00:01Alright Suns fans, let's talk about the Western Conference as we head into the trade deadline.
00:05You know how it usually takes about 30 games for the real separation to start showing in
00:10the standings.
00:11Well by the trade deadline, we normally have a good idea of the different tiers.
00:15Out here in the West, that picture is pretty clear, and honestly, I don't expect our Phoenix
00:21Suns to be very involved in the trade frenzy this Thursday, unless owner Matt Ishbia gets
00:26a sudden itch, the expectation is for Phoenix to do essentially nothing, the main move might
00:31be something minor, like trading a player such as Nick Richards just to get back under the
00:35luxury tax line, there's more on that reasoning from our sources if you're curious, bottom
00:40line, it would be a surprise if the Suns traded away or brought in a rotation player, while
00:45we're likely quiet, the rest of the West could be buzzing, our Suns, 30-20, have firmly placed
00:51themselves in a solid group.
00:53We're sitting below the top-tier teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 35-11, the San Antonio
00:58Spurs, 33-16, and the Denver Nuggets, 33-17.
01:03But we're right there with the Houston Rockets, 30-17, the Minnesota Timberwolves, 31-19, and
01:09the Los Angeles Lakers, 29-19, who are all comfortably ahead of the play-in pack, count it up, that's
01:16seven teams, but remember there are only six guaranteed playoff spots available above the
01:21play-in line. And don't forget, a team, from below, could always make a big move and jump
01:26up, so, let's look at the possibilities that could shake things up, in ways that might help
01:30or hurt our Suns' chances of securing a playoff spot. Following the money tax implications
01:35are a huge driver at the deadline, you might have seen the move Saturday night. Cleveland
01:40traded away DeAndre Hunter for guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder, a deal that also saved
01:45them nearly $50 million this season. We'll see more deals with similar financial motives,
01:51for our Suns according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, we're about $250,000 over the luxury tax, as
01:57Matt Ishbia told Arizona Sports Burns and Gambo back in early January. There's no value in being
02:03just a hair over the line, if you're going to be a tax team, be a tax team. So, the expectation
02:09is they'll try to duck back under. Who else is in a tax bind to watch? Denver is roughly $500,000
02:16over the repeater tax threshold. The LA Clippers are $6.9 million over. The LA Lakers are $7 million
02:24over. It'll be tougher for the LA teams to maneuver out of that. The Clippers are locked into win-now
02:29mode. But the Lakers keep talking about future flexibility for the post-LeBron era. Getting under
02:37the tax helps that. Houston is $6.8 million over, not a repeater. Minnesota is a whopping $14.5 million
02:45over, not a repeater. It would be shocking if either the Rockets or Timberwolves let tax savings
02:51dictate their competitiveness, if it ain't broke. Some of the top teams might just stand pat.
02:57Oklahoma City Thunder, 35-11. They had a down month, going 9-6 in January. The only real concern
03:06is Jalen Williams' hamstring strain, but rookie A.J. Mitchell has been a revelation. Lineups with
03:11Mitchell and Shea Gilgis-Alexander have a pleasant 21.4 net rating in 544 minutes. That's not a typo.
03:20Mitchell is cruising to a 6th man of the year award. Still, their net rating dipped to plunge 1.3 when
03:26Mitchell sat in January. Maybe they add one more guard for insurance. They have more than enough
03:32assets to do it without blinking. The question is, are they feeling enough heat from Denver and San
03:36Antonio, or are they still gun-shy after the Gordon Hayward trade two years ago? San Antonio Spurs,
03:4333-16. Like us, they're ahead of schedule. They recently moved Harrison Barnes, $19 million expiring,
03:51out of the starting lineup. They could use more defensive versatility on the wing, with expiring
03:56deals. Barnes, Kelly Olenek at $13 million, and a stash of picks. They could make a move. But they're
04:03not typically a reactionary organization. Denver Nuggets, 33-17. They're battling injuries to
04:09Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Cam Johnson. But unproven guys like Peyton Watson and Jalen Pickett
04:15have stepped up. They don't have much to trade anyway. A 20-31 pick swap and two second rounders are
04:21their main assets. Plus, their ownership has a history of being cost-conscious, especially with that
04:26repeater tax number, ye the point guard. Question two teams in our tier have a clear need at point
04:32guard. Houston Rockets, 30-17. This started when Fred Van Vliet tore his ACL before the season.
