From Purple and Orange to Orange and Blue: The Knicks’ roster is suddenly full of former Suns

Fived former members of the team are now playing in the Big Apple.

Player movement in the NBA is not a new phenomenon, and its roots stretch back to a pivotal moment in league history. Since the floodgates opened on free agency in 1976 following the Oscar Robertson vs. NBA ruling, a seismic shift in the balance of power between players and teams has taken place. What was once an era defined by player loyalty and franchise control gradually transformed into a more dynamic, player-driven landscape.

The introduction of free agency meant that for the first time, athletes had the autonomy to choose where they played, giving them a greater voice in shaping their own careers and altering the competitive fabric of the league.

Given the rapid roster turnover the Phoenix Suns have undergone in recent years, it’s hardly surprising to see a growing list of former Suns scattered across the NBA. The franchise’s pursuit of a championship has resulted in bold moves, and with each reshuffling, familiar faces have found new homes in different cities. Chris Paul, once the floor general of a Suns team that made a Finals run, now suits up for San Antonio, while Kelly Oubre, known for his electrifying athleticism and energy in Phoenix, has landed in Philadelphia, bringing his flair to the 76ers and blowing kisses to the Philly crowds.

The New York Knicks, in particular, have become somewhat of a refuge for former Suns players, with several donning the blue and orange after their time in Phoenix. This growing Suns-to-Knicks pipeline has me wondering how much and how often I will find myself rooting for NYK. Are they my team in the east?

The Knicks made two more moves this past weekend that added former Suns to their roster. So, are we all Knicks fans now? Let’s look at who they have on the roster.

Mikal Bridges

Played with the Suns from 2018-2023

The Warden. I wonder if he still has that nickname.

Originally selected 10th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Mikal Bridges quickly found his way to Phoenix in a draft-day trade. And the Suns couldn’t have been more thrilled with the outcome. His defensive prowess, paired with the infectious energy he brought to the game, made him an instant fan favorite.

From the moment he stepped on the court, Bridges’ tenacity and joy made a lasting impression on Suns fans and cemented his place as a key piece of the team’s success. He was part of the 2021 team that made an appearance in the NBA Finals, and he was part of the young core that promised years of success to come.

Just as he was beginning his ascent, stepping up as the primary scorer for Phoenix during an injury-plagued season for Devin Booker, the team made him the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant.

He spent a season and a half in Brooklyn, and as he enters his 7th year in the league, he finds himself on his third team: The New York Knicks. He’ll be part of their starting five, along with other members of the Villanova Wildcats who won national championships in 2017 and 2018.

Keita Bates Diop

Played with the Suns from 2023-24

Coming over in the trade with Mikal Bridges was a player we truly thought was going to be an X-factor for the Phoenix Suns last season. KBD, someone who matured under the guidance of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, was primed to have his breakthrough season as a 28-year-old last year. He had the physical deliverables. Now he was going to have the chance to showcase them on the big stage.

He was going to be the fifth starter, and with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal around him, he was going to cook.

39 games, 4.5 points on 31.3% shooting from deep, and 2.6 rebounds later, Bates-Diop was traded to the Nets as a part of the Royce O’Neale trade.

Keita played just 14 games with the Nets, averaging 1.6 points in 4.9 minutes played. He was on a veteran minimum contract entering this offseason, having a player option that he exercised. The Nets stacked his contract in the deal with the Knicks.

Cameron Payne

Played with the Suns from 2020-2023

Cameron Payne is gearing up to join his seventh NBA team, but no stop in his career has been more significant or longer-lasting than his time with the Phoenix Suns. During his tenure in Phoenix, Payne not only found stability in a league known for constant movement, but he also revitalized his career. His gritty play and spark off the bench made him an integral part of the Suns’ success, particularly during their 2021 playoff run.

How can we forget Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers?

Phoenix traded him to the Spurs last summer, and after being waived, he found a home with the Milwaukee Bucks. He played 47 games with Milwaukee but was traded to the 76ers at the trade deadline this past February.

