PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns enter the offseason with a lot of trade rumors surrounding the team, which is to be expected after owner Mat Ishbia took over and immediately made huge moves.
Some think Ishbia may feel the urge to pull off another trick after the Suns unexpectedly qualified for the 2026 NBA playoffs, altering some perceptions and demonstrating that Phoenix had a much more skilled team than most had first thought.
The Suns have been somehow associated with practically every star name that can be acquired via trade, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson.
ESPN put together a fake trade that would see the guard go to Phoenix in exchange for Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Jamaree Bouyea, Haywood Highsmith, and two second-round picks. Ja Morant is also part of that group.
According to Ben Golliver of ESPN, the Suns would put Morant in at point guard, push Devin Booker back to his primary shooting guard position, and move Jalen Green into a secondary role. That’s a fair bit of highlight-reel potential for a Suns club that lost in the play-in tournament and lacks an obvious route to reaching the top of the Western Conference.
Unfortunately, the Suns badly failed at highlight reel potential only a few years prior when they signed players like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The Booker-Beal-Durant troika eventually came to an end without a single playoff victory.
Morant is a gifted athlete, but he has been sidelined by injuries and suspension in recent seasons. He has not participated in more than 50 games in any of the previous three campaigns.
While Morant is a well-known player, the additional commotion and unwelcome attention he brings (outside of his playing abilities) are also factors in the Suns’ probable rejection of this trade. Since head coach Jordan Ott took over, Phoenix has put a lot of effort into transforming their culture, and although Morant is as skilled as anyone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what’s best for a locker room.
On the last two years of his deal, Morant is also scheduled to get $42. 1 million and $44. 8 million, which is nowhere near what the Suns would be ready to pay to put themselves back into the luxury tax.
And, as Bobby Marks of ESPN points out, that would leave the Suns in a precarious financial situation.
The Suns exceeded expectations last season and are now faced with the choice of depending on the same lineup or making a bold trade for a player like Morant. Since the Suns would be taking on a higher salary in the deal, according to him, they would be hard-capped at the first apron.
They might lose free agents Mark Williams, Jordan Goodwin, and Collin Gillespie if the ban is implemented.
Ishbia has stated unequivocally that the Suns will not make any foolish moves this offseason. Morant currently seems to be a pricey redemption narrative. Phoenix must explore other options if they are to implement rapid reforms.
