The Phoenix Suns have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season and as the deadline nears, players like Thaddeus Young, Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph and Evan Turner have become top targets and a deal with the Chicago Bulls or Philadelphia 76ers could be coming at the trading deadline.
The Suns have been mentioned in connection with a number of deals, including with the Lakers for Pau Gasol and that deal could have involved Emeka Okafor and his contract. According to USA Today, the team has shown interest in Thaddeus Young and that could be a deal that works for both sides, while there has also been rumored interest in Carlos Boozer. USA Today reports that the Suns are looking to add a veteran forward or center leading into the second half of the season and this comes as the team is in playoff position out west.
Young has been playing well for the Sixers and the two sides might be a good fit for each other, as general manager Ryan McDonough wants to add a vet and GM Sam Hinkie from the Sixers wants draft picks and that is something Phoenix has plenty of. The team picked up extra picks from the Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat deals and now they have four coming up and Young might be worth a pick, as the team could make a deal for a player that is averaging 17.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Lakers deal for Gasol looks unlikely now after he was injured and the Suns have reportedly backed off until he returns.
Young is 25-years old and even if he is a short term rental, it would be worth it for the Suns to try and make a decent playoff run this season. The team has been playing very well and while they are in the bottom part of the west, fans are excited about the team and that is what the GM must balance at the deadline. The team has looked into a Zach Randolph deal with the Grizzlies and was rebuffed on that, but as the deadline gets closer that could change for Memphis.
The Suns are clearly motivated to trade for a veteran at the deadline and while they would like someone who can score on a consistent basis, they will take someone like Gasol or Randolph that bangs it on the boards as well. Boozer has come up as the deadline gets closer and the Chicago Bulls will have to decide their course of action as they move forward, as they have already traded Luol Deng and names like Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy and Kirk Hinrich have all been mentioned in trade rumors. With Derrick Rose out, the Bulls may decide to blow things up a bit at the deadline.
The Suns are now seventh in the west after losing against Miami and they next will play the Nuggets before the All-Star break and this next week will be big for the immediate future of the team.