We loved Payne for his energy, antics, and ability to run the second-team unit. His pregame dances in the huddles were infectious, and this past season you could certainly feel his absence. The 2023-24 Suns had the personality of a vending machine.

An unrestricted free agent this offseason, Cam Payne joined Mikal the Knicks in July.

Landry Shamet

Played with the Suns from 2021-2023

Landry Shamet arrived in Phoenix with high hopes. During his first three seasons in the NBA, spread across three different teams, he had established himself as a reliable three-point shooter, averaging 39.7% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. So when the Suns traded the 29th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, along with Jevon Carter, to acquire him, it seemed like a smart move.

In his two seasons with Phoenix, Shamet’s shooting numbers — 37.1% from deep on 4.9 attempts per game — didn’t look disastrous on paper. Yet, watching him play told a different story. Every missed shot seemed to weigh heavier, amplifying the perception of his struggles. His shot would be rushed. Or flat. Or out of rhythm.

The only thing consistent about Shamet’s game was his maddening inconsistency. One night, he’d flash glimpses of the sharpshooter the Suns believed they were getting, while on others, he’d disappear entirely, leaving fans frustrated and the team scrambling for answers.

When you factor in the four-year, $42.5 million contract the Suns handed him in 2021, his performance felt like an albatross — a costly gamble that never paid off. Each brick added to the growing sense that Phoenix had sunk significant money into a player who couldn’t live up to the expectations placed on him.

And then they traded him as a part of the Bradley Beal trade. You can have your thoughts on the Beal deal. I know I find myself frustrated with the lack of flexibility built into his contract in the form of a no-trade clause. But getting off of Landry’s was a relief.

After a sub-par year with the sub-par Washington Wizards — he shot 33.8% from three last season — Shamet’s $11 million option was waived. He hit free agency. It wasn’t until this past Saturday that he found a team.

That team was the New York Knicks.

Marcus Morris

Played with the Suns from 2012-2015

Wow. It’s been nearly a decade since the Morri were in Phoenix. Marcus Morris, who the Suns acquired from the Houston Rockets to pair with his brother in 2012, hasn’t played in Phoenix since 2015.

It was a tumultuous relationship while with the Suns. There was a shouting match with then-head coach Jeff Horancek. There was felony aggravated assault. There was calling the Suns “clowns”. There was a beef with Arizona Sports’ John Gamadoro. There was insulting the in entire city of Phoenix.

During his time with the Suns, Marcus was nothing short of polarizing. Known for his raw talent, he also earned a reputation for being difficult, frequently pointing fingers at external factors instead of taking accountability for the team’s internal struggles. Both he and his brother Markieff possessed undeniable skill, but their combative attitudes often overshadowed their contributions on the court.

He had a knack for stirring up tension, whether through fiery outbursts or thinly veiled complaints. His demeanor often fractured locker room cohesion, and despite his potential, it became increasingly clear that his volatile personality was holding both him and the team back. While his grit and intensity were sometimes assets, they were just as often liabilities, making his tenure in Phoenix a complicated chapter.

The Suns traded him in the summer of 2015, and Morris has bounced around the league ever since. His best scoring season came in 2019-20 while playing for the New York Knicks, where he averaged 19.6 points in 43 games.

The team traded him that February to the Clippers.

He’s been on 8 seasons during his 13-year career, and he will be returning to the Big Apple after signing a one-year deal on Sunday.

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That brings the total to five former Suns now on the Knicks’ roster, a mix of players who left Phoenix under very different circumstances and with varying levels of fan sentiment. Each has carved out a unique narrative in Phoenix, leaving behind memories that range from cherished to contentious.

This eclectic group of former Suns now sporting Knicks jerseys reflects the broad spectrum of success, failure, and emotion tied to their individual journeys in Phoenix.

So…will you be rooting for the orange and blue?