Why the Phoenix Suns Should Trade for Kyrie Irving

Charles Supplee
Jul 25, 2017 · 4 min read
(Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Four days after the 2017 NBA draft, it was revealed that a three team trade was nearly agreed to between the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers. The potential deal involved the Suns sending guard Eric Bledsoe to the Cavs and the number four pick, which turned out to be Kansas forward Josh Jackson, to Indiana. The Pacers would then ship all-star forward Paul George to Cleveland, and the Cavaliers would give Phoenix all-star guard Kyrie Irving. The deal was nixed when LeBron James wouldn’t commit to staying in Cleveland longer than next season. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst broke the news Friday afternoon that Kyrie Irving has asked the Cavaliers to trade him. Having nearly acquired him a month ago, the Suns should once again try to bring Irving to the desert.

The first concern for the Suns is what the package to the Cavaliers for Irving would look like. With Paul George no longer a possibility for the Cavaliers, their asking price has apparently gone up — they are now asking for Eric Bledsoe, Josh Jackson (selected number four overall by the Suns in this year’s draft), and more.

This is a steep price for the Suns to pay. Eric Bledsoe is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA, averaging 21.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 4.8 RPG in 66 games this past year. That being said , Irving is an obvious upgrade over Bledsoe, and is two years younger. Phoenix would have no problem giving Bledsoe up in a trade for Kyrie. The problem begins when considering giving up Josh Jackson as well as additional members of the young core and/or future draft picks. One of the things that the Suns love about Jackson is how he fits in with up-and-coming star Devin Booker. Booker’s offensive talents are clear to see, but he is a liability on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Jackson projects to be a plus defender that can help hide Booker’s defensive shortcomings. If he is able to develop his outside game and learn to consistently knock down jumpers, he could be one of the best two way talents in the league. Furthermore, at twenty years old, he fits in perfectly with the young core that the Suns have built. As if giving up Bledsoe and Jackson isn’t enough, the Cavaliers still want additional assets from Phoenix. These pieces would most likely be one of either Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender. The Suns would be very hesitant to let go of either one of these players. Both are brimming with potential and could develop in to the prototypical big man of the modern NBA. If they were instead interested in draft picks, the Suns have their own first round pick as well as two first round draft picks from the Miami Heat. Phoenix has been acquiring these assets for years with the goal of competing by 2020. Giving up a large chunk of these pieces would be tough for Suns GM Ryan McDonough to sign off on, especially since the Golden Stats Warriors’ dominance in the Western Conference makes it virtually impossible to compete for a title in the near future.

One potential trade that would be much more attractive to the Suns could involve shipping Bledsoe, a combination of the Suns’ stockpiled draft picks, and small forward TJ Warren to the Cavs. If this isn’t enough, the Suns could also take on Iman Shumpert’s contract which Cleveland has reportedly been trying to dump. In this scenario, Irving would replace Bledsoe as the team’s starting point guard, and TJ Warren’s leaving would open up the starting small forward role for Josh Jackson. The Sun’s opening day starters would probably consist of Irving / Booker /Jackson / Chriss / Chandler. While this team would probably not win very many games, the future of the club would look extremely bright. If the Suns vision is to make deep playoff runs and compete for titles by 2020, this is the way to do it. Assuming they keep the core together, the starting five could be Irving / Booker / Jackson / Chriss / Bender by the time the next decade begins. The average age of this starting lineup would be 23 years and 9 months old in 2020, and they would be poised to compete for a significant amount of time. The only issue with a prospective Bledsoe, Warren, and draft picks trade would be getting Cleveland to agree with it. With every team now aware that Irving can be traded for, a bidding war for Irving’s talents isn’t hard to imagine. Phoenix may be forced to offer more for Irving than they’re comfortable with if another team can best the Sun’s package.

The potential upside in this trade for the Suns is obvious. By acquiring Irving, they would have an instant upgrade at point guard, and as a bonus would be receiving a player who his much closer in age to their young core. While it would not be easy to send off the young and talented TJ Warren as well as valuable first round draft picks, this trade would not mortgage the future of the team. This is the most critical aspect of any potential trade the Suns may be considering. At some point, they will have to attract a big name free agent or trade for a star player if they wish to return to being one of the NBA’s premiere teams. This trade would bring a star player to Phoenix, and in addition would not break up the young crop of players the Suns have acquired. Trading for Kyrie Irving is a no-brainer for the Suns — provided it’s for the right price.

The Great Zamboni

Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

Thanks to Vijay Singh

Charles Supplee

Written by

The Great Zamboni

Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

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