After weeks of speculation, there was a trade executed by the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening. Instead of a swap of players, they struck a deal with the Utah Jazz that involved four first round draft picks in all, a curious move to make during the middle of a season. But it could be a precursor to something more significant, and some are speculating that the move helps pave the way for Jimmy Butler to come to Phoenix.
Is Suns Trade A Precursor To A Jimmy Butler Deal?
The Suns need some help. They’ve been swinging for the fences with player acquisitions over the past few years, bringing in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to help form a new “big 3” with Devin Booker. But after coming up short in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, Phoenix has stumbled out to a 21-21 start to 2024-25, and are in danger of falling out of range even for the play-in tournament this coming April.
One of the players that they’ve reportedly had their eye on is disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. It has been thought that the Suns’ front office is interested in taking yet another risk on a high profile name, and that they’d do what they could to add Butler while subtracting Beal and his gaudy contract.
But Phoenix was strapped for assets. Due to their wheeling and dealing over the years, the only first draft pick that the Suns owned wouldn’t come for another 6+ years. It was their lone trade chip, a 2031 first round pick, and far too little in terms of compensation that the Heat would be interested in trading Butler for.
Fascinating deal. Gives the Suns more ammo to do whatever they want, even aside from Jimmy Butler, such as flipping the Nurkic salary. And Utah gets one of the NBA’s highest value long term picks.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 22, 2025
Their potential package may be more attractive for Miami now. The trade on Tuesday saw the Suns swap that 2031 first rounder, completely unprotected, for three first round picks in the coming years. The compensation was as follows:
Utah Jazz receive:
2031 unprotected 1st round pick
Phoenix Suns receive:
2025 1st round pick (least favorable of CLE/MIN)
2027 1st round pick (least favorable of CLE/MIN/UTA)
2029 1st round pick (least favorable of CLE/MIN/UTA)
For the Jazz, it means bringing in one of the most valuable long-term assets available. Most traded picks have protections attached, but they’ll get Phoenix’s 2031 first rounder no matter where the Suns land in the standings the prior season.
The Suns, in exchange, get the much-needed flexibility to make a move. It would still take some finessing in order to make a blockbuster trade work (and likely a third team to take on Beal’s salary), but they’ve turned their one trade chip into three that they can use immediately.
It doesn’t make a run at Jimmy Butler a for sure thing for Phoenix. They have other orders of business that can be aided by having extra first round picks, including getting off of the salary of center Jusuf Nurkic.
