PHOENIX SUNS
Report: Suns trade Celtics for No. 24 pick Ty Jerome, Aron Baynes
Jun 20, 2019, 7:30 PM | Updated: 11:30 pm
FILE - In this March 24, 2019, file photo, Virginia guard Ty Jerome (11) dribbles the ball as Oklahoma guard Christian James defends during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Columbia, S.C. Jerome could go in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft and play either guard position. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
The Phoenix Suns were reportedly not done making draft moves Thursday after trading away their sixth and 32nd picks and drafting Cam Johnson with the No. 11 pick.
The Suns have traded the Boston Celtics for the No. 24 pick, which was used to select point guard Ty Jerome, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. They also got center Aron Baynes in the deal.
Phoenix is giving up the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020 first-round pick, Wojnarowski tweeted. That pick came from the Eric Bledsoe trade in 2017.
The Suns acknowledged later Thursday that the team was in discussions to make trades, but wouldn’t comment further, adding that trade discussions would likely be complete after the moratorium ends on July 6.
The No. 24 pick used on Jerome was originally owned by the Philadelphia 76ers, who flipped the No. 24 and No. 33 picks to Boston for the No. 20 pick, according to the Inquirer.
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Jerome was instrumental in Virginia winning the NCAA Tournament this season. His 5.5 assists per game led the ACC and his 3.25-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was one of the best in the nation, according to the ESPN broadcast.
Over the last two seasons, Jerome shot 39% from behind the 3-point arc and 46.5% from 2-point range. He averaged 13.6 points last year.
This is the second point guard the Suns have drafted over the last two years. Phoenix took Elie Okobo in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. The team later traded the Houston Rockets for De’Anthony Melton.
In addition to Melton and Okobo, Tyler Johnson can serve as point guard, assuming he accepts his $19 million player option.
The Suns also reportedly traded forward T.J. Warren earlier Thursday for cash considerations. With the open cap space, they can pursue a point guard in free agency.
Baynes, a 32-year-old center, is under contract for $5.4 million this season. In about 16 minutes per game last season for Boston, he averaged 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Richaun Holmes, the backup center for the Suns last season, is an unrestricted free agent.
Baynes is an energetic, happy-go-lucky, hard playing guy. Has an impact on defensive end. Has one year left on contract. Good bargain player and better player than Richaun Holmes. Not even close. Can guard the bigs like Embiid, Cousins, etc….
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 21, 2019
