00:00Sun Devils fans, with the NBA trade deadline just one day away, the big question is, what will the Phoenix Suns do?
00:08ESPN's NBA front office insider Bobby Marks joined Arizona sports Bickley and Murata on Wednesday and suggested the Suns might be best off standing pat with the current roster.
00:19Marks had a colorful way of putting it.
00:20He said, they're a fun story.
00:23I've equated them to the guy who's hit pretty good at the blackjack table.
00:26And there's a point where you just need to walk away from the table.
00:30Just take your chips and go back to your hotel room.
00:34The deadline is Thursday at 1 p.m.
00:36MST and the Suns sitting at 31 20 haven't made a major move yet.
00:41This comes after a busy Tuesday across the league that saw four trades, including former Arizona State Sun Devil James Harden going from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Phoenix.
00:52Marks mentioned two specific names.
00:53He pointed out that center Nick Richards could be a trade option due to his expiring contract.
00:58On the other side, he identified New York Knicks forward Gershon Yabusele as a potential target, noting Yabusele has a player option for next year and has been out of the Knicks' rotation.
01:09Marks said, I think if you're getting the player we saw in Philadelphia, I think that's a player that can help you.
01:14But overall, Marks sees any move as minor.
01:16He added, I think it's probably just more marginal stuff, I think.
01:21Where they are, at the worst, they'll host a play-in game, but I think the goal is to get into the top six of the Western Conference.
01:27Looking at those players, Nick Richards is in his sixth year and second with the Suns.
01:32Last season, he averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game.
01:38This season, his role has shrunk significantly, playing in 28 games with averages of just 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds.
01:45In 9.1 minutes per game, Gershon Yabusele, the former first-round pick, had a career year last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes over 70 games.
02:03This season with the Knicks, he's played in 41 games off the bench, averaging 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game.
02:12Currently, the Suns hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
02:16They are within three games of the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 2 seed and have a four-game lead over the Golden State Warriors for the No. 8 seed.
02:28So, who did Bobby Marks highlight as a major bright spot?
02:31He had high praise for Colin Gillespie, calling his signing,
02:34the best off-season transaction other than some of these trades, an actual signing.
02:40This comes after Gillespie's career-high 30-point performance in Tuesday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
02:46Marks said,
02:47It is quite amazing, for a guy who was in Denver, got injured, was with you guys last year,
02:52and I think we started to see that in the second half of last season, what he has been able to do.
02:58Last season, Gillespie played in 31 of the final 37 games, scoring double digits seven times.
03:04The third-year guard has taken another leap this season, especially with Jalen Green and Devin Booker injured.
03:11He's missed only one game, started 31, and is averaging career highs of 13.8 points, on 43.5% shooting from three.
03:214.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 28.3 minutes per game, Marks concluded on Gillespie.
03:29It is a truly remarkable story, and that man is going to get paid this summer, and hopefully it is by the Phoenix Suns.
03:37I'm really happy for him.
03:38So Suns fans, with the clock ticking down to the deadline, the insider's advice seems to be,
03:44You're having a good run. Maybe just ride with what you've built.
03:47What's your take? Do you think, the front office should make a move?
03:51Or is standing pat the right play for this team?
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