The Official 2025 Offseason Thread Part 1

[Slim Charless]

If James Jones is involved in any capacity to with this organization going forward, we are screwed and the same thing we've experienced the past two seasons will continue. He needs to go. Bartelstein as well.

Ishbia really needs to do the right thing and truly clean house. Anything short of moving on and in a serious manner to reshape the franchise properly this time is nothing short of extending the path of failure.

Everything here on out has come to this: New front office, new coach, Durant moved to a team in the Eastern Conference, Beal moved at not too great an expense (and hopefully not stretched as that adds dead cap), and Booker satisfied with the end outcome for all of it.

This off-season is for all the marbles, fellas.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

I agree with all of that, except I'm ok with Jones staying but working under an experienced and serious POBO. I still think Jones has an eye for late draft talent

He absolutely does. He most definitely has hit more than he's missed on picks. Dunno, Oso, CamJo, Camara, among others.

I want him here still in some capacity.

[sunsbg]

If Jones took Hali instead of Smith his draft selections resume would've been really strong. Even Ty Jerome who was seen as failure has become a MIP candidate this season.

[sunskerr]

I'll take them three picks and 24 year old vassell for a 37 year old durant lmao

also that giannis stuff is wild but he'd be putting himself in the same boat he's already in in Milwaukee - capped out old team with little assets to improve. We could probably retool in two years if we have a clean slate in '27 with only him and Booker as salary. But it's hard to see us getting Giannis without giving up Booker, which would mean we're planning a future with the 39-40 year old KD in the 27-28 season which is just insane(ly stupid).

Would you trade him for Flagg? I think BRK will do it, if they win. Seems clean to me.

Not only would I do Giannis for Flagg Id send them feet pics as a throw in too. Then send Booker to Houston for all the etc. we've talked about over the last few months.

[Mr Puddles]

If Jones took Hali instead of Smith his draft selections resume would've been really strong. Even Ty Jerome who was seen as failure has become a MIP candidate this season.

Hali was considered a top 8 pick who somehow fell to us. Picking him to play under the tutelage of CP3 for a couple of a season before handing over the helm was a no-brainer.

The fact that Jones missed that pick is a huge blemish on his resume and a franchise direction changer.

Hali
Booker
Bridges
Cam
Ayton

Would have been a tremendous core for years to come. Even if we had to move on from Ayton in the end, we would have had plenty of assets to replace him and build a solid second unit.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Spoiler:

With Beal still around, I just don't see how we build a TEAM even with Giannis and KD on the roster. The issue with us wasn't necessarily top talent but really the talent around the stars which made for less than a full team.

It'd take a modicum of patience man! But it could absolutely be done! 3 steps (although I'd prefer a Booker/ Giannis combo personally)!! I guess this should really be a cautionary tale about why NOT to impulsively gut a team and all of your assets/ draft picks just to make splashy moves!

I can somewhat understand the KD trade, although still an excessive overpay, further compounded by unnecessary overpay on follow up moves. But here's the path!

Step 1-
Accomplish a trade for Giannis.
Now you'd have a big three of KD, Giannis and Beal. And a roster of :

FA/ Beal/ Dunn/ KD / Giannis.
FA/ Allen/ O'neale/ Bol / Richards.
Gillespie/ Trent Jr/ Thiero/ Ighodaro/ Raynaud or Grunloh??

Step 2-
Buyout Martin/ Decline Milicic. **Maybe look to trade Allen and O'neale for cheaper positional players and picks ( 2nds to add more cost controlled positional pieces).

** Trade Allen to Charlotte for Mark Williams/ 33rd and 34th picks.
Trade O' neale and Richards to Washington for Smart/ PHX 25' 2nd ( 40th pick)..

Now you have the 29th pick, 33rd pick, 34th pick, 40th pick, and 52nd pick (These picks are very important for cost controlled positional depth pieces/ assets)!! We our big threes' expensive salaries, we can ( and will need to) fill numerous roster positions for depth towards next season. ....................

29- Alex Condon or Bogoljub Markovic. ( Both 6'11 versatile 3 & D power forwards).
33- Adou Thiero. Anunoby.
34- Isiah Evans. Mini Brandon Ingram/ Mikal Bridges.
40- Milos Uzan. Emmanuel Quickly.
52- Kobe Brea. Klay Thompson.
In free agency ( everyone will sign here to play with KD / Giannis) so we sign:

PG- Delon Wright.
SG- Gary Trent Jr.
SF- Jae Crowder.

