Potential Suns Big Man Trade Targets
PHOENIX — The 2024-25 Phoenix Suns have found themselves off to a fairly strong start despite a center rotation that has been failry middling thus far.
Jusuf Nurkic has put forth one great performance out of four games in the first week of the regular season – even playing himself out of the game on Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers – to the tune of 18 minutes of game action. Mason Plumlee is solid, if unspectacular, and has shown moments of being a positive contributor. Oso Ighodaro hasn’t figured into the rotation consistently yet – and plays more like a big forward compared to a center.
With all of that information out there, it feels like a necessity to at least explore the trade market knowing that the only tangible assets that can reasonably be moved are a 2031 first-round pick, a myriad of second-round picks, and Grayson Allen/Josh Okogie.
Due to second apron rules Phoenix cannot bring in more salary than what is being sent out – Allen’s salary for 2024-25 stands at $15.625 million, while Okogie’s is $8.25 million.
Four possible trade candidates the Suns could look for, with an ultimate verdict on the player that makes the most sense below:
Walker Kessler
Salary: $2.965 Million
The Suns would have to make this move with the intent of both shopping Nurkic and extending an offer to retain Kessler long-term this off-season.
It’s also difficult to pinpoint Kessler’s value – as lead Jazz exec Danny Ainge is famous for maximizing what his teams receive in a trade for a player that garners trade interest. It truly feels like Kessler’s value plataued as a rookie, but there will likely be multiple franchises interested in talking a trade ahead of the February deadline.
Kessler likely fortifies the rim better than any other player here at this juncture, but his offensive game might be the most limited as well. This could be a hit-or-miss scenario.
Mitchell Robinson
Salary: $14.318 Million
Robinson is as limited offensively as Kessler, while also being older and more injury prone. This likely makes him more attainable in a one-for-one swap with New York – with Allen likely going to New York in this scenario.
New York could certainly use Allen’s scoring and scrappy defense for what looks like one of the weakest bench units in the NBA – but is Robinson worth parting with the guard that finished second in franchise history for three-point hits in a season in 2023-24? That is much more debatable.
