NBA Rumors: Phoenix Suns linked to Blazers amid Lillard trade talks

Now that NBA free agency is winding down and the dust is starting to settle, it is clear that the Phoenix Suns have won the summer. Their big off-season featured moves that were meant to bolster their roster after making a big in-season deal at the trade deadline to acquire Kevin Durant.

They added a future Hall of Famer to a team that already had one of the best offensive players in the NBA, Devin Booker, then traded for another star in Bradley Beal. The Suns then followed that up by signing several undervalued players to minimum contracts to build out their roster around their new big three. However, Phoenix might not be done just yet with their offseason moves.

NBA Rumors: Phoenix Suns linked to Blazers amid Lillard trade talks

According to Phoenix Suns insider John Gambadoro, the Suns have been reluctant to trade starting center Deandre Ayton, but they may consider dealing him to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers are, of course, fielding offers for star Damian Lillard, and there is a possibility that starting center Jusuf Nurkic is also included in a larger deal. Assuming that he is available, the Suns could either be the third or fourth team in a Lillard trade.

Or perhaps the Suns and Blazers could work out a separate deal for Nurkic and Ayton, though it would be harder to match contracts with Ayton making nearly double what Nurkic does. That may be part of the appeal for the Suns, with them saving a significant amount in salary and luxury tax.

If they can get a replacement center and possibly another rotation player for Ayton, all the better. With a Lillard deal seemingly coming any day, so could a deal for Nurkic, and if Gambadoro is right, Phoenix could be interested in swapping Ayton for him.

All in all, the Suns have already managed to win the offseason by dramatically reshaping their roster. But if the rumors are true, they could make another big deal before the start of next season.

• Published on 09/22/2023 at 12:30 PM EDT
• Last updated on 09/22/2023 at 9:54 AM EDT