The Phoenix Suns may finally address their need to trade for a star-level talent, as recent reports have revealed that the team negotiated a trade with the Utah Jazz to bolster their draft capital ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
"The Phoenix Suns are trading their 2031 first-rounder to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday," ESPN's Shams Charania shared Tuesday night.
"The trade gives the Suns the ability to triple their allotted first-round draft capital as the franchise pursues upgrades to the roster -- such as Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler."
"Butler, who requested a trade from the Heat earlier this month, has the Suns among his preferred trade destinations, sources said."
"The aggressive approach by the Suns unlocks their next six drafts and breaks up their lone tradable first in 2031 into three firsts. For 2025, the Suns are likely to have Cleveland's first-round pick."
Phoenix's deal with Utah looks to be indicative of a major move, as the Suns have now announced that they are loading up on assets to potentially land a star. With the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler still likely the franchise's main focus, it could be easier to sway the Heat into a deal if extra first-round draft capital is involved.
Of course, Bradley Beal would still need to waive his no-trade in any deal centered around Butler.
As the Western Conference's No. 10 seed with a 21-21 record, the Suns have now fully realized that they need to pick a direction and roll with it.
The team will either start anew and blow things up or decide to compete with both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the roster. Evidently, they've now chosen the latter option.
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