PHOENIX SUNS
Suns willing to part with 1st-rounder to add talent, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania
Jan 19, 2023, 9:27 PM | Updated: Jan 20, 2023, 7:39 am
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns (C) looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on January 13, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 121-116. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns are looking to add winning players ahead of the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline despite their dubious spot in the standings and an ongoing team sale.
The ability for the Suns to make deals has been scrutinized considering their leadership situation. Robert Sarver is suspended, Sam Garver is acting governor and Mat Ishbia agreed to buy a majority stake in the team, but the deal is not final and will likely not be until after the trade deadline.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that since Ishbia’s agreement, the Suns have informed other teams they are willing to trade picks or take on salary to add talent.
Incoming Suns owner Mat Ishbia will attend Phoenix-Brooklyn tonight, his first Suns game since agreeing to buy team. Details on @TheRally about how Ishbia’s impending arrival impacts Suns at the trade deadline, plus his approach to relationships across basketball: pic.twitter.com/uNnEPDge2S
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 20, 2023
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ESPN’s Brian Windhorst told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Wednesday that the Ishbia transition has started in the building with more meetings happening soon.
Suns general manager James Jones told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo after Ishbia’s announcement that the sale of the organization had not inhibited him from making trades, but he was expecting to get some clarity on the direction of the team.
The Suns have plenty of decisions to make regarding a Jae Crowder trade and with Cam Johnson set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
They also entered Thursday as the No. 12 seed in the conference, but only five games separated them from the No. 3-seeded Sacramento Kings.
Injuries have contributed to their current predicament. Phoenix was 15-6 and atop of the West but extended missed time from Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Johnson, Landry Shamet and Cam Payne have stretched the depth thin.
Phoenix regained a corps player in Johnson, who returned Thursday from a torn meniscus that held him out since Nov. 4.
The Suns also have their full arsenal of draft picks to work with.
Phoenix is not down and out in a cluttered Western Conference, and Charania’s report indicates they don’t see this season as lost.
