Trade meter: 3
What to watch: The trade exceptions and buyouts
The additions of
Kevin Durant and
Bradley Beal were supposed to put Phoenix in contention for a championship. Instead the Suns are fighting just to get into the playoffs.
The uneven start is a result of injuries, poor bench play and overall lack of continuity. When you have a new head coach in Frank Vogel and then factor in 11 players signed or acquired via trade in the offseason, success early in the season should have been unrealistic. But considering that Phoenix went all-in with its roster and there is no turning back, patience is the Suns' most valuable trade asset.
The Suns' roster is top-heavy with Durant, Beal and
Devin Booker earning $130 million. They do have three players earning between $6.2 million and $16.9 million (
Jusuf Nurkic,
Grayson Allen and
Nassir Little). But Allen is shooting a career-high 49.1% from 3 and has been one of the Suns' more consistent players. He is a free agent in the offseason and -- despite their financials -- they can re-sign him and exceed the second apron. The cost, however, in salary and luxury tax could be as high as a whopping $80 million.
The Suns have two medium-sized trade exceptions ($6.5 million and $5 million) to acquire a player but would need to create a roster spot. Because Phoenix is over the second apron, the trade exceptions go away starting on the first day of the offseason. The Suns are allowed to sign a player waived during the regular season, but only if his preexisting salary was less than $12.4 million.
This is also the last time that Phoenix can send cash (it has $1.3 million available) in a deal or aggregate contracts in trade. What that means is that starting in the offseason, Phoenix would not be allowed to combine the contracts of Nurkic and Little for a player earning $24 million. The Suns are also not allowed to take back more money than sent out starting in the offseason.
Because of the trades with Brooklyn, Washington, Orlando and Memphis, there are no more first-round picks available to move at the deadline. The Suns do have their own 2024 first, but that cannot be traded until the night of the draft. Phoenix has three second-rounders available.
Front office trade history: James Jones and his front office are famous for blockbuster deals. Since November 2020, Phoenix has acquired
Chris Paul, Durant and most recently Beal. In total, Jones has made 19 trades, seven since last January.
Last regular-season trade: Traded
Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson,
Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap for Durant. The Suns also acquired Darius Bazley from Oklahoma City for
Dario Saric and a future second.
Trade we would like to see: Little,
Josh Okogie and two second-round picks (2028 and 2029 via Memphis) to Brooklyn for
Royce O'Neale and
Harry Giles III.
Trade exceptions: $6.5 million, $5.0 million, $1.8 million and $1.1 million
Cash available: $1.3 million (out) | $7.0 million (receive)
Salary info and restrictions
- The Suns are $21.5 million over the luxury tax. They are projected to pay a franchise-high $50.7 million tax penalty.
- Beal has a no-trade clause.
- Okogie and Damion Lee have one-year Bird restrictions. Either player is allowed to veto any trade.
- Booker has a 15% trade bonus. As of Feb. 8, the bonus is $4.7 million.
- Phoenix is not allowed to sign a player waived during the season who had a preexisting salary in 2023-24 greater than $12.4M.
Draft assets
- Phoenix can trade its 2024 first but not until the night of the draft.
- Washington has the right to swap firsts with Phoenix in 2024 if the Wizards' first is not conveyed to New York (top-13 protected).
- The Wizards also have the right to swap firsts in 2026 (if 9-30), 2028 (if 9-30) and 2030.
- Orlando then has the right to swap its 2026 first with the less favorable of Phoenix and Washington.
- Memphis has the right to swap the less favorable of Phoenix and Washington in 2030.
- The Suns owe Brooklyn unprotected firsts in 2025, 2027 and 2029.
- Brooklyn also has the right to swap firsts with Phoenix in 2028.
- The Wizards then have the right to swap the least favorable first-round pick of the Nets, Suns and 76ers in 2028.
- Phoenix has four second-round picks available to trade.
- Draft rights: None