Report: Suns dangling second-round picks in point guard search

Now isn’t the best time for the Phoenix Suns to make trades.

But considering their desperate need for a starting-caliber point guard, it’s put them in a tough position where they just might have to.

General manager Ryan McDonough is on the hunt for a point guard, but a quiet market and the known fact that Phoenix needs to fill the position hasn’t helped them seek out value.

As John Gambadoro reported for 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station two weeks ago, the Suns have discussed interest in Patrick Beverley of the Clippers, Cory Joseph of the Pacers and Spencer Dinwiddie of the Nets.

Beverley has the best resume for what Phoenix needs — defense and shooting — and Stadium’s Shams Charania reported Monday he remains one of their top targets.

Charania also reports that the Suns are only shopping second-round picks in their search for a deal.

“The issue is price, asking price,” Charania said. “The Clippers, just like every other team that knows Phoenix needs a point guard, wants a first-round pick.”

The Suns aren’t going to rush a move that could be more costly than it should be.

“We’re evaluating options,” McDonough told Bickley & Marotta last Tuesday. “We’re trying to be deliberate and strategic, and just make sure it makes sense — if we are to do a deal — in the short- and long-term.”

Beverley stands as a reasonable target for a stalemate to be broken.

While the Clippers know the Suns need a point guard, the Suns know the Clippers don’t need Beverley. Los Angeles drafted Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and scoring guard Jerome Robinson this offseason. They join a group of guards that also includes Avery Bradley, Milos Teodosic, Jawun Evans, Sindarius Thornwell and Lou Williams.

That makes Beverley, who is coming off microfracture and meniscus surgery on his knee, expendable and easily tradable with an expiring and non-guaranteed $5 million owed to him this coming season.

The issue is timing. The Suns, after all, used a second-round pick to acquire Elfrid Payton from the Orlando Magic, but that was at the 2018 trade deadline.

“This is an issue that’s going to resolve itself before training camp, I believe,” Charania said of the Suns’ point guard search.

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