04:40Losing Steven Adams for the year also hurts their offensive rebounding strength. The offensive flow
04:45between Kevin Durant, Alperin Schengen, and Amen Thompson hasn't been consistent enough for a deep run.
04:51Reed Shepard has shown promise but might not be ready for that playoff load.
04:56They saw Mike Conley's decline coming and drafted Rob Dillingham 8th overall in 2023.
05:10But he's been so underwhelming they've turned to Bones Highland. Dante DiVincenzo has started and
05:14been okay. But to reach the finals they need an upgrade. Both front offices should be searching
05:19for ball handlers. Chicago, with Kobe White and Ayo Dosunmu, is a team to watch. Sacramento's Malik
05:24Monk is another name. It won't be easy due to salary cap rules, both are in the first apron,
05:29and a lack of appealing draft assets, especially for Minnesota. The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation.
05:36Bobby Marks narrowed the list of realistic suitors for Milwaukee's Giannis to 11 teams.
05:42Western teams on it. OKC, San Antonio, Houston, Minnesota, Golden State, and Portland.
05:50It would be a major philosophical shift for OKC or San Antonio to act now.
05:56For Houston and Minnesota, as Marks details, it's not simple, unless they're willing to move a young
06:02cornerstone like Shengun or Thompson. The latest confusing reports say, the Bucs are starting to
06:08listen to offers, and Giannis is ready for a new home. But he's not officially asking for a trade.
06:14He's also out for at least a month with a calf strain, leaving little time to adjust to a new
06:18team. We Suns fans know about mid-season superstar adjustments. This might drag into the summer.
06:25Golden State Warriors. 27-23. They are the team to watch if this accelerates.
06:31Their best young trade pieces are Jonathan Kuminga and Brandon Podziemski. The real sell
06:37is their ability to offer a maximum of four first-round picks and swaps. With Stephen Curry
06:42turning 38 and Draymond Green 36, the future value of those picks is enticing. Even if they don't get
06:48Giannis, they'll aggressively look to upgrade and could push into our part of the standings.
06:54In or out?
06:55A few other teams have fascinating decisions.
06:59LA Lakers, 29-19. Do they push their chips in? They have expiring contracts and one tradable
07:06first-round pick, plus swaps. Despite a disappointing season, they may choose to wait for summer when
07:12two more firsts become trade-eligible, and they have massive cap space. Their front office's public
07:17comments support that patient approach. LA Clippers, 23-25. After a fierce comeback, are they buyers?
07:24They have future firsts, 2030-2032, and swaps, 2030-2031-2032, to dangle, plus five veterans on
07:34expiring contracts, including Bogdan Bogdanovich, 16-maners, and Brook Lopez, 9-namers, who are great
07:41salary-matching pieces.
07:42Mavericks, 1930. Trading Anthony Davis wouldn't change their season, but it would signal a rebuild,
07:59moving role players like Daniel Gafford or P. J. Washington would make them worse. They've been
08:04playing better lately, and rookie Cooper Flagg is finding his groove again. Standing Pat might let
08:10them make a late run. Memphis Grizzlies, 18-29. They will trade Ja Morant if they find a willing
08:16partner. His long-term health is a major question. They might also move pieces like stretch-big Santi
08:22Aldama or reserve center Jock Landale. The rest of their young core is probably off-limits so,
08:27Sun's faithful, as we watch the deadline drama unfold, from what's likely, a quiet perch.
08:34Here's my question for you. In this brutally tight west, where seven teams are fighting for what
08:39looks like six secure spots, which rivals potential move or decision to stand still,
08:45are you most wary of affecting our playoff path?
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