Shaking Up the Suns

A new season was supposed to mean a fresh start for a Suns franchise that went through significant changes at last year's trade deadline. Third Team All-NBA performer Goran Dragic (and his brother) were sent packing to Miami, Isaiah Thomas was also moved (Boston) and so were Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis (Milwaukee). These trades allowed the Suns to bring in borderline all-star Brandon Knight to team up with Eric Bledsoe to form a talented (and all-Kentucky) backcourt. In the offseason, Phoenix struck gold, landing one of the top free agent centers in Tyson Chandler and drafting a promising rookie in the form of sharpshooter Devin Booker. They also acquired solid role players such as Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic to shore up their bench and make a legitimate run at the playoffs. However, Phoenix did make one mistake in the offseason. Marcus Morris, brother of Markieff, was traded to Detroit in order to clear cap room for a (failed) LaMarcus Aldridge signing, leaving Markieff extremely displeased before the season even began. When a torn left meniscus sidelined star Eric Bledsoe for the remainder of the season in late December, all hell broke loose and the Suns became a trainwreck. As it currently stands, the Phoenix Suns are 13-27 (1-9 in their last ten) and are a long shot to make the playoffs. With Chandler underwhelming and Bledsoe an oft-injured star, I think it's time to shake up these Suns and give them a real future rather than a shot at the eight seed every year. Let's blow up the Suns and give them a rebuild...

                                                       THE KEEPERS (+ BLEDSOE)

The only players safe from this hypothetical shake-up are young guns Alex Len, T.J. Warren and Devin Booker. These guys could potentially be the future of this franchise so we're not just going to trade them away. Also, Eric Bledsoe stays. He has the most potential on the team and he's also recovering from a severe injury, which means there wouldn't be much of a market for him anyway.

THE BIG CENTER TRADE-OFF

Charlotte acquires: Tyson Chandler and Mirza Teletovic
Phoenix acquires: Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller

Why it works for Charlotte: Plain and simple, the Hornets are vying for a playoff spot and a recent slide hasn't helped their case. Not having Big Al on the floor has hurt their chances of success in a suddenly competitive East. This trade allows Charlotte to win now, something they are strongly aspiring to do. Chandler provides interior defense and rebounding as a legitimate starting center and Teletovic provides a spark plug off the bench at the small forward position, a shallow position because of Kidd-Gilchrist's season long absence. Trading Big Al now also assures that they didn't lose him for nothing (Jefferson will be an UFA at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season).

Why it works for Phoenix: The biggest plus here for the Suns is being able to offload Chandler's hefty contract and not having to send away any draft picks with it. It's a bonus that they receive a valuable asset in Cody Zeller to add to their young core. Also, as mentioned previously, Big Al is in the final year of his contract so they won't be carrying that big salary around for too long. This is a no-brainer for Phoenix - the idea of offloading Chandler with no penalty and receiving a young player for the future should have GM Ryan McDonough giddy with excitement.

REUNITED AT LAST

Detroit acquires: Markieff Morris

Phoenix acquires: Ersan Ilyasova and Detroit's 2016 second-round pick and 2017 first-round pick (protected 1-7)

Why it works for Detroit: We've all seen what Markieff Morris can do when he is happy and by his brother's side. With the other Morris twin already on the squad, Detroit is the only team in the league that can almost guarantee themselves they're getting the Markieff Morris of old. And if that's truly the case, then the Eastern Conference better watch out because the Pistons just might start gunning for a top four seed this season and beyond. The old Markieff Morris was a special player and a player on a nice contract, too. Reuniting him with his brother might just be the key to the future for a team already overflowing with young talent

Why it works for Phoenix: There are a lot of suitors out there for Markieff Morris but only one team can't low ball the Suns - and that's the Pistons. Other teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans or Sacramento Kings can't be sure that just because Markieff has left Phoenix means he will be happy again. Detroit has the highest chance of making Markieff happy than any other franchise which means they will have to pay accordingly. However, Morris' recent play must still be taken into consideration and considering that, the haul for the Suns should be good enough to pull the trigger. Ilyasova is a servicable power forward that could eventually be flipped when the opportunity arises to pursue bigger (and younger) fish but the real prize of this trade is the 2017 first rounder that is only protected 1-7. This pick could be extremely important in revitalizing the franchise in the future, especially if the Pistons fall apart and it becomes a lottery pick.

