There was an “undeniable vibe” in Miami on Tuesday that the SunsDraft trade with Utah moved Phoenix closer to possible acquisition Jimmy Butleraccording to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), who say a source close to the process believes there is a “real path” to a deal sending the Heat star at the Suns.
(RELATED: Likelihood of Suns acquiring Jimmy Butler increasing?)
Still, sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking tell Stein and Fischer that the Suns completed their deal with the Jazz — who sent Phoenix’s 2031 first-round pick in exchange for three less valuable first rounders — without that specific monitoring is planned. up.
As Stein and Fischer write, while this trade put the Suns in a better position to play for Butler, it also led to widespread discussion around the league that the club was seeking more general flexibility. For example, one of these first round picks could be attached to Jusuf Nurkic to terminate their contract and get something of value in return.
One executive speculated that the Suns could keep the 2025 first-round pick they acquired from Utah (likely Cleveland’s pick at No. 30) and use it in June to return to the draft and acquire more future assets, like they did in the draft. draft night in 2024 when they dropped six spots from No. 22 to No. 28 and added three future second-rounders in the process.
For what it’s worth, John Hollinger of The Athletic expresses skepticism that the Suns don’t already have a plan in mind for a particular trade, arguing that one shouldn’t make a move like that and then say : “Well, now maybe let’s see what we can do?” The Suns already know the answer to that question, according to Hollinger, who says Phoenix almost certainly made the decision to address a specific need expressed by a potential trade partner.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- In his article analyzing the Suns/Jazz trade, Hollinger commends the Phoenix front office for its creativity in continuing to find new ways to add draft assets using its limited tradeable picks. However, he likens Tuesday’s deal to a trade of a dollar for three quarters and notes that the Suns likely won’t have more options to continue unearthing draft capital — since they also plan to be Well into second apron territory next season, their 2032 first-round pick will be frozen and cannot be included in a trade.
- The Heat have spoken to several teams about Butler, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Insider link), but the Suns remain at the top of the list of preferred destinations for the 35-year-old and are expected to be “aggressive” in pursuing upgrades. list level by then. and the February 6 trade deadline, Charania adds.
- Kevin Durant dismissed the idea that he might run out of gas in the second half of the season, telling Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports: “I am not an ordinary 36-year-old man. …How many people play at this level at my age? So you can’t compare me to someone who burned out. It could happen, but does it feel like it right now? » Durant also said he wasn’t frustrated by the restrictions the Suns face under the current collective bargaining agreement: “I’ve seen a lot of crazy things happen in this league. You know, regardless of the rules and whatever CBA is in place, these guys get paid a lot of money to find ways and stuff like that. So it’s not frustrating. I mean, we just added Nick (Richards)which is a good pickup.
- In that same Yahoo Sports story, Goodwill confirmed that there were rumors about the Deer And Raptors potentially involved in a multi-team deal sending Butler to the Suns and added the Wizards to the list of clubs that are rumored to be facilitators in this scenario.
- Bradley Bealwho is still listed as questionable to play Wednesday against Brooklyn due to a sprained left ankle, called the game “a must-win for us,” according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
