The Phoenix Suns opened the NBA offseason floodgates with a blockbuster trade for Bradley Beal. How can they fill out the roster around Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker?
Under new owner Mat Ishbia, the Phoenix Suns have been starkly unafraid to make splashy moves. First it was the Kevin Durant trade. When the season ended, it was the dismissal of Monty Williams.
Now, the team has struck its next foundation-shifting deal: a trade for Bradley Beal.
The Suns will acquire Beal from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, a future pick swap, and several future second-round picks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Suns now have a foundation of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Bradley Beal. Those are the only four guaranteed contracts on the roster; how can the front office build the team around them?
No. 3 move Suns need to make after trading for Bradley Beal: Keep the supporting cast together as much as possible
The Suns have several expiring contracts and upcoming free agents to deal with.
Torrey Craig and Bismack Biyombo are both unrestricted free agents for whom Phoenix owns bird rights, allowing the Suns to go over the tax to re-sign them. Darius Bazley and Jock Landale are restricted free agents, giving Phoenix the power to match any offer sheet.
The Suns should hope to bring back at least Craig and Landale. Both were critical to the Suns' already-paper-thin rotation in the playoffs. The Beal move makes it harder than ever to build around the top-heavy core, so keeping as many postseason-competent players around as possible should be a top priority.
Bazley is slightly less proven, but he's an intriguing athlete with flashes of defensive versatility and 3-point shooting that could demand another year of investment — especially if the price is cheap.
Josh Okogie is an unrestricted free agent. The Suns don't have his bird rights and he frankly could get too expensive, but he was the Suns' fifth starter leading into the playoffs and he should stick around if the Suns can make it happen.
No. 2 move Suns need to make after trading for Bradley Beal: Hammer the vet minimum market
More a general motive than a specific move, but this is the direction Phoenix's summer will take. The Suns' financial flexibility with the KD-Beal-Booker-Ayton core is minimal. The rest of the roster will be heavily saturated by draft picks and veteran minimum contracts.
The Suns will naturally appeal to aging vets in search of an elusive ring. Phoenix is on the west coast for good measure and few stars are better at recruiting than Kevin Durant. Frank Vogel also has the respect of players around the league. Phoenix is absolutely a destination.
Phoenix simply did not have enough bodies in the playoffs. The Suns need experience, but that experience can't come at the cost of actual playability. Vets who have lost a step defensively or who don't have the stamina for playoff basketball should be avoided. On the flip side, the Suns should be targeting minimum players with a recent track record of contributing in the postseason.
Think Jeff Green, for example. He just played in the NBA Finals and was an important part of the Nuggets' wing rotation all year. He's old by NBA standards, but he can still defend a couple positions, hit 3s, and feast on backdoor cuts to the rim. He'd be the ideal "veteran minimum" type of player.
Other names to watch: Dennis Schroder, Mike Muscala, Robin Lopez, Austin Rivers, Wes Matthews, Raul Neto, Patrick Beverley, and Danny Green.
No. 1 move Suns need to make after trading for Bradley Beal: Trade Deandre Ayton
There's no denying the raw athletic talent of Deandre Ayton, a former No. 1 pick. He's an absolute monster when he wants to be, but his relationship with Phoenix has been strained for almost two years now. New head coach Frank Vogel could ease some of the tension, but Ayton's apathy in the postseason was glaring.
The Suns can't sustainably build around four max contract players under the new CBA. It would be not-unwise to swap Ayton for multiple contributors A) to preserve financial flexibility, B) to flesh out the depth chart, and C) to simply give Ayton a fresh start in a situation better suited to unlocking his unique talent.
Any Ayton trade should be made with two goals in mind: receive multiple postseason-level players and get another center in return, preferably a strong rim protector for Vogel to build his patented defensive system around.
Something like…
Phoenix gets Mitchell Robinson, who is only one year older than Ayton and who is far more prolific in the shot-blocking department. Obi Toppin has earned more minutes, even if the Knicks haven't been able to oblige. The Suns need depth in the frontcourt. For good measure, Isaiah Hartenstein can immediately step into backup center duties while giving the Suns a viable alternative in matchups that don't favor Robinson.
Ayton's trade value should still be relatively high despite last season's many quandaries. There's too much obvious upside bubbling up below the surface. Another team, like the desperate-to-contend Knicks, should be willing to roll the dice. Meanwhile, the Suns would be wise to prioritize depth over a fourth "star."