2024-25 Season Discussion and Speculation Part III

[Saberestar]

Sources have informed The Arizona Republic the Suns have been talking to teams throughout the league about trading 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic, with the Atlanta Hawks being one of those teams.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported this week the Suns are looking to pair up one of the first-round picks they obtained from Utah with Nurkic to acquire a “high-level” rotation player.

Just looking at the Hawks and based on contracts alone, the Suns could trade Nurkic and a first-round pick for guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is due $17.2 million this season.

Bogdanovic is in the second of a four-year, $68-million deal as he’s scheduled to make $16 million in each of the last two years of the contract.

https://eu.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/01/30/sources-suns-talked-with-hawks-other-teams-about-trading-jusuf-nurkic/78046527007/

Bogdan has a club option in 2026/2027 -- so same time line as Nurkic
probably wouldn't hate the deal but why give up a FRP
just a straight trade of players

Why give up a FRP? The difference as a players between Bogdanovic and Nurkic is HUGE, I seriously I doubt that they would make the trade for just a late (superlate) FRP.

[Sunsdeuce]

After watching this team again last night, I think the emphasis needs to be fire. If this team makes a trade, it need to be for a player with fire.

As soon as Anthony Edwards started showing fire and passion, Minny took control because we have no player with the same fire and passion at his level.

You can’t teach desire and fire. I’m not sure at their point, we can even trade for it. Booker and/or KD has to go.

I’m not tied to Booker like some of you are here. Some of you think we owe him something, or that he’s a blessing to the state. I mean he does a few things here and there for AZ but he isn’t and was never invested in Phx like Larry Fitzgerald or Dan Majerle. Again, I’m cool with giving him a tribute video when he’s traded but he ain’t on my list of all time favorite Suns. He’s just stat stuffing points at this point and I don’t care about stats. I want wins!

[Slim Charless]

Cant wait for this scrub to leave the team! What a crybaby.

Hope the Suns can get something like this

Myles Turner for Nurkic and a 1st. I would do that in a heartbeat!!!

Jonas V and Bey for Nurkic and a 1st.

Adams and Whitmore for Nurkic and a 1st

Robert Williams and Murray for Nurkic and a 1st

Kessler and Clarkson for Nurkic and a 1st

Lets get a couple back for depth and fit !!!

Teams will laugh you off the phone.

Slim, how about Nurkic & 1st for Ball & Vucevic?

I'd do that if we could. Not sure Chicago wants to tank. Vuc and Levine have been good for them this yr.

[Puff]

The real fix Iishbia should make is:

1. Fire Bud
2. Make KD and Booker playing head coaches of the team

They are determining who they want to play with and how they want to play anyway, so why not cut out the middleman.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

Cant wait for this scrub to leave the team! What a crybaby.

Hope the Suns can get something like this

Myles Turner for Nurkic and a 1st. I would do that in a heartbeat!!!

Jonas V and Bey for Nurkic and a 1st.

Adams and Whitmore for Nurkic and a 1st

Robert Williams and Murray for Nurkic and a 1st

Kessler and Clarkson for Nurkic and a 1st

Lets get a couple back for depth and fit !!!

So using another FRP to move off of Nurkic because the the GM name Mat Dips**tbia made another lousy trade so he is going to double down and make another crappy trade that just moves money around but doesn't do a damn thing as far as winning

And if he gives up a FRP pick for Nurkic - its a no brainer he will use Dunn to get Butler

It's most likely not possible to even get Butler now, honestly never was! And especially not after we gave away our 1' 1st for much lesser-valued picks. But this Atlanta proposal is idiotic and doesn't really even make much if any sense for either team! Atlanta already has Capela they're trying to move so they can give that position to Okongwu! Why would they double down on creating a bigger glut at that position further delaying their plans for Okongwu? It's just a backwards illogical thought premise.

And for Phoenix, adding another high-paid multiyear contract (SG) behind BOTH Beal and Allen? To what purpose exactly? So we can now tie-up over $82 million at one position?? While also only further reducing our already extremely limited asset cache? The only logical reason for this would be IF we already have another trade lined up for Alleen to be outgoing for another frontcourt big/ backup center option. Because certainly, Bogdanovic certainly doesn't add more size to our wing or frontcourt defensive needs?

This just seems like yet another pointless overpay on a redundant player that won't really help address our key needs or make us measurably better than what we already have. But basically a pointlessly redundant move just to be able to say they made a move after completely misreading the Butler trade premise and believing thy had it on lock down when thy really had nothing at all!

