PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns trade forward Jared Dudley to Brooklyn Nets

Jul 20, 2018, 7:27 AM | Updated: 5:12 pm

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)...

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade forward Jared Dudley and a 2021 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, the team officially announced Friday.

In return, Phoenix will receive forward/center Darrell Arthur.

Essentially a salary dump, the Suns get out from Dudley’s $9.5 million contract. They will buy out Arthur, who is owed $7.4 million this season, Wojnarowski tweeted.

The 2021 second-round pick is top-35 protected.

The Suns are now $3.2 million under the cap, a number that will increase after the Arthur buyout, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Phoenix has been working to buy Dudley out for the last two weeks, according to 98.7 FM Arizona Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.

“The reason that they didn’t buy him out is they were trying to get him to take about $2 (million), $2.5 million less what he could get at the veteran’s minimum with another team,” he said on Doug and Wolf.

Dudley wouldn’t accept the buyout without knowing there was a different team interested, Gambadoro said. He expects the forward to serve as a stretch-four backup to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the versatile 23-year-old Arizona alumnus.

“Based on what I’m hearing now, he will stay there,” Gambadoro said.

The Suns intend to fully-guarantee guard Davon Reed’s contract and keep guard Shaquille Harrison, Gambadoro tweeted. Both contracts are worth a little under $1.4 million.

After the trade was reported, Dudley tweeted about his time as with Phoenix.

Dudley signed a three-year, $30 million deal with Phoenix in 2016, joining as a mentor for a young team that included rookie forwards and lottery picks Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.

Dudley’s role took even more of a backseat this summer, as the Suns drafted forward Mikal Bridges to join a crop of young forwards in T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson, Bender and Chriss. Phoenix added more of a squeeze at forward by agreeing to ink free agent forward Trevor Ariza to a one-year, $15 million deal.

Ariza is projected as the starting power forward.

An 11-year veteran, Dudley started seven games for Phoenix in 2016-17, then took a backseat to Chriss for the rest of the year. Dudley shot 45 percent overall, 38 percent from three and averaged 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

Last year, Dudley came off toe surgery in the offseason to play in 48 games. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per outing.

In 2008, Dudley’s second NBA season, the forward was traded to the Suns from the Charlotte Bobcats along with Jason Richardson and a second-round pick in exchange for Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary.

Dudley quickly integrated himself as a key bench player for the Suns and eventually developed into a full-time starter by 2011-12, where he averaged a career-best 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Before returning to Phoenix, Dudley played for the Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2014-15) and Washington Wizards (2015-16).

Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Thomas...

Dan Bickley

Isaiah Thomas signing is a wild swing for Suns in desperate times

Isaiah Thomas is a born fighter. He’s beaten the odds. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to rally around a player like him.

13 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Are the Phoenix Suns superstars done with Frank Vogel?

On Monday's Bickley Blast, Dan Bickley asks the question if the Suns' superstars have had bad body language recently and if it's because they want Frank Vogel gone.

18 hours ago

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should be watching during March Madness

The Phoenix Suns are slated to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could select one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix ...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ shocking lack of urgency continues in loss to Bucks without Giannis

The Phoenix Suns are playing like they have been afforded the luxury of time. But they are just about to run out of it.

2 days ago

Josh Okogie #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footp...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Josh Okogie out for matchup vs. Bucks, Antetokounmpo also out

Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie is out for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain.

2 days ago

Isaiah Thomas...

Damon Allred

Isaiah Thomas to return to Suns on 10-day contract, per report

Nearly two years since his last NBA minutes, point guard Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns trade forward Jared Dudley to Brooklyn Nets