The Phoenix Suns seem to be loading up and positioning themselves for a potential blockbuster trade in advance of the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday, the Suns are trading an unprotected 2031 first-round draft pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for three first-round picks over the next four years.
Those first-round picks will be least favorable firsts in 2025 of Cleveland/Minnesota, 2027 of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah and 2029 of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah, according to the report.
Utah acquired the picks from Cleveland and Minnesota in prior trades involving Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
The motivation here for the Suns is very simple: They are trying to load up on as many picks and assets as they possibly can to strengthen their position to potentially trade for disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, or perhaps another star player in the coming weeks.
Butler has been seeking a trade from Miami and has reportedly listed Phoenix as one of his preferred destinations.
As of Tuesday the Suns (21-21) are tied for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference playoff picture with the Golden State Warriors.
Phoenix has been one of the better teams in the conference over the past four years but has been consistently trending downward in the playoffs each year. After reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, they lost in the second round in 2022 and 2023 and did not get out of the first round in 2024.
Now they are in a fight just to make the playoffs.
As for Utah, it still has 11 first-round picks over the next seven seasons.
It is also banking on the fact that by 2031, Phoenix might not be anywhere close to a contender, with that unprotected pick perhaps having significant value. It will be a long time to see that payoff, but the Jazz are clearly playing the long game with it.
