The Phoenix Suns are arguably in a historically rough spot entering the offseason due to the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that has already set in for them.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Because of this, the Suns will be operating over the second-tax apron next season, which is projected to be $190 million.
In this threshold, Phoenix is unable to sign free agents outside of the Suns to anything other than veteran-minimum contracts. In terms of trades, the Suns will not be able to take in more salary than they send out, include cash in deals, aggregate contracts or use a preexisting trade exception.
The Suns have clear needs in a rim-protecting center, athletic forward and point guard. General manager and president of basketball operations James Jones also said last week that the team was looking to add shooting this offseason.
With all this considered, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey put together a list of realistic and dream offseason targets for every NBA team.
Suns’ Realistic and Dream Targets
Here’s what he wrote for the Suns:
“Realistic: Kris Dunn
The Phoenix Suns need a legitimate table-setter and plus defender, and Kris Dunn checks both those boxes.
He’s also a very low-usage offensive player, which would make him a seamless fit alongside the trio of ball-dominant stars in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Dream: T.J. McConnell
The Suns are about as leveraged as any team in the league right now, but they do have some movable first-rounders and have shown interest in former Arizona Wildcat T.J. McConnell before.
He’s not as tenacious a defender as Dunn, but he’s a better distributor and shooter.”
For Dunn, the Suns could simply sign him to a veteran minimum contract, as he is a free agent this offseason.
However, for McConnell, he is due $9.3 million next season. Currently, only $5 million of that is guaranteed, but his contract becomes fully guaranteed if not waived the day after the 2024 draft (June 28). In all likelihood, the Pacers will do anything to keep McConnell given how good he has been in the playoffs.
For the Suns, this means the only realistic trade option would be Jusuf Nurkić, who makes $18.1 million in the 2024-25 season. They could offer Nurkić and potentially a first-round pick for McConnell and other assets. However, McConnell has proven how much he is worth to Indiana this postseason, so it would be hard to see them accepting offers for him from any team.
Eric Gordon
Bailey also included Eric Gordon, who has a player option he could opt into next season with the Suns, as a realistic target for the Indiana Pacers.
“Eric Gordon is entering his age-36 season, but if he declines his $3.4 million player option, the Indiana Pacers could probably justify offering him a modest raise with part of their mid-level exception.
Beyond playing both his high school and college ball in Indiana, Gordon averaged 11.0 points and 2.2 threes while shooting 37.8 percent from deep this season.
He could be a solid offensive boost to and a source of veteran experience for Indiana’s second unit.”
Royce O’Neale
Royce O’Neale, who is a free agent but the Suns own his bird rights, was named a realistic target for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“There’s plenty of buzz about potential Mitchell trades this summer, but it’s obviously not guaranteed. Splitting up the small backcourt could also mean moving Garland.
If Mitchell or both are back, Cleveland should offer part or all of its non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception to Mitchell’s friend and former teammate, Royce O’Neale.
Having undersized guards makes gritty perimeter defense from the wings important, and O’Neale can provide that, solid catch-and-shoot efficiency and underrated passing ability.”
O’Neale was also deemed a dream target for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“At this point, given how well the Wolves have played this postseason, breaking up the core feels unlikely. They could turn instead to renouncing Kyle Anderson and signing a minimum-contract, title-chasing veteran to eat up some of his minutes.
Royce O’Neale would be an interesting option on that front. Though he doesn’t quite have the size or playmaking ability Anderson has, O’Neale can attack rotating defenses and distribute in a pinch. And he competes on the defensive end.”
Kevin Durant
Another Suns player Bailey featured was Kevin Durant, who was labeled as a dream target to return the Golden State Warriors.
“What a story this would be.
Titles have eluded Kevin Durant ever since he left the Warriors in 2019, and the best shot for both him and his former team might be a reunification.
Of course, that happening would depend on the Phoenix Suns coming to some kind of realization about the quagmire they’ve put themselves in with the last couple years of moves, which is no guarantee.
Maybe a massive offer with salary filler (like Chris Paul or Andrew Wiggins), most of the young talent (like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody) and most of the draft capital they can muster would at least get some in the Suns’ front office to think about it.”
Devin Booker
Devin Booker was one of several dream targets for the Knicks, as Stephen A. Smith started a disproven rumor of Booker being interested in heading to New York. Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, Mikal Bridges or Donovan Mitchell were also mentioned in this category.
“New York is in a position to get hyper-aggressive this offseason.
Jalen Brunson is on a below-market-value contract, Bojan Bogdanović is on an expiring deal, and the Knicks have tons of draft capital.
They might as well call around, even if some of the stars listed above aren’t even on the trade block right now.”
Jones has already said that none of the Big 3 will be traded this offseason, so Durant and Booker would certainly be dream and not realistic targets for any team.
Could any of these scenarios end up happening? Who are your dream and realistic targets for the Suns?
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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
