The Phoenix Suns may be willing to move the No. 6 pick in the draft for a veteran guard, and these five should be on the radar.
The Phoenix Suns have not made the playoffs since 2010 now, with four straight seasons of less than 25 wins and a collective winning percentage of .264 over that most recent span. They had a good chance at the No. 1 pick in this month’s draft, but the lottery ping-pong balls left them at No. 6.
The Suns have a new coach again, as Monty Williams brings an air of credibility with him as a well-regarded assistant. Devin Booker is a legit star and building block, while 2018 No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton looks like he belongs. That said, there could very well be some level of urgency in Phoenix with new people leading the charge on the court and in the front office.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Suns have let it be known they are open to moving the No. 6 pick for a veteran guard. More specifically, a veteran point guard should be on the radar.
There aren’t a lot of sure-fire options out there, with a combination of being an all-around impact player with a palatable contract.
That said, the Suns should be targeting these five guards in any effort to move that No. 6 pick.
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
5. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons
Jackson played all 82 games for the Pistons this past season, while averaging 15.4 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game while setting career-bests in makes (2.1 per game), attempts (5.7 per game) and percentage (36.9 percent) from 3-point range.
Jackson is entering the final year of his contract, at a shade over $18 million. For the Suns, via Real GM’s Trade Machine, moving Tyler Johnson (once he picks up a $19.2 million player option) with the No. 6 pick is the move with the fewest moving parts. A deal sending T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson to Detroit would also work, but frankly the Suns should not do that with the sixth pick to only get Jackson in return. The addition of Luke Kennard from the Pistons’ end makes the deal work as a 2-for-2, as much as he might appeal to Phoenix.
Jackson’s inclusion here points to how lackluster the options are for the Suns to add a viable veteran point guard in a trade, let alone part with the No. 6 pick with any sort of other young pieces in order to add one.