FOUR TEAM TRADE LANDS KNIGHT BACK WHERE HE BELONGS

Milwaukee receives: Brandon Knight and Salah Mejri 

Dallas receives: Michael Carter-Williams, Rashad Vaughn and P.J. Tucker

Utah receives: Devin Harris, Raymond Felton and Dallas' 2019 second round pick

Phoenix receives: Trey Burke, Justin Anderson, Dwight Powell, O.J. Mayo, Greivis Vasquez, Milwaukee's 2018 first round pick (protected 1-14) and Golden State (via Utah)'s 2017 first round pick

Why it works for Milwaukee: One statistic gives you all you need to know about Brandon Knight's fit with the Bucks. Milwaukee compiled a 30-23 record in the 2014-15 season before shipping Knight to Phoenix and bringing in MCW. Since the trade, Milwaukee has gone 29-47 (including playoffs) and are looking like a sure bet to miss the playoffs after shockingly snatching up the six seed in 2015. MCW, regardless of how lengthy he is, hasn't panned out in Milwaukee and rookie Rashad Vaughn isn't getting enough playing time to strut his stuff. Vasquez is also expected to miss at least 3-4 months after ankle surgery and Mayo is on an expiring deal. Aside from its first rounder in 2017, Milwaukee hasn't got much to lose in this trade but, boy does it have so much to gain. (Note: Mejri also showed some flashes of being a quality big man  in today's loss to the Thunder, posting 17 and 9 in 25 minutes of play)

Why it works for Dallas: Sure, they've got Deron Williams but why not add insurance at the PG position, especially when D-Will could opt out this summer and become a free agent? MCW is probably better suited to a backup role anyway and we have reasons to believe Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is an excellent point guard whisperer (see; Raymond Felton, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea) and could turn MCW's somewhat underwhelming early career around. Vaughn is also a nice young piece that just went number 17 overall in last year's draft and will serve as good compensation for the loss of Justin Anderson. P.J. Tucker would also add some much needed depth behind the oft-injured Chandler Parsons at the SF position. With this trade, Dallas gets better in the present and in the future.

Why it works for Utah: The poor Jazz have succumbed to the dreaded injury bug this year. Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks have all suffered injuries this season, with Exum (Utah's starting PG) expected to miss the season with a torn ACL. Trey Burke, Exum's backup, is just not cutting it and the Jazz  are only barely holding onto the eighth seed in the West right now. Utah has made it clear that they want to compete for a playoff spot and acquiring the services of Felton and Harris is just what they need. These are two veterans that can inspire the young Jazz to keep pushing for the playoffs and Felton could be just the veteran PG leader they're looking for in Exum's absence (oh and, by the way, here's something you might've forgotten - Felton has already recorded a triple-double this season).

Why it works for Phoenix: Finally, we get down to the team that is finally finished shaking it up (hypothetically). Chandler's in Charlotte, Morris' in Detroit and now Brandon Knight and P.J. Tucker are in Milwaukee and Dallas, respectively. So, let's break down what Phoenix gets in this blockbuster trade. First, and possibly most importantly, the Suns receive Golden State's unprotected first in 2017 along with Milwaukee's lottery protected first in 2018. These two picks, especially Milwaukee's, could be of high importance if they give the Suns a chance to land a good or even great rookie. Now, for the players. Mayo (expiring deal) and Vasquez (injured) won't do much for the Suns but after Vasquez recovers, he could become a valuable mentor to the young guns on Phoenix's roster. Mayo is included just to make salaries work and will most likely be let go at the end of the season. Dallas are also sending rookie Justin Anderson and sophomore Dwight Powell to join Phoenix's suddenly exciting young core. Powell started the season hot for the Mavs and a fresh start may be just what he needs to just explode. Anderson is also very promising, according to his peers. In the 2015-16 NBA.COM Rookie Survey, Anderson was voted the most athletic rookie (grabbing 27.8% of the votes) and was also surprisingly chosen a tie for third behind only top three picks Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns for predicting who will have the best career (13.8% of the votes). Last, but not least, the most skilled player in this trade to come to the desert would have to be Trey Burke, the point guard from Michigan. Burke may never be destined to be a great starter in this league but he could damn well be a helluva sixth man for a team such as the Suns.



So there you have it - I shook up the Suns and I sent their players sprawling all across the country, leaving no leaf unturned. Here's just an idea of what the new roster looks like (starters are bolded):
PG: Eric Bledsoe, Trey Burke, Greivis Vasquez
SG: Devin Booker, O.J. Mayo, Archie Goodwin,
SF: T.J. Warren, Justin Anderson, Sonny Weems
PF: Ersan Ilyasova, Cody Zeller, Dwight Powell, Jon Leuer
C: Al Jefferson, Alex Len

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