Windhorst: Brandon Knight trade has been discussed between Kings, Suns
Dec 22, 2016, 6:17 PM | Updated: 8:54 pm
Phoenix Suns' Brandon Knight,left, works around Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Guard Brandon Knight accepted his move to the Phoenix Suns’ bench, but he’s struggled to adjust to a different role and much less playing time through 29 games.
It’s no surprise that the odd man out in a backcourt including Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker would pop up in trade talk.
Two months off from the trade deadline, teams have more solid understandings of their rosters. About two-thirds of the league finds itself dissatisfied, trying to edge out the rest for playoff runs as lower seeds.
That means the trade season could be eventful.
Apparently regarding Knight, trade talks have been simmering awhile.
On Zach Lowe’s “The Lowe Post” podcast, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst said the Suns have discussed Knight with the Sacramento Kings for some time. Now, whether informal discussion means much at all is up for guessing.
“It’s hard to read Sacramento. Sacramento talks a lot but then never does anything, so Sacramento’s very frustrating to people,” Windhorst said. “I know that Sacramento has been talking to Phoenix about Brandon Knight since the summer. Will that ultimately get done? I don’t know, but it’s out there.”
Knight has been linked to the Kings simply because they are one of few teams in need of an established point guard with Darren Collison and Ty Lawson splitting time at present.
Sacramento would have to be sure Knight is a better option than either.
As for the Suns: In late November, Suns GM Ryan McDonough told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the team was not involved in Knight trades but added that he wouldn’t make any moves until giving the current roster more room to grow and be evaluated.
“We’re certainly not looking to move Brandon, we haven’t been close to trading Brandon,” McDonough said. “I think he’d love to be starting, we understand that. He’s accepted the role very well.”
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard is averaging 13.1 points, 2.9 assists but is struggling by hitting 39 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. He is averaging just 24.3 minutes per game.
The Kings are in the mix for the eighth and final playoff spot, but what the Suns could conceivably get in return from them is limited. Veteran small forward Rudy Gay would likely be an outgoing piece Sacramento could be willing to trade, but Phoenix has no need for an aging small forward.
A third team would probably need to become involved. That is, if the Kings have any intention of making Knight their starting point guard.
