Report: Teams interested in Jalen Smith expect Phoenix Suns to trade him

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NBA players who signed new contracts for 2021-22 this past offseason will be trade-eligible starting Wednesday, and with that putting a large chunk of the league into negotiation possibilities, discussions between teams will ramp up this week.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Monday that the expectation from some teams in the league is that the Phoenix Suns could be in on the action despite their 21-4 record heading into a Monday game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Despite declining his third-year option, the Suns have had interest generate in talks to move center Jalen Smith, sources said. But interested teams expect a potential move for Smith as the Dec. 15 date — when most offseason signings can be traded — nears.

Smith, the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is on a $4.5 million contract and was the rare lottery pick whose third-year option wasn’t exercised — rookie deals can last up to four years before they reach restricted free agency.

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent after this year, and that Phoenix did not exercise his option could scare teams from considering a trade for him. However, it appears there is enough interest for teams to take a look at the 21-year-old big man for a portion of 2021-22 without worrying about a long-term money hampering them into next year.

In eight appearances this season, Smith has averaged 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per game.

Charania’s notebook also included another Suns-centric tidbit: Phoenix is among the teams that has shown interest in Indiana Pacers All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis over “recent years.”

It’s hard to see what the Pacers would accept in a deal for the 25-year-old, who is making $18.5 million this season and would need a significant amount of money heading back the other way in any trade. Regarding the Suns specifically, it’s difficult to see a Sabonis deal without shaking up the core group of returning players from last season’s NBA Finals run.

Indiana is reportedly interested in breaking down its current roster construction by dealing potentially one of Sabonis and center Myles Turner, as well as wing Caris LeVert.

Sabonis is averaging 18.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 58% from the field this season.

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