Now your roster ( for next season) becomes:

Smart/ Beal / Dunn/ KD / Giannis.
Wright / Trent Jr/ Crowder/ Bol/ M Williams.
Gillespie/ Brea/ Thiero/ Condon/ Ighodaro.

Step 3-
Beal comes off the books in 27' giving us a full
$57 million in cap flexibility to add other key pieces around KD and Giannis in a ridiculously loaded 2027 free agency.

And those picks developing and increasing their value give us a key young cost controlled core to not only surround Giannis after KD retires, but also desirable trade pieces to trade for other players, picks, assets to sustain our team!

But that's why it's key to gold onto Beal's contract through next season or until 27' as he'll represent a massive expiring to use in a star studded free agency. But also Beal would/ could be ideal scoring off of a dominant low post presence like Giannis and KD vmcan just roam and be a lethal sniper all over the court.

Ultimately, Ishbia would never trade Booker, so the trick would be to somehow trade KD for the best assets possible and most likely a pick heavy package, and then trade Allen and O'neale for some players. And bring Beal off the bench as a super 6th man flamethrower option until he comes off the books for 27 free agency.

No offense

But this gives me vibes of:

Step 1: Trade for Giannis
Step 2: ???
Step 3: PROFIT!!!

Also I don't see how you're getting Mark Williams AND picks for Grayson when he was almost sent to LA for Knecht, LA 2031 unprotected pick and a pick swap

Lol! None taken man! It's just that, that specific Mark Williams trade was an entirely different situation than now contextually man.

That was under the conditions that LA was desperate and searching for ANY RELEVANT CENTER to pair with Doncic and Lebron as it's their biggest weakness.

And that was also prior to Mark Williams failing the physical for the trade to even be completed, and the surrounding optics now likely involved around his percieved value and overall durability.

Furthermore, you add in the factor that the Hornets were willing to move on from Williams in favor of an unproven young undrafted option in Diabate, and those factors speak to his percieved value by Charlotte. Lastly with Williams in today's NBA, which is more of a premium and clearly has more percieved attached value in this current NBA climate??

Centers that can block shots but can't shoot or space the floor, or 3 & D centers that are versatile and fan do both things if not more?? In terms of perceived value, my point is limited skillsets offer diminished or restricted value.

For example, which of these centers (free agents) would likely pull more value in a trade? Capela or B Lopez? Vucevic or Adams?
Biyombo or Valuncias?? The value pattern should be obvious I'd hope.

Mark Williams is a quality defensive center with size, but that accounts for modest value in this current iteration of the NBA and how teams are flourishing.

So Williams value aside from desperate teams ( at that time) looking for really any quality center and who don't really care about their draft picks anyways because they just landed a generational talent in Luka and project to be a top team for the next decade are willing to frivolously overpay!

But that obviously doesn't accurately reflect a specific player's market value under those specific conditions.

Now looking at the archetype they were looking for in return in Knecht. A young, floor spacing wing that's skilled/ adept in hitting 3 pointers as obviously they have floor spacing issues! And then you make the comparison for the current value assessment between Allen and Knecht.

https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2=knechda01&year_min=2025&player_id1=allengr01&seasons_type=forall&request=1&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_id=allengr01&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_source=bbr

And you find that Allen is pretty much better across the board in all categories. Also you have the distinction with Charlotte that they severely struggle both in trades and free agency to bring in legitimate quality free agents.

And are most likely undoubtedly trying to get better and make the playoffs this decade hopefully, and you'd ask yourself for a team already flush with young lottery talent and a lot of cap space, no no high quality spacers, 3 PT shooters and a necessity for more vet pieces to advance their young core, which player should be more appealing of the two?

These are just my observations for an Allen for M Williams trade hypothetical man.

[King4Day]

No chance Giannis happens.

Not to the Suns -- no way

Gerald's last trade on the PHNX_SUNS you tube was
SA: Giannis
Milwaukee: Beal, Sochon, Vessell and Castle plus 4 FRPs, three from the Spurs, one from the Suns

Suns gets: Barnes and Johnson

So again - if giving up a FRP - - I don't hate it as its expirings

One thing Gerald B said - he thinks the Suns are willing to take a step back to build around Booker so I hope Gerald is right

I see so you think Giannis doesn't have a say in his potential destination?