[BobbieL]

After watching this team again last night, I think the emphasis needs to be fire. If this team makes a trade, it need to be for a player with fire.

As soon as Anthony Edwards started showing fire and passion, Minny took control because we have no player with the same fire and passion at his level.

You can’t teach desire and fire. I’m not sure at their point, we can even trade for it. Booker and/or KD has to go.

I’m not tied to Booker like some of you are here. Some of you think we owe him something, or that he’s a blessing to the state. I mean he does a few things here and there for AZ but he isn’t and was never invested in Phx like Larry Fitzgerald or Dan Majerle. Again, I’m cool with giving him a tribute video when he’s traded but he ain’t on my list of all time favorite Suns. He’s just stat stuffing points at this point and I don’t care about stats. I want wins!

I don’t know about fire or emotion - I just have my theory —The two supposed leaders of the team are happy playing ball and getting paid, and winning is fine but not the end goal for either of them

Maybe I am wrong but if Book is traded, so be it. Actually think that is truly the only way to improve the team.

All these other trades are around the edges. Team will only truly get better moving on from 1+ 35

[King4Day]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Now this is what we should be talking about. If it’s true. This can get a decent player back with Nurkic+ a minimum or 2 contracts.

This isn't true.
2nd apron teams can't have a 2-team trade where the 2nd apron team sends out more than one player. Assuming that's what this person is suggesting.

We CAN trade more than one player if it's a multi-team deal.

IE:
Suns trade Nurk to Hawks
Suns trade Plumlee to Charlotte
Suns get Bogdon

Like you can't send Nurk AND Mason to Atlanta and then get back Bogdon (even though Nurk for Bogdon is legal).
If you can, then this is news to me and not something I've ever see Marks mention

[BobbieL]

https://eu.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/01/30/sources-suns-talked-with-hawks-other-teams-about-trading-jusuf-nurkic/78046527007/

Bogdan has a club option in 2026/2027 -- so same time line as Nurkic
probably wouldn't hate the deal but why give up a FRP
just a straight trade of players

Why give up a FRP? The difference as a players between Bogdanovic and Nurkic is HUGE, I seriously I doubt that they would make the trade for just a late (superlate) FRP.

True. I get Boggy is better but the Suns have Allen and Beal … not sure he is what they need if trading Nurkic. Nance at least makes sense

[King4Day]

Bogdan has a club option in 2026/2027 -- so same time line as Nurkic
probably wouldn't hate the deal but why give up a FRP
just a straight trade of players

Why give up a FRP? The difference as a players between Bogdanovic and Nurkic is HUGE, I seriously I doubt that they would make the trade for just a late (superlate) FRP.

True. I get Boggy is better but the Suns have Allen and Beal … not sure he is what they need if trading Nurkic. Nance at least makes sense

Unless the plan is to spin Allen off in a trade elsewhere for assets/parts that fit better?

IE: Allen and a first to Portland for Deni and Reath? (Deni and Allen make the exact same amount)
Or a trade that brings back another center like Williams. Allen makes a bit more so it'd also save us on tax, unless we take back Reath.

[JRoy]

Why give up a FRP? The difference as a players between Bogdanovic and Nurkic is HUGE, I seriously I doubt that they would make the trade for just a late (superlate) FRP.

True. I get Boggy is better but the Suns have Allen and Beal … not sure he is what they need if trading Nurkic. Nance at least makes sense

Unless the plan is to spin Allen off in a trade elsewhere for assets/parts that fit better?

IE: Allen and a first to Portland for Deni and Reath? (Deni and Allen make the exact same amount)
Or a trade that brings back another center like Williams. Allen makes a bit more so it'd also save us on tax, unless we take back Reath.

POR just paid a lottery pick, an unprotected FRP, Brogdon and 2 SRP for Deni and he has been easily our best player.

Why would POR do that?

[Sunsdeuce]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

[SunsRback4Good]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

Yes, Barkley and Amare come to mind. We’ve always had great PF’s but not so much centers. Mainly PF’s & PG’s are what Phoenix basketball is/was all about. It’s a shame we have none of that these days.

