN in his 2020 high school class. He has now played two years of his four-year, $6.9 million rookie deal and will be entering the third year of it this season.
The Suns sent out six second-round picks in the Bradley Beal trade, and now they get three of those back.
There is some speculation the Suns could use the traded player exception (TPE) they gained from the Saric trade to trade for a player and give them more than a veteran minimum contract. They now have assets to trade with the second-round picks.
If a team wants to cut current salary, the Suns are an easy target partner now and have some incentive for them, while likely getting a more impactful player now than a 2nd round pick would have gotten them.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) July 7, 2023
Whatever the Suns end up doing, they still have three two-way contracts left and Summer League right around the corner. Some players in Vegas could prove they belong in those spots.
The rumors are still swirling on who else could join the team, but this move gives the Suns more leverage and assets they could use.
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Brendan Mau is a college sports insider and general assignment reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on Twitter via @Brendan_Mau
