For the second straight year, the Phoenix Suns have reportedly traded for a forward from the Brooklyn Nets right before the trade deadline.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!No, this player isn’t Kevin Durant-caliber, but instead a former teammate of his and a great veteran, 3-and-D addition for Phoenix, Royce O’Neale.
The Suns are sending out three second-round picks to Brooklyn and a salary match of four players. Phoenix also acquired David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies in what is a three-team deal, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Phoenix actually ends up keeping Nassir Little despite rumors around his name for weeks, and instead is sending out Chimezie Metu, Jordan Goodwin, Yuta Watanabe and Keita Bates-Diop in the trade, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Bates-Diop and Goodwin are headed to Brooklyn along with the second-round picks. Metu and Watanabe are going to Memphis.
This means the Suns now have two open roster spots for buyout candidates.
Brooklyn is finalizing a trade sending Royce O’Neale to Phoenix for salaries and three second-round picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/sSSXacDYVz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
Suns retain assets after this three-team deal for O'Neale and Roddy — including a second-rounder and pick swaps.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024
Suns are sending out Metu, Goodwin, Yuta, KBD
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 8, 2024
Updated trade summary:
Suns get – Royce O'Neale, David Roddy
Nets get – Keita Bates-Diop, Jordan Goodwin, 3 second-round picks
Grizzlies get – Yuta Watanabe, Chimezie Metu— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) February 8, 2024
Here is how the math works out:
FWIW – I have the math as about as TIGHT as it gets.
And presumably the Saric TPE is being used for Roddy, which of course….expires today. pic.twitter.com/SrsIs4jXd5
— David (@theIVpointplay) February 8, 2024
Royce O’Neale
The 30-year-old, 6-foot-6 O’Neale was averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game across 49 contests for the 20-30 Nets. O’Neale is shooting a lowly 38.8% from the floor and 36.6% from 3-point range, but will be given a much better opportunity in terms of spacing on the Suns. O’Neale is on an expiring $9.5 million deal.
The Suns were reported to have shifted their focus to O’Neale earlier today after Miles Bridges decided he was going to decline all trade offers and stay in Charlotte.
O’Neale played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Denver before closing out his final two years at Baylor.
He went unselected in the 2015 NBA Draft and spent his first two professional seasons in Germany and Spain.
The next year, he was awarded a contract by the Utah Jazz after a strong performance on their summer league team. He spent five seasons in Utah (2017-2022), averaging 6.2 points on 44.8% shooting and 4.8 rebounds in 330 games played.
Then, on June 30, 2022, he was traded to the Nets for a 2023 first-round pick. He ends his 1.5 seasons in Brooklyn averaging 8.3 points on 38.7% shooting and 4.5 rebounds in 125 games played.
David Roddy
Roddy is a solid pickup for the Suns and could immediately be a part of their rotation as well. The 6-foot-4, 22-year-old Colorado State product is in his second year in the league and was averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 48 games played for the 18-33 Grizzlies this season.
Roddy was drafted 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and is on the second year of his four-year, $13 million rookie deal. Roddy is known for his bully ball style of play and ability to drive to the hole, something the Suns shave been lacking this year outside of the Big 3.
Miles Bridges reportedly staying in Charlotte, who will Suns pursue?
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