There is definitely a path for him to join the Suns.

There was a path for Butler too, but the Suns couldn't make it happen. If Giannis wants Phoenix, the ONLY chance to get the correct assets for him would be moving Booker. KD won't yield enough value. And not to mention, he won't move the needle for us since we'd remain depth deprived.

[sunsbg]

A few still relatively young true superstars who may be looking for better opportunities in Giannis, Jokic, even Doncic and here we are with no assets as FO overpaid for an almost 35yo, now 37. Won't even mention the other catastrophic trades.

[garrick]

If James Jones is involved in any capacity to with this organization going forward, we are screwed and the same thing we've experienced the past two seasons will continue. He needs to go. Bartelstein as well.

Ishbia really needs to do the right thing and truly clean house. Anything short of moving on and in a serious manner to reshape the franchise properly this time is nothing short of extending the path of failure.

Everything here on out has come to this: New front office, new coach, Durant moved to a team in the Eastern Conference, Beal moved at not too great an expense (and hopefully not stretched as that adds dead cap), and Booker satisfied with the end outcome for all of it.

This off-season is for all the marbles, fellas.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

I agree with all of that, except I'm ok with Jones staying but working under an experienced and serious POBO. I still think Jones has an eye for late draft talent

He absolutely does. He most definitely has hit more than he's missed on picks. Dunno, Oso, CamJo, Camara, among others.

I want him here still in some capacity.

CamJo was not JJ but Jeff Bower that heavily pushed the FO to draft him.

Remember this was the same guy that said he thought in person scouting was not necessary and thought watching youtube videos was enough, also we don't know if the scouts hit on some of these picks in spite of JJ not because of him.

I also wouldn't mind having JJ in a non personnel role but not if he has any say in the draft or with trades and free agent signings.

[BobbieL]

Not to the Suns -- no way

Gerald's last trade on the PHNX_SUNS you tube was
SA: Giannis
Milwaukee: Beal, Sochon, Vessell and Castle plus 4 FRPs, three from the Spurs, one from the Suns

Suns gets: Barnes and Johnson

So again - if giving up a FRP - - I don't hate it as its expirings

One thing Gerald B said - he thinks the Suns are willing to take a step back to build around Booker so I hope Gerald is right

I see so you think Giannis doesn't have a say in his potential destination?

There is definitely a path for him to join the Suns.

There was a path for Butler too, but the Suns couldn't make it happen. If Giannis wants Phoenix, the ONLY chance to get the correct assets for him would be moving Booker. KD won't yield enough value. And not to mention, he won't move the needle for us since we'd remain depth deprived.

Enough with the Super teams. Enough limiting your ability to make trades, draft picks, etc. Like you said it would cost Booker and Durant and picks which the Suns do not have.

The Suns need to have a two year goal -- moving some bad contracts, figuring out Beal, using Durant, getting under apron levels to be able to make trades and not these stupid "on the margins" trades that don't do a thing and finally, get cap space.

[Ghost of Kleine]

If James Jones is involved in any capacity to with this organization going forward, we are screwed and the same thing we've experienced the past two seasons will continue. He needs to go. Bartelstein as well.

Ishbia really needs to do the right thing and truly clean house. Anything short of moving on and in a serious manner to reshape the franchise properly this time is nothing short of extending the path of failure.

Everything here on out has come to this: New front office, new coach, Durant moved to a team in the Eastern Conference, Beal moved at not too great an expense (and hopefully not stretched as that adds dead cap), and Booker satisfied with the end outcome for all of it.

This off-season is for all the marbles, fellas.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

I agree with all of that, except I'm ok with Jones staying but working under an experienced and serious POBO. I still think Jones has an eye for late draft talent

Besides Mikal and CamJ who has JJ drafted that is talented since 2018? He’s not a great GM and should be demoted ASAP.

This!

First, Bridges was actually a McDonough pick and not even a jones selection! And although Cam was/ is pretty solid, the same could be said about Coby White too, and that pick really might of negated the pursuit of Beal in trade altogether considering how he turned out for Chicago.

Also, Hachimura being a similar archetype to Johnson too. Also, not to mention how the players he could've traded back for and missed on in that draft too:

PJ Washington, Tyler Herro, Goga Bidatze, Mattise Thybulle, Grant Williams, Brandon Clarke.

