Front office discussions: Does Phoenix get a chance to evaluate this roster when healthy prior to the deadline so it can determine undiscovered needs? Is a healthy
Bradley Beal comparable to a trade deadline acquisition? Beal has played six games this season. Should Phoenix target a point guard like Tyus Jones at the cost of
Grayson Allen and
Nassir Little? Besides their own players, the Suns have two trade exceptions ($6.5M and $5M) and three second-round picks. Once the trade deadline is over, the trade exceptions are no longer available in the offseason because of the second apron rules. What is the priority of need for the final roster and two-way spot? The Suns are allowed to also sign a player bought out of his contract, but only if his preexisting salary was less than $12.4 million.
Off the board: Durant ($47.6M, UFA 2026),
Devin Booker ($36M, UFA 2028) and Beal ($46.7M, Team 2026, no trade clause)
Players with trade value: Allen ($8.9M, UFA 2024) and Little ($6.2M, UFA 2027)
Free agents in July: Allen (UFA),
Eric Gordon ($3.2M, Player),
Josh Okogie ($2.8M, Player),
Damion Lee ($2.5M, Player),
Keita Bates-Diop ($2.3M, Player),
Drew Eubanks ($2.3M, Player),
Yuta Watanabe ($2.3M, Player),
Bol Bol ($2M, UFA),
Chimezie Metu ($2M, UFA) and
Jordan Goodwin ($1.9M, Team)
Controllable contracts: None
Long-term salary: Jusuf Nurkic ($16.9M, UFA 2026)
Draft capital: Washington has the right to swap firsts with Phoenix in 2024 if the Wizards' first (if 13-30) to New York is not conveyed. Phoenix can trade its 2024 first but not until the night of the draft. 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 from Phoenix or Washington. Memphis has the right to swap the less favorable firsts 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 from the Nets, Suns or the 76ers first in 2028. Phoenix has three second-round picks available to trade.
The finances: The Suns are $21.5M over the luxury tax and projected to pay a $50.7M tax penalty. The Suns have four trade exceptions ($6.5M, $5M, $1.8M and $1.1M).