[dremill24]

Your options in Nurkic deals are going to be much more limited than, say, Allen. If the only rotation-level players you can get for Nurkic are guards that may be redundant with Allen, then maybe you simply do that and then move Allen for frontcourt help, since he's not going to be viewed by everyone as just some unplayable bad contract. But ideally, sure, you may want frontcourt help using Nurk so you can keep Allen.

[Ghost of Kleine]

True. I get Boggy is better but the Suns have Allen and Beal … not sure he is what they need if trading Nurkic. Nance at least makes sense

Unless the plan is to spin Allen off in a trade elsewhere for assets/parts that fit better?

IE: Allen and a first to Portland for Deni and Reath? (Deni and Allen make the exact same amount)
Or a trade that brings back another center like Williams. Allen makes a bit more so it'd also save us on tax, unless we take back Reath.

POR just paid a lottery pick, an unprotected FRP, Brogdon and 2 SRP for Deni and he has been easily our best player.

Why would POR do that?

You guys wouldn't! That's why I've been looking at ways to get Grant instead with either Timeelord or Camara in some package that gives Portland shorter contracts (or expiring), some younger players, and maybe 2 firsts from us. Getting you guys off of Grant's long-term money, and getting cap relief, some younger pieces, and two firsts from us for some combination of Grant and Camara or Grant/Timelord/Reath?

But admittedly not sure what value you guys place on Grant, Timelord (maybe a 2nd or two)? and Camara (a first)?

[JRoy]

Unless the plan is to spin Allen off in a trade elsewhere for assets/parts that fit better?

IE: Allen and a first to Portland for Deni and Reath? (Deni and Allen make the exact same amount)
Or a trade that brings back another center like Williams. Allen makes a bit more so it'd also save us on tax, unless we take back Reath.

POR just paid a lottery pick, an unprotected FRP, Brogdon and 2 SRP for Deni and he has been easily our best player.

Why would POR do that?

You guys wouldn't! That's why I've been looking at ways to get Grant instead with either Timeelord or Camara in some package that gives Portland shorter contracts (or expiring), some younger players, and maybe 2 firsts from us. Getting you guys off of Grant's long-term money, and getting cap relief, some younger pieces, and two firsts from us for some combination of Grant and Camara or Grant/Timelord/Reath?

But admittedly not sure what value you guys place on Grant, Timelord (maybe a 2nd or two)? and Camara (a first)?

Grant, Simons and Ayton all need to go, but POR is under the cap so no reason to take a hit moving them.

It seems that the JB situation has put a cork into trades going into the deadline. Curious which teams will stop waiting and move ahead without a resolution to that situation.

No problem moving RW but POR values him more than that so maybe no deal with him happens at all.

Camara has proven to be the best asset in that trade and POR is in no hurry to move him.

Not sure there is a deal that works for both teams.

[dremill24]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Now this is what we should be talking about. If it’s true. This can get a decent player back with Nurkic+ a minimum or 2 contracts.

This isn't true.
2nd apron teams can't have a 2-team trade where the 2nd apron team sends out more than one player. Assuming that's what this person is suggesting.

We CAN trade more than one player if it's a multi-team deal.

IE:
Suns trade Nurk to Hawks
Suns trade Plumlee to Charlotte
Suns get Bogdon

Like you can't send Nurk AND Mason to Atlanta and then get back Bogdon (even though Nurk for Bogdon is legal).
If you can, then this is news to me and not something I've ever see Marks mention

Na...the number of teams involved does not affect whether said 2nd apron team is aggregating outgoing salaries.

The key point of aggregating outgoing salaries is to adhere to the matching rules for incoming salaries. A 1st/2nd apron team is not allowed to make a trade that returns an incoming combined salary ((regardless of how many players or teams) that is MORE THAN what they sent out.

The way around that for most teams would be to aggregate (i.e., combine together) multiple salaries that are higher than the single salary, allowing you to take in a higher number. The issue is that 2nd apron teams can't take back more salary than they send out OR aggregate multiple salaries together to take in a higher number.

What the tweet is suggesting is that, using your example, the Suns can trade Nurkic for Bogdan, since the salary difference between the two adheres to the rules in place for each team. The Suns would use a Standard Traded Player Exception to send out one player and take back less money, while the Hawks would use and Expanded Traded Player Exception to send out one player and take back more money, which they can do because they're below both aprons.

