The Phoenix Suns entered the summer with a question mark at point guard, one that became more pronounced on Thursday night when Brandon Knight was sent to Houston. Currently, the team’s point guard depth chart appears to be rookies Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton (who was acquired in Thursday’s trade), with veteran Isaiah Canaan under contract.
But according to a report by John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, there was a reason for the team’s decision to move on from Knight. Apparently, Phoenix has been aggressive in trying to bolster its point guard situation on the trade market, with Gambadoro reporting that the team wants to swing for the fences.
In fact, the Suns reportedly want to fill their hole at the one with a “front tier point guard,” with Gambadoro floating that the team has interest in someone like Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker, or Terry Rozier.
Suns have definitely been trying to trade for a front tier point guard – Lillard, Walker, Rozier – but to no avail. Situation at point guard now is not ideal and Phoenix will have to make a trade but Milwaukee pick that they own is not that valuable.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 31, 2018
All of this comes with a gigantic disclaimer saying there’s been no indication that Phoenix has come especially close to acquiring any of those guys this summer, but it’s still smart for them to kick the tires on all of them considering their current situation. Both Rozier and Walker are in contract years, while Lillard has three more years on his deal.
As for what the Suns could throw together in a deal for these players, Gambadoro alludes to them having a first-round pick from Milwaukee, one that has moderate protections this year and next year before becoming completely unprotected in 2021. Otherwise, they have all of their picks over the next few drafts. There’s also plenty of young talent in Phoenix, but it remains to be seen whether the Suns would be willing to part with someone like Deandre Ayton or Josh Jackson so Devin Booker could have an elite backcourt mate.
The Suns were mentioned as a team that was interested in entering the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes earlier this summer, so it’s not a huge surprise that they’d be making phone calls about upgrading their point guard situation. Still, give them credit, because trying to get someone like Lillard or — to a lesser extent — Rozier or Walker right now is ambitious.
