The Phoenix Suns made a bold move Tuesday in their pursuit of star power, sending a 2031 first-round pick — unprotected — to the Utah Jazz in exchange for three future first-round picks, all likely to be late in the first round.
That said, the trade wasn’t tied to any immediate follow-up deal, but was significant in that it opened up potential paths for the Suns to improve their roster ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, as noted by Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Despite their high-profile efforts to land Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, Phoenix had faced significant challenges, notably their lack of tradeable draft assets.
Before the Utah deal, the Suns only had one tradeable first-round pick (2031) and one second-rounder from Denver in the upcoming 2025 draft.
As Stein and Fischer noted, those limitations made it tough for the Suns to position themselves for a meaningful trade that could propel them to the Western Conference elite. But by adding more draft capital, they’ve significantly expanded their options.
This move also serves as a strategic maneuver to revitalize the Suns’ hopes in their quest to improve before the trade deadline. The Suns’ willingness to part with the unprotected 2031 pick was driven by a desire to increase their flexibility and potential to trade for someone like Butler, provided Miami or a third team can absorb Bradley Beal’s massive contract.
As Stein and Fischer pointed out, the Suns’ success in this pursuit hinges on two key factors: Beal’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause and a third team being willing to take on his $111 million contract.
Interestingly, there’s also chatter around Phoenix’s flexibility beyond Butler, Stein and Fischer reported. With the acquisition of a 2025 first-round pick (via Cleveland) in this deal, Phoenix could decide to keep the pick and move it similarly to how they traded down in the 2024 draft.
This could mean another opportunity to add young talent while maintaining future trade flexibility — perhaps mirroring their success with the No. 22 pick in the 2024 draft, where they traded down for Ryan Dunn, a promising 3-and-D wing who has already made an impact.
Ultimately, the Suns’ trade with Utah is a calculated gamble that increases their chances of landing a superstar like Butler — if