It is safe to say that the Phoenix Suns’ trade deadline did not go exactly as planned. For so long they had pursued Jimmy Butler, only for him to end up with the Golden State Warriors. The Suns’ core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal remained in place. There was also very little movement with the rest of the roster.
Their only business in this season’s trade market was with the Charlotte Hornets. First acquiring Nick Richards in exchange for Josh Okogie in mid-January, before offloading Jusuf Nurkić and a first-round pick for Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić. It means the front office is relying on internal improvements to salvage their season.
Phoenix Suns Trade Deadline Hints Towards Off-Season Breakup
Deadline Prioritised Financial Flexibility
While Richards has been a welcome addition to the roster, he is not a championship-caliber starting center. The relationship between Nurkić and the team, particularly with Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, had deteriorated so significantly that a parting of ways had to be accelerated. Having to attach a first-round pick in the trade is not ideal. But when the Suns traded their 2031 pick for three more first rounders, they knew this would be the reality they would face. However, it could have waited for the off-season when Nurkić would be on a more desirable expiring contract.
The acquisitions of Martin and Micić point to working towards future financial flexibility. Both players are under contract for next season. However, Martin’s $8.7M deal is non-guaranteed, while Micić has a team option on his $8.1M contract. Should the Suns cut both, they will be under the second apron, saving over $120M. However, they will be projected to have $198.1M in salary between just eight players. This means they will certainly be above the $207.8M second tax apron threshold with a complete roster. That is, unless they make some trades.
Contract details: Charlotte/Phoenix
To Charlotte
Jusuf Nurkic: $18.1M, $19.4M, UFA 2026
To Phoenix:
Cody Martin: $8.1M, $8.7M ($0 GTY)
Vasilije Micic: $7.7M, $8.1M (Team)
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 6, 2025
Durant, Booker and Beal will take up just over $161.5M of Phoenix’s cap space. If the Suns want to remain under the second apron, one of these players will have to be moved—and that will not be Booker. The Suns’ actions over the past week and months have shown a desperation to get off Beal’s contract and no-trade clause. Once that was deemed impossible, the chance of moving Durant came to light.
Relationships May Be Strained
In what was a bit of a shock, the Suns appeared open to trading the 15-time All-Star. They were reportedly extremely close to striking a deal which would have sent Durant back to the Warriors. That was until Durant got involved and shut down any agreement. He was adamantly against any return to the franchise where he won two rings. This preceded and followed multiple calls from around the league inquiring about Durant’s availability. According to Bob Myers, the Memphis Grizzlies attempted a trade, but again Durant said no.
ESPN’s Shams Charania emphasized that Durant had not asked for a trade nor was he unhappy in Phoenix. However, he did report that the 36-year-old was ‘blindsided’ by recent trade talks. While he ultimately did not get moved, this will be a cloud hovering over the player and team as questions swirl about his future.
Though Durant is happy where he is and previously expressed his desire to retire as a Phoenix Sun, it is unclear whether these recent events will affect his relationship with the front office. The same is true for Beal, whose name often came up in trade rumors, especially in the Butler saga. The Suns would likely much prefer to move on from Beal in the off-season and build around the duo of Booker and Durant, which had shown so much promise to start. But if this fails once more, there could be no choice but to consider trading Durant. He is eligible for a two-year $120M extension after this season. Before this campaign, owner Mat Ishbia said he expects Durant to sign. But should the Suns’ season continue to go up in flames, will this change?
The Suns Risk Falling Further Following Quiet Deadline
Internally, the Suns will still believe they can make it into the playoffs and perhaps embark on a deep run. Unfortunately, reality may not be as rewarding. The Suns sit ninth in the Western Conference, three games back of the Minnesota Timberwolves in sixth. Despite a reasonable deficit, the Suns have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. They have also lost three in a row with no improvements made on the roster.
In addition, several teams around them have made significant moves. The Dallas Mavericks and LA Lakers swapped Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić. Though some may argue Dallas got worse, they remain very competitive and have the potential to be one of the best defensive units in the league. Below them, the San Antonio Spurs gained De’Aaron Fox to play alongside Victor Wembanyama, making them a dangerous outfit. The Sacramento Kings may have lost Fox, but they acquired Zach LaVine, forming an interesting trio alongside DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis. The Warriors added Butler alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
There was not much the Suns could have done without trading Durant, which would have made them worse in the short term. But seeing the moves of the teams they are competing with provides a damning assessment of how far they risk being left behind, despite the supreme talent they possess. It is because of that talent that it would be premature to write them off completely, but they have a long way to go and a lot to prove. With the second half of the season soon approaching and the team sitting at .500, there is not much time left. The NBA may be witnessing the slow and bitter end to a disastrously underwhelming era of Suns basketball.
© Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
The post Phoenix Suns Trade Deadline Hints Towards Off-Season Breakup appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.