The Phoenix Suns trade rumor mill has been spinning since the team started looking into Lakers forward Pau Gasol and now the franchise could be looking at deals for Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Thaddeus Young as the deadline gets closer in the hopes of making a playoff run.
The Suns have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season and they currently are right in the middle of the western conference playoff standings and are in sixth place with a 30-20 record. The team being 10 games over .500 is something that no one predicted and general manager Ryan McDonough is now looking at a playoff run and a rebuilding project all at the same time, which is why he has inquired about the veterans.
The Suns feel that adding a veteran forward will be a huge boost for their young team and Gasol was looked at as a primary option, but that has slowed down since he was injured. According to ESPN.com, the Suns were looking to trade Emeka Okafor for Gasol, as his contract is a favorable one and big enough to move, but after Gasol went down with an injury, the Suns stepped back and the article said they will take a wait and see approach until he returns. Gasol has been playing strong the past month with 20 points and 11 rebounds per game and now attention could be moved to some other players.
The Suns reportedly called the Memphis Grizzlies about Zach Randolph, according to USA Today, but the team was rebuffed on that deal since Marc Gasol was injured. The Grizzlies could change their minds, but with Randolph averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds, they may not be willing to give him up and the Suns are looking to bolster their front line with Miles Plumlee and Channing Frye. The Suns were mentioned in trade rumors earlier in the season involving Thaddeus Young from the Philadelphia 76ers and they could bring those back up once the deadline gets closer, as he is averaging 17.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season and has been playing pretty well.
The Sixers and Suns could be a good pair of trading partners actually, as Philly is looking to rebuild hard and they have been willing to talk about trading Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Young and general manager Sam Hinkie has said that he wants draft picks, which is something the Suns are flush with. The team has four first round picks after deals with the Wizards for Marcin Gortat and the Pacers for Luis Scola and that could set them up to make some moves.
USA Today also reports that the team is interested in Rudy Gay, but it would likely be over the summer if he opts out and not in a trade. Gay was dealt to the Kings from the Toronto Raptors this season and he can opt out of his deal this summer that is worth nearly $20 million and if he does that, the report says that he will be chased by the Suns as a free agent signing.
