National Basketball Association

Breaking Down the Chances of Each Phoenix Suns Player Being Traded

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (left), guard Devin Booker (center) and guard Eric Bledsoe pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It is a common assumption that Phoenix Suns’ General Manager Ryan McDonough will have to trade for the next superstar in Phoenix.

As a rebuilding team, the Phoenix Suns are unlikely to lure in big names via free agency, so those players must be developed through the draft, or found via trade. In the Suns’ case, unless they win the lottery in the next year or two, even the draft is going to be difficult to find a superstar.

Thus, with cap space, manageable contracts, and assets that other teams may find enticing, McDonough has options to move to acquire such stars.

The question is, who is most likely to move, and who is generally untouchable.

Ranking from ‘Most Likely to be a Traded’, to ‘Least Likely to be Traded’, the Phoenix Suns have 15 players who may be moved this season.

Will be Traded

Archie Goodwin

The final piece of the Morrii clique, Archie Goodwin has a lot of promise, but while still only 22 years old, he just does not seem to be able to get off the bench with regularity.

Also, look at the Suns’ team photos over the last two seasons. Zero smiling from him. He actually looks angry. Those may only be split second snapshots, but why not smile during a team photo?

Whether he is moved in a package deal or in a one-for-one, I do not suspect that he will last the season. Plus, with Tyler Ulis almost assuredly moving ahead of Goodwin on the depth chart, Goodwin has become expendable.

Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (11) handles the ball against Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Most Likely to be Traded

Brandon Knight

This will not shock many, as his name is most widely seen in Suns trade rumors. But while Earl Watson said following the Utah game that he expects to see Knight come off the bench and lead the team in scoring most nights, that luxury is one that even good teams can afford to not have, so a rebuilding team most definitely does not need that kind of player.

As the 2016-17 Suns do not project to be a good team, it only seems logical that Knight be traded for a starter at any other position, returning to his preferred role with another team.

Fairly Likely to be Traded

Eric Bledsoe/Tyson Chandler/T.J. Warren

Eric Bledsoe

If Ryan McDonough dangles both Bledsoe and Knight before any team looking for a point guard and finds that the package offered for Bledsoe is much greater than the package for Knight, then expect to see a new space in the starting lineup for Brandon Knight to step into.

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However, while their contracts are identical and their statistics are similar, Bledsoe is less likely to be traded because of his injury history, and the Suns are less likely to want to trade Bledsoe because his overall game is still better than Knight’s, regardless of age.

Tyson Chandler

The Phoenix Suns are likely to shop Tyson Chandler but that does not mean they will find a trade partner. Although the expanded salary cap makes Chandler’s contract relatively cap friendly, his age and lessening production year-to-year makes him less and less attractive via trade.

There are still scenarios that would see Chandler moved – the most likely of which is that he is packaged up with other players. So, while Tyson isn’t the most enticing player on the roster for another team to look to acquire, his contract is manageable enough to move, and the Suns will look to move it.

T.J. Warren

It seemed last season that there would be no chance the Suns would look to trade Warren. He plays solidly on offense, is suspect but manageable on defense, and is still in his rookie contract with plenty of potential to grow.

And yet those are all qualities that other teams around the league – especially ones in different stages of rebuilding than the Suns – are looking for.

So far, statistically, Warren has proven to be a dime-a-dozen young scorer. But while scoring is the central point of his skill set, some teams legitimately covet such a player. T.J. could be a valuable asset in trade talks for a veteran, or part of a package of players for a star.

Mar 12, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives in against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Not Likely to be Traded

Devin Booker/Marquese Chriss/Jared Dudley/Alex Len/P.J. Tucker

Devin Booker and Marquese Chriss

Booker and Chriss show the most promise in the youth movement moving forward. As such, the Suns will not actively look to trade either of them. At yet, if a team called looking to trade a superstar, would the Suns be willing to listen if either Booker or Chriss would have to be included in the return package? Believe it or not: absolutely – depending on the player.

If a team called asking for Booker or Chriss and was willing to trade a mid-level player, the phone would be hung up before a verbal answer was even given. Yet if, for example, the Pacers called offering Paul George and Booker was at the center of the trade discussion, moving Booker for George could be a plausible opportunity.

So while the Suns are very likely to not offer either player in a trade, if a superstar could be had in return, you could see one or both of these talents traded.

Jared Dudley, P.J. Tucker, Alex Len

Jared Dudley

A player whose central role is as a caretaker of the power forward position and a positive veteran presence on the roster, Dudley isn’t the kind of player that many teams would look to trade for. But if things go really south this season, then Dudley could be somewhat appealing to a championship contender who see’s an open window for two to three years, and value veteran depth off the bench as a necessity.

He is not a prototypical starting power forward in the NBA, and is only expected to hold down the fort until someone else is ready to take over. Although if it seems that throwing one of the young Suns into the fire to give starting minutes as their best option to grow, then Dudley’s presence will no longer be necessary.

P.J. Tucker

The ability to trade Tucker seems to be most predicated on someone wanting a defensive presence off the bench – think Cleveland or Toronto for example – and are willing to rent him through the end of the playoffs.

The type of young player that the Suns will want to trade for to keep the rebuild possible seems very unlikely to acquire via Tucker. But a desperate Championship level team that might be willing to unload a first round pick will be the ideal suitor.

Alex Len

A year ago you would have seen Len on the bottom tier of this list as nearly untouchable. “The center of the future.” And yet outside of a very good stretch of double-doubles in January and February last season, he has not shown to be a consistent performer on either end of the court.

Without a backup replacement behind Len, moving him would be predicated on the overall package and whether or not the Suns got a center in return. The lack of a replacement alone holds trading him back, but, the potential for a bloated contract this offseason might be the kicker to move him.

Seeing what other players of similar skill and statistical output received this past offseason, and knowing that the cap will further expand this offseason, Len may be due to receive a very hefty paycheck. So unless he starts to find some regular consistency, moving him might be worthwhile, simply to save the money next season for more statistically productive players.

Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Will Not be Traded

Leandro Barbosa/Dragan Bender/John Jenkins/Tyler Ulis/Alan Williams

John Jenkins and Alan Williams

While Jenkins and Williams are under guaranteed contracts, they are nothing more than end of the bench types that would receive very little interest in the open market. Unless they are the final pieces in a larger package to make contracts match in a trade, they are more likely candidates to eventually be cut, than to be traded.

Dragan Bender and Tyler Ulis

The number four overall pick in any draft is highly unlikely to be traded during his first season. And so far Bender’s play in limited action during the Summer League and early Preseason has not shown anyone the potential that a high lottery player such as himself might show, potentially limiting interest around the league.

However, the Suns certainly still have high hopes for his production in the future and will not want to give up on their first pick so quickly, making him nearly untouchable.

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On the other hand, Tyler Ulis has shown plenty of offensive output so far and depending on circumstances outside of his control is probably going to be the backup point guard for the foreseeable future. Like Jenkins and Williams, he is unlikely to be traded unless his contract happens to help matchup contracts in a larger trade.

Consequently, even though he was a second round pick, his value to the Suns would probably be the equivalent of a first round pick in return, something teams are not likely to offer.

Leandro Barbosa

On essentially a one-year contract, and the “break glass in case of emergency” point guard, the Suns will definitely not dangle him in any trades. His age plus mediocre statistical output will also be an impediment in trade scenarios. That being said, the Brazilian Blur will almost guaranteed finish the season in Phoenix, and may actually see his second-year team option picked up before next season.

The Phoenix Suns start the regular season on Wednesday, October 26 against the Sacramento Kings.

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