And sure he identified Jerome (which some here pointed out too) oddly enough before the draft, so that wasn't so outlier honestly. But what about the players missed there too with picking Jerome over:

Jordan Poole, Keldon Johnson, NIK CLAXTON, DANIEL GAFFORD, Taylor Horton Tucker, Terrence Mann, etc. And most importantly, the man himself the " Bol" ercoaster! BOL BOL.........lol just kidding.

He not only whiffed on Halliburton too in that draft, but also these players in notbtrading back down in thsy draft:

Isiah Stewart, TYRESE MAXEY, IMMANUEL QUICKLY, Precious Achiuwa, JOSH GREEN, JADEN MCDANIELS, PAYTON PRITCHARD, DESMOND BANE, NIK RICHARDS, ISIAH JOE, Paul Reed, Sam Merrill.

Then opted for to trade our pick for Landry "good enough to marry Monty's daughter " Shamet and whiffed on HERB JONES!! But also Day'Ron Sharpe, MILES MCBRIDE, AYO DOSUNMA, Santi Aldama, AARON WIGGINS, BJ Boston, Jericho Sims.

Numerous prospects that are/ were better than Shamet ilana way you slice it.The things about Jones and the draft, he's missed far more than he's hit on prospects. And he himself went on record stating in that article a few years back that he doesn't value the draft at all and would have NOT DRAFTED BOOKER!! Viewing him as just another shooting guard.

Jones was hired as a " Yes man" accountability shield for our previous narcissistic azzhat owner! And has self stated having no interest in the draft. And I'm really dubious of the fact that he really had anything to do with these last two drafts given his overall track record, and the convenience of Ishbia taking possession of the team and installing/ upgrading everything from the jump flaunting his money.

Basically this indicates to me that it's far more likely the new scouts that Ishbia brought in are the reason for identifying Camara and Dunn/ Ighodaro.

Under Sarver/ Jones the scouts were:
John Treloar and Todd Quinter, John Schumate. And a skeleton crew front office and a GM who self admitted to not even caring about the draft!

And under Ishbia you now have:
Daniel Gomez Otero and Pat Zipfel. And alot more resources by virtue of Ishbia being willing to spend significant money and resources upgrading various departments. I for my part just find it really convenient that now suddenly under Ishbia, after Jones entire tenure of numerous glaring misses, he's somehow hit on multiple picks two years in a row??

To me it's clearly the scouts more than Jones having a keen eye for talent. Because if he did actually have that, he wouldn't have missed so much on so many key prospects over so many drafts. But just now under new ownership he's miraculously become an astute draft evaluator. It just doesn't track with everything he's shown over almost a decade now.

[Fo-Real]

The only way it happens if it's Booker. There's no way KD still has that value and he wouldn't wanna play in MIL anyways.

If that a true rumor, that's a possibility for Ishbia maybe. He gets star power in Giannis and with KD, that's a good pairing. Still have Beal to play SG.

Don't see how or why this happens unless it's Booker to Milwaukee.

No way Milwaukee is taking Durant for Giannis

Suns don't have enough picks worth a damn

The Nets are the team for Giannis

And he has businesses in New York, so implicit interests towards Brooklyn over other teams.

Naaa, he would go to the Knicks but no way he looks at Brooklyn and says, "That's where I want to play"! There is not one dude on that roster that he would think to pair with.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Read on Twitter

[Fo-Real]

Read on Twitter

Sooooo, Indiana? They have an abundance of talented dudes AND you usually respect teams you battle against. Giannis for Pascal, Mathurin, picks?

[garrick]

I agree with all of that, except I'm ok with Jones staying but working under an experienced and serious POBO. I still think Jones has an eye for late draft talent

Besides Mikal and CamJ who has JJ drafted that is talented since 2018? He’s not a great GM and should be demoted ASAP.

This!

First, Bridges was actually a McDonough pick and not even a jones selection! And although Cam was/ is pretty solid, the same could be said about Coby White too, and that pick really might of negated the pursuit of Beal in trade altogether considering how he turned out for Chicago.

Also, Hachimura being a similar archetype to Johnson too. Also, not to mention how the players he could've traded back for and missed on in that draft too:

PJ Washington, Tyler Herro, Goga Bidatze, Mattise Thybulle, Grant Williams, Brandon Clarke.

