Suns Insider Puts Majority of Trade Rumors to Rest
The Phoenix Suns are hoping to eventually offload power forward Jae Crowder via trade ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline after months of rumors and whispers surrounding where his future rests.
Nearly every player in the NBA has seemingly been somehow tied to the Suns thanks to Crowder's availability and Phoenix's desire to
Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro shot down plenty of those names on 98.7 yesterday:
"No Ibaka/Hill/Nwora [trade is going to happen]. OG [Anunoby], [Alex] Caruso, [Cam] Reddish, [John] Collins, Coby White, [Max] Strus, [Josh] Richardson, none of those trades are going to happen for the Phoenix Suns," said Gambo.
"They are going to trade Jae Crowder. But it is very likely going to be for somebody that you have not heard of in any of these reports."
That may take Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving out of the mix, who as of yesterday requested a trade from the team. According to Shams Charania, the Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks have emerged as potential suitors for Irving.
That may also include Kevin Durant, who just may end up on another squad if Brooklyn decides to blow things up within the next week. Phoenix and Durant were heavily connected over the summer when the superstar forward initially requested a trade.
Recently the Milwaukee Bucks received permission to speak with Crowder, but Gambadoro reports other teams have spoken with him as well.
If the Suns were to pursue a major blockbuster trade, Deandre Ayton may be part of the package - if he agrees to the deal. Ayton has veto rights for the first season of his offer sheet matched by Phoenix in the offseason.
The trade deadline is rapidly approaching and we'll eventually see a deal done from the Suns, yet the anticipation (and rumors that come with it) only grows with each day.