Then, if you want to send Plumlee to Atlanta, you can do that separately via a Minimum Exception for Atlanta OR a similar one-for-one trade for one of their lower salaries that is less than Plumlee. What they're restricted from doing is something like lumping Nurkic and Plumlee together to take back player(s) who make more than Nurkic (Capela, for example). But if they wanted to do Nurkic for Bogdanovic, then do Plumlee for Gueye, that tweet indicates this would be allowable.

[BobbieL]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

The roster is just not there. And with limited ways to improve it - you will get trades like Nurk for Bogdanovich. Yes, Bogdo is the better player but you are now redundant at SG.

Okay, so now, time to trade Allen for something -- will it be better value? Maybe maybe not. But it will be a move that can be talked about

The Richards for Okogie move - been good

But these around the edges seem more about just changing the roster but not improving 1) the overall record 2) and more importantly, winning playoff games.

If the goal is to win a series this April - find, overpay for Butler, add a pick to move Nurk and you might make it past Round 1 of the playoffs. But 12 months from now, with all your draft capital gone, Booker and Durant a year older with less trade value, same thing will happen "what average player can Gambo talk about trading for" that won't do a damn thing in terms of winning 16 games from Mid April to Mid June

[Ghost of Kleine]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

Yes, Barkley and Amare come to mind. We’ve always had great PF’s but not so much centers. Mainly PF’s & PG’s are what Phoenix basketball is/was all about. It’s a shame we have none of that these days.

For that If you're not doing a trade for (John Collins) probably because he'd likely cost us two 1sts? Or else doing the Nurkic/CL 26' 1st to Indiana for Toppin/Wiseman/ filler from my trade proposal. Then the smartest and most logically cost-effective way to add a similar player (although slightly lesser) to Amare, would be via the draft. Ideally names like:

Joni Broome.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/johni-broome

JT Toppin.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/jt-toppin

JOJO Tugler. 6'8 229 lbs. with a (7'6 wingspan)!!!
https://www.tankathon.com/players/jojo-tugler

Trevon Brazile. 6'10 with a 41-inch vertical and 7'4 wingspan! Closest archetype to Amare in years.
https://www.tankathon.com/players/trevon-brazile

And Xavian Lee is pretty similar to Steve Nash in skillset, shooting, playstyle, craftiness and passing.

And Sergio de Larrea, is a gifted 6'8 guard with exceptional playmaking!
https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=sergio-de-larrea--steve-nash

[Sunsdeuce]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

The roster is just not there. And with limited ways to improve it - you will get trades like Nurk for Bogdanovich. Yes, Bogdo is the better player but you are now redundant at SG.

Okay, so now, time to trade Allen for something -- will it be better value? Maybe maybe not. But it will be a move that can be talked about

The Richards for Okogie move - been good

But these around the edges seem more about just changing the roster but not improving 1) the overall record 2) and more importantly, winning playoff games.

If the goal is to win a series this April - find, overpay for Butler, add a pick to move Nurk and you might make it past Round 1 of the playoffs. But 12 months from now, with all your draft capital gone, Booker and Durant a year older with less trade value, same thing will happen "what average player can Gambo talk about trading for" that won't do a damn thing in terms of winning 16 games from Mid April to Mid June

Basically the roster is a mess. Superstars that act entitled. A star player on an untradabe contract. No assets to make upgrades. Worst of all, it’s a .500 ball club that is in the 2nd apron.

The current dilemma this team is in (combination of years of James Jones mismanagement and an ego driven owner adding additional stupid decisions) has a reality that NO trade will make this roster and team a contender.

The faster people accept the only real option is a rebuild, the more at peace the fan base and organization can be and truly build a contender.

[Ghost of Kleine]

This team needs a true power forward. Suns haven’t had a natural Power forward in almost a decade. If your gonna make a trade, trade for a real PF!

The roster is just not there. And with limited ways to improve it - you will get trades like Nurk for Bogdanovich. Yes, Bogdo is the better player but you are now redundant at SG.

Okay, so now, time to trade Allen for something -- will it be better value? Maybe maybe not. But it will be a move that can be talked about

The Richards for Okogie move - been good

But these around the edges seem more about just changing the roster but not improving 1) the overall record 2) and more importantly, winning playoff games.

If the goal is to win a series this April - find, overpay for Butler, add a pick to move Nurk and you might make it past Round 1 of the playoffs. But 12 months from now, with all your draft capital gone, Booker and Durant a year older with less trade value, same thing will happen "what average player can Gambo talk about trading for" that won't do a damn thing in terms of winning 16 games from Mid April to Mid June