And sure he identified Jerome (which some here pointed out too) oddly enough before the draft, so that wasn't so outlier honestly. But what about the players missed there too with picking Jerome over:

Jordan Poole, Keldon Johnson, NIK CLAXTON, DANIEL GAFFORD, Taylor Horton Tucker, Terrence Mann, etc. And most importantly, the man himself the " Bol" ercoaster! BOL BOL.........lol just kidding.

He not only whiffed on Halliburton too in that draft, but also these players in notbtrading back down in thsy draft:

Isiah Stewart, TYRESE MAXEY, IMMANUEL QUICKLY, Precious Achiuwa, JOSH GREEN, JADEN MCDANIELS, PAYTON PRITCHARD, DESMOND BANE, NIK RICHARDS, ISIAH JOE, Paul Reed, Sam Merrill.

Then opted for to trade our pick for Landry "good enough to marry Monty's daughter " Shamet and whiffed on HERB JONES!! But also Day'Ron Sharpe, MILES MCBRIDE, AYO DOSUNMA, Santi Aldama, AARON WIGGINS, BJ Boston, Jericho Sims.

Numerous prospects that are/ were better than Shamet ilana way you slice it.The things about Jones and the draft, he's missed far more than he's hit on prospects. And he himself went on record stating in that article a few years back that he doesn't value the draft at all and would have NOT DRAFTED BOOKER!! Viewing him as just another shooting guard.

Jones was hired as a " Yes man" accountability shield for our previous narcissistic azzhat owner! And has self stated having no interest in the draft. And I'm really dubious of the fact that he really had anything to do with these last two drafts given his overall track record, and the convenience of Ishbia taking possession of the team and installing/ upgrading everything from the jump flaunting his money.

Basically this indicates to me that it's far more likely the new scouts that Ishbia brought in are the reason for identifying Camara and Dunn/ Ighodaro.

Under Sarver/ Jones the scouts were:
John Treloar and Todd Quinter, John Schumate. And a skeleton crew front office and a GM who self admitted to not even caring about the draft!

And under Ishbia you now have:
Daniel Gomez Otero and Pat Zipfel. And alot more resources by virtue of Ishbia being willing to spend significant money and resources upgrading various departments. I for my part just find it really convenient that now suddenly under Ishbia, after Jones entire tenure of numerous glaring misses, he's somehow hit on multiple picks two years in a row??

To me it's clearly the scouts more than Jones having a keen eye for talent. Because if he did actually have that, he wouldn't have missed so much on so many key prospects over so many drafts. But just now under new ownership he's miraculously become an astute draft evaluator. It just doesn't track with everything he's shown over almost a decade now.

He also whiffed by passing over potential Crowder trades by turning down Grayson and Hachimura and holding him for way too long and he was eventually drafted as filler for the KD trade.

We eventually got Grayson but that came with the brutal DA trade that got us 1 good season from Nurkic and a bunch of unwanted trash from Portland lol

[BobbieL]

Rockets could be open for business - as we all know - if they lose to the Warriors. Granted, I think there future is so good -- that overpaying for Durant I think wouldn't be the wisest move. Just continue the growth. That said - -they have some good trade assets.

Durant Trade-stakes:
Spurs and Rockets seem to be at the top
Miami, Knicks Twolves, Mavs -- all seem to be a level below

Read on Twitter

[Slim Charless]

Not to the Suns -- no way

Gerald's last trade on the PHNX_SUNS you tube was
SA: Giannis
Milwaukee: Beal, Sochon, Vessell and Castle plus 4 FRPs, three from the Spurs, one from the Suns

Suns gets: Barnes and Johnson

So again - if giving up a FRP - - I don't hate it as its expirings

One thing Gerald B said - he thinks the Suns are willing to take a step back to build around Booker so I hope Gerald is right

I see so you think Giannis doesn't have a say in his potential destination?

There is definitely a path for him to join the Suns.

There was a path for Butler too, but the Suns couldn't make it happen. If Giannis wants Phoenix, the ONLY chance to get the correct assets for him would be moving Booker. KD won't yield enough value. And not to mention, he won't move the needle for us since we'd remain depth deprived.

...which Giannis would understand going in. If he picks us, it's with the expectation that he's playing with Durant, not Booker.

[Rebound Mound]

IMO, most times the fact that separates good and bad selections are the coaches who are involved with the developing of the players, the head coaches, deciding who to play, and an enormous amount of other factors, going from place to live, city, weather, family, family coming with the player, parents or a bunch of mates who are not the best company.
So all that is really important and is what separates success from falling into mediocrity or, sometimes, taking longer to develop.

