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Suns Eyeing Cory Joseph, Patrick Beverley, Others

June 4th, 2019 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

Cory Joseph, Patrick Beverley, Darren Collison, and T.J. McConnell are among the free agent point guard targets worth keeping an eye on for the Suns this offseason, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.

While Phoenix has long been on the lookout for a starting point guard, the team doesn’t project to have the cap room necessary to make a run at top free agents like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, or D’Angelo Russell. Barring cost-cutting moves to create room, the mid-level exception figures to be the best weapon at the Suns’ disposal in free agency, so the veterans identified by Gambadoro as potential targets make sense. The MLE is projected to be worth about $9.25MM in 2019/20.

Gambadoro also writes that the Suns aren’t shopping the No. 6 overall pick for a veteran point guard, seemingly contradicting a Monday report from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. However, Givony’s story indicated that the Suns had made it known that they’d be open to moving the pick for the right player, which isn’t quite the same as having actively shopped it. The apparent discrepancy between the two reports may simply be a matter of semantics.

In any case, it’s clear that filling their hole at point guard will be one of the Suns’ top priorities this offseason, whether that happens in the draft, in free agency, or via the trade market. If Phoenix plans on using its mid-level exception – or opening up cap space – to pursue a veteran point guard, it would allow the team to use the No. 6 pick on the best player available, regardless of position.

On the other hand, if the Suns draft a point guard at No. 6 or trade that pick (or other assets) for a veteran guard, the club could address another position in free agency. Julius Randle is one non-point-guard free agent who has been recently linked to Phoenix.

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Draft Rumors: Lakers, Suns, Cavs, Hawks, Health

June 4th, 2019 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

League executives are bracing for the 2019 NBA draft to feature more traded picks than usual, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Insider link). As Givony details, the Lakers (No. 4) and Suns (No. 6) are active in trade discussions and would be willing to part with their first-round picks for the right established veteran(s).

The Cavaliers have also been mentioned by Givony’s sources as a team that has been active in trade talks involving picks in both rounds. Currently, Cleveland only holds the fifth and 26th overall selections, so the team may be looking to trade into the second round.

Additionally, multiple agents representing potential lottery-caliber players tell Givony they’ve talked to teams who say they have the ability to trade for the No. 10 overall pick, held by the Hawks. That’s a signal that Atlanta has been willing to discuss that selection in trade conversations.

Here’s more draft-related buzz from Givony:

  • Given the lack of consensus on many prospects outside of the top three, this year’s draft figures to be unpredictable even if there aren’t a ton of trades, Givony writes. Health is also a factor that could contribute to draft uncertainty — as Givony explains, prospects like Ja Morant, Cam Reddish, Romeo Langford, Bol Bol, and PJ Washington are currently injured and unable to work out for teams, while a number of healthy players have been unwilling to submit to physicals, with their agents apparently trying to steer them to specific destinations.
  • NBA teams are becoming frustrated by the increasing gaps in prospects’ medical information, according to Givony, who hears from a source that approximately 25 players at the combine didn’t fully complete the league-issued medical exam. Per Givony, a group of NBA owners have asked commissioner Adam Silver not to lower the age limit for the draft without getting concessions related to medical exams. “This is pretty easy for the NBA to clean up,” one owner said. “Because your physical health is germane to the job, the NBA can just require it in a future CBA.”
  • International early entrants have six more days to decide whether to remain in the draft or pull out, as the NBA’s official withdrawal deadline falls on June 10. Many of those prospects are in the United States to participate in private workouts for teams in the hopes of receiving assurances that they’ll be drafted, says Givony. Although 59 international early entrants declared for the draft, most of those players figure to withdraw in the coming days.
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Suns Open To Trading No. 6 Pick For Veteran Guard

June 3rd, 2019 at 11:21am CST by Luke Adams

The Suns‘ front office has told rival NBA teams that the club is open to trading the No. 6 overall pick in a deal if the right veteran guard is available, reports ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Insider-only link) within his latest mock draft.

Phoenix has been on the lookout for a starting point guard for much of the last year, so presumably – in any trade talks – the team would be focusing on a veteran who can play the one and handle the ball, rather than an off-ball shooting guard.

Still, Givony’s wording suggests the Suns won’t just be shopping this pick for the best offer — they’ll only seriously consider moving it for the “right” player. Presumably, the club will be targeting an impact player on a team-friendly contract, and there aren’t a ton of point guards around the NBA who fit that bill and will be available.

Mike Conley and Lonzo Ball are among the point guards who could be on the trade block this offseason and might be fits for Phoenix. However, there are red flags in each case.

Conley’s contract – which features a $32.5MM salary for 2019/20 – isn’t particularly favorable, and would require multiple outgoing salary-matching pieces. As for Ball, he has been slowed by injuries in each of his two NBA seasons and has yet to prove he can be a consistent threat on offense. Trading the No. 6 pick for either player seems unlikely, though the opportunity to attach unwanted salary in a deal could appeal to the Suns.

