From the things I read and listened to on the radio, (the rumors no one knows if they are true LOL), it really sounds like NJ is mostly looking for flexibility. They have zero picks in the draft now due to the Harden trade. So it seems they want picks and expiring contracts mostly or fully. They don't want Ayton because he puts them in a hard cap situation, and again, they look to be moving salaries and gaining picks. So I don't even know if Ayton HAS to be in this trade. I have heard on the radio we have enough expiring contracts, if we throw in a guy not on expiring, we can make it work straight up with NJ.
Another point that stuck with me yesterday. They said KD would not ask out to come to PHX, unless he asked his guys first if it was possible. After being assured it could be done, then he would ask out. Makes sense, why ask if it can't be done? SO KD was supposedly assured it could be done before ever asking out. I think this rumor was from Flex, so take it with a grain of salt, or a bag of salt.
Another thing that was interesting was a photo on Twitter yesterday of KD in the valley at a fast food place in Paradise Valley. Then someone posting on Reddit they knew he was at a Realty office here in the Valley that day.
Finally, the Dejounte Murray trade. I think there's no way, absolutely no way we would normally NOT get involved in that trade. Dude would be the future PG of our franchise for a decade plus. When that went down, and we weren't involved I really could not see why. Now in hindsight, I am reading the Suns HAD to be tipped off KD was looking into if he could come to PHX. He's one of the few guys you would skip trying to get Murray for. We all know the NBA grape vine, I would not be surprised if our guys in PHX knew about KD way before it was reported he was asking out. We hold onto Crowder too, when his contract was supposedly a hot commodity to trade. Why? Would we need that in a BIGGER trade? LOL!
But isn’t July 6th the beginning of the new league year and the official date to sign new free agents? Markieff was able to back out because he was signing a new contract and had just verbally agreed to it. The Ball trade was able to be amended because it was a sign and trade (involving a new contract), so it had been verbally agreed to, but not official until the start of the new league year. I thought that since Royce was already on a current deal, and he was being traded for a draft pick, that July 6th didn’t matter since there are no new contracts that can’t be made official until the official start of the new league year (July 6th). I thought trades not involving new contracts could be made official before the July 6th date.