With that said, probably Halliburton coming here would have been a burst, as he had not played that much in a team with Paul. Or maybe he had learnt a lot from Paul and now he would be a better player than he is now (most overrated player in the league, according to other players).

Of course there are cases in which you have to scratch your head to understand how a GM, with his peers, could have picked a certain player over others. But that is usually something that everybody sees from some distance, except them.

With all that into the mix, I insist on the idea that draft is a very long way to build a team and not a path you want to use if you have some sense of urgency. Also, just a few teams in the league, relevant teams, have any kind of success based on draft decisions, them being the SAS, Blazers, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pacers, Sixers... but the closest any of those teams have been to even being considered candidates is like a long trip...

So I believe our path to glory relies on the ability we have to get good trades for KD and Beal, ONeale and/or Allen, maybe Richards... I would trade Booker if we were going to get Cooper Flagg, and not sure... I guess our way to be a successful team again should go through getting Markannen, but I guess Utan wants a lot of assets, and not good players (for Ainge's eternal delusional game of reconstructing until eternity arrives).

Other than that, I was very high on Jabari, but I do not know. Is he identified as a hard worker? Is he going to pair well with Richards? Should we trade Richards? Are Allen and Oneale good players to retain (I do not like 6-5 PFs with narrow frames and no athletic abilities whatsoever)?

I would love keeping Ball Ball. To me he could be a differential player if handed properly, as he can shoot and create from that 7-3/7-4 body of him and that is something just the SAS have in this league. The franchise should have invested millions of hours in coaching him and getting him stronger in a sense. He has the ability to be different. He puts in 20/25 points with ease, which takes other players games, he can do that in 30 minutes. He was playing great during the last games he played, even with a much more adequate defensive approach.

For me, Gillespie, Ball Ball, Dunn and Martin. The rest does not matter...

[BobbieL]

I see so you think Giannis doesn't have a say in his potential destination?

There is definitely a path for him to join the Suns.

There was a path for Butler too, but the Suns couldn't make it happen. If Giannis wants Phoenix, the ONLY chance to get the correct assets for him would be moving Booker. KD won't yield enough value. And not to mention, he won't move the needle for us since we'd remain depth deprived.

...which Giannis would understand going in. If he picks us, it's with the expectation that he's playing with Durant, not Booker.

The Suns would not be able to get Giannis without trading BOTH Durant and Booker
Booker is not close to Giannis and they don't have the draft picks to make it a fair deal. Hence, they would have to give up EVERTHING in a Durant deal

The Suns should avoid a Giannis deal and focus on building around Devin Booker.

[Slim Charless]

I'll take them three picks and 24 year old vassell for a 37 year old durant lmao

also that giannis stuff is wild but he'd be putting himself in the same boat he's already in in Milwaukee - capped out old team with little assets to improve. We could probably retool in two years if we have a clean slate in '27 with only him and Booker as salary. But it's hard to see us getting Giannis without giving up Booker, which would mean we're planning a future with the 39-40 year old KD in the 27-28 season which is just insane(ly stupid).

Would you trade him for Flagg? I think BRK will do it, if they win. Seems clean to me.

Not only would I do Giannis for Flagg Id send them feet pics as a throw in too. Then send Booker to Houston for all the etc. we've talked about over the last few months.

MIL is totally fuc ked. They have no way out of this aside from trading Giannis. They really need good lotto luck with teams that will move it for him IMO.

Who do you think are the most likely teams to make that swap? Giannis for #1

[SkyBill40]

There was a path for Butler too, but the Suns couldn't make it happen. If Giannis wants Phoenix, the ONLY chance to get the correct assets for him would be moving Booker. KD won't yield enough value. And not to mention, he won't move the needle for us since we'd remain depth deprived.

...which Giannis would understand going in. If he picks us, it's with the expectation that he's playing with Durant, not Booker.

The Suns would not be able to get Giannis without trading BOTH Durant and Booker
Booker is not close to Giannis and they don't have the draft picks to make it a fair deal. Hence, they would have to give up EVERTHING in a Durant deal

The Suns should avoid a Giannis deal and focus on building around Devin Booker.

And if you traded both of them.. what'd be the point? Having just Giannis here improves next to nothing.