For now, Givony has the Suns using that No. 6 pick on Texas Tech swingman Jarrett Culver in his latest mock. We’ll have to wait to see if Phoenix makes any progress in trade discussions during the weeks leading up to the draft.

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Pacific Notes: Durant, Suns, Kings, Clippers

June 2nd, 2019 at 3:58pm CST by clarkcrum

As relayed by The Associated Press, this Tuesday is the next time we may know more about a possible return of Warriors superstar Kevin Durant. Having already been ruled out for tonight’s Game 2, Wednesday night’s Game 3 marks the next opportunity for Durant’s return, but Tuesday is Golden State’s next practice.

Head coach Steve Kerr, having already said that Durant will need to practice before playing in a game, expounded upon his stance today, saying that Durant could potentially only need one day of practice to be cleared for game action.

“It’s really a day-to-day thing,” Kerr said “If we had a crystal ball, we would have known a long time ago what we were dealing with. But it’s just an injury (where) there’s been a lot of gray area. So, literally, it’s just day-to-day and how the progress is coming. And at this point he’s still not ready.”

But, when further pressed on the issue, and asked whether Durant will only need one practice, said “it’s feasible.” Accordingly, we should know a lot more on Tuesday as to whether Durant can return for Game 3.

There’s more from the Pacific Division this afternoon:

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Juwan Morgan To Work Out For Suns, Others

June 1st, 2019 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams
  • According to Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com (via Twitter), the workout list for Indiana forward Juwan Morgan includes the Suns, Pacers, Bulls, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Jazz, and Kings.
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Josh Jackson Tweaks His Foot

May 31st, 2019 at 8:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder
  • Suns forward Josh Jackson has a minor foot injury, Gina Mizell of The Athletic tweets. Jackson was spotted in a soft cast and on crutches Friday at the arena. GM James Jones told Mizell that Jackson tweaked his foot and that the cast is precautionary.
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Suns, Julius Randle May Have Mutual Interest

May 31st, 2019 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

While Julius Randle technically remains under contract with the Pelicans for the 2019/20 season, he has the ability to opt out and hit the open market this summer, and will likely do so. With Randle expected to become a free agent, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears that the big man has interest in the Suns.

Randle would be a curious fit with the Suns, who have Deandre Ayton in place as their long-term center. A Randle/Ayton pairing may not be ideal, given each player’s desire to score near the basket on offense and limited rim-protecting ability on defense. However, Randle could be a very productive scorer off the bench for Phoenix if he’s interested in that role.

In 73 games (49 starts) for the Pelicans this past season, Randle set a new career high with 21.4 PPG, chipping in 8.7 RPG, and 3.1 APG.

Based on those numbers, Randle figures to be seeking a raise, but Phoenix won’t have a ton of cap flexibility, particularly if the team wants to retain restricted free agent Kelly Oubre. Barring cost-cutting moves, the Suns figure to function as an over-the-cap club, so they’d be limited to offering Randle the mid-level exception, which projects to be worth only slightly more ($9.25MM) than his 2019/20 player option ($9.07MM). The Suns may prefer to use most or all of that exception on a point guard.

Still, this could be a situation worth watching. In addition to reporting Randle’s apparent interest in Phoenix, Gambadoro adds that he fully expects the Suns to consider Randle in free agency.

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Draft Notes: Vick, Caroline, Kings

May 30th, 2019 at 6:57pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The NBA Draft is less than one month away. As we await the big night, let’s take a look at some workout notes:

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Steve Blake Among Candidates For Williams' Staff

May 24th, 2019 at 5:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

A trio of assistants/scouts in other organizations could soon be joining Monty Williams‘ Suns staff, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Steve Blake (Trail Blazers), Randy Ayers (Nets) and Mark Bryant (Thunder) have emerged as top contenders to join Williams in Phoenix. Williams was hired by the Suns three weeks ago after spurning overtures from the Lakers.

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Richaun Holmes Arrested On Marijuana Charge

May 23rd, 2019 at 10:04am CST by Luke Adams

Suns center Richaun Holmes was arrested in South Florida on Wednesday night, according to David Ovalle of The Miami Herald, who reports that Holmes was booked on a misdemeanor marijuana charge.

As Ovalle details, Holmes and former Nets forward James Webb III were pulled over in Aventura and were charged with possession of cannabis. Both players posted bond after spending a couple hours in a Miami jail.

Holmes, who was traded from Philadelphia to Phoenix last summer, averaged 8.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG in 70 games (16.9 MPG) for the Suns in 2018/19. Having spent his first four seasons on a single contract, Holmes will reach the open market for the first time this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

As for Webb, he appeared in 10 games for Brooklyn during the 2017/18 campaign, but didn’t play in the NBA in 2018/19, spending the season with Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany.

Holmes is the second Suns player to be arrested in Florida this month, joining teammate Josh Jackson. However, given the minor nature of Holmes’ infraction, it’s unlikely to have much impact on his upcoming free agency.

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