Phoenix Suns talks trade to pair Devin Booker with Chris Paul

The Phoenix Suns are seriously considering inviting 10-time All-Star and possibly Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul to play alongside Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges.

Several outlets report the mutual interest, not only between the Suns and the Thunder, but also between Devin Booker and Chris Paul themselves. Paul, in particular, sees Booker as a superstar and has been impressed with the Suns in the Bubble behind his beloved former coach Monty Williams. Devin Booker, for his part, is interested in any trade or free agent that puts him in perennial playoff expectations.

The rumor was little spread over the weekend …

And tonight, the main stream came through ESPN. I have to hand it over to Flex for hearing this much earlier than some of the national guys!

Yes, Chris Paul is getting older – 35 at the moment, to be exact – and NBA players rarely stay effective until their late 30s.

Yes, Chris Paul is extremely expensive – $ 41 million this year, $ 45 million next year, all guaranteed – and would cost the Suns the biggest salary on their list to acquire.

Yes, Chris Paul has nagging injuries, but the reality is he played 70 of 72 possible games last season (tied for most on the Thunder and would have been second biggest on the Suns behind Bridges). It was the most games he had played in four seasons.

But yes also, Chris Paul is a winner and knows how to carry a team in the playoffs (10 consecutive years!). No observer would give anyone the primary credit for leading the Thunder to the 4th seed in the West this year.

He led the Thunder in games played (70), assists per game (6.7), steals per game (1.6), was second in minutes per game (31.5) and fourth in points per game (17 , 5) and fourth in effective FG% (55.5%) behind only their big men.

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What is the cost?

Here is the Suns cap sheet again, this time with Chris Paul added in red.

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Option 1: Ricky, Kelly, Frank out … while spending another $ 18 million on FA and picking at # 10

Unfortunately, a price of $ 41.36 million severely limits the Suns’ options in a trade. You can finish anything you want with pieces from the Suns’ roster, but the Suns should include both Ricky Rubio ($ 17 million, $ 17.81 million) and Kelly Oubre Jr. ($ 14.38 million). of dollars, UFA) in the agreement to even get closer.

Given the CBA’s “125% anyway” salary match requirements, the Suns have yet to find another $ 4.4 million in salary to operate a trade legally. This part is easy … could be Frank Kaminsky, or a combo of Ty Jerome and Cheick Diallo.

Making that deal (Ricky, Kelly and Frank for CP3) allows the Suns to spend most or all of that $ 19 million in ceiling space on another room to solidify the spin … like Danilo Gallinari. Imagine a range of CP3, Book, Mikal, Gallo and DA. It’s playoff training, that’s for sure! Or do Christian Wood or Jerami Grant at the PF spot. As you wish.

PG: Chris Paul, Ty Jerome

SG: Devin Booker

SF: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson

PF: Gallo /Grant/Wood

VS: Deandre Ayton

Gives the Suns a ton of free agency options, plus their No.10 pick in the draft. And a very good range! And, they can easily bring Cameron Payne and / or Jevon Carter back for minimum wage backup custody time if you still want them.

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Option # 2: Ricky, # 10 outside … Keep Kelly, give up free agency

It’s conceivable to trade Ricky ($ 17), 10th overall pick ($ 4.47), and all of the Suns’ cap space ($ 18.7) for Chris Paul. In this case, you get a one-for-one trade on the players and hope Paul can convince a bunch of veterans to come in for minimum bids. And that Chris Paul is better than Ricky Rubio in 2020-21.

PG: Chris Paul, Ty Jerome

SG: Devin Booker

SF: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson

PF: Kelly Oubre Jr.

C: Deandre Ayton

After that, the Suns would have the $ 4 million cap exception on another decent player, plus any minimum wage offers they can handle.

Note: This version of the deal is expected to take place after the draft, when the Suns could pick a player Oklahoma City love at No.10, then turn down all options and Saric’s qualifying offer and turn down Baynes’ cap in order to create a ceiling space absorb Paul.

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**UPDATE***

Option 3: Ricky, Kelly, $ 10 million cap space … spend $ 9 million on FA, keep the draft pick

The other option is to wait for free agency and use some of their cap to make up the difference in pay beyond Kelly / Ricky, then spend what’s left. Which is fair about the number of mid-level exceptions of $ 9-10 million.

PG: Chris Paul, Ty Jerome

SG: Devin Booker

SF: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson

PF: Cameron Johnson, intermediate level FA

C: Deandre Ayton

The Suns keep their pick in the draft, which could be at any position. The Suns would compete with every other team for the mid-level guys, but they would have Chris Paul and Devin Booker and a playoff spot in their sales pitch. And then in the end, they could bring back one or more of the guys they freed from the minimum wage agreements (Payne, Carter, Diallo).

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Conclusion

Well, it’s difficult, isn’t it?

A good, healthy Chris Paul has a better chance of bringing the Suns to the playoffs than Ricky Rubio.

But an injured Chris Paul could kill the Suns’ chances at all but another lottery and at Booker’s behest.

What are you saying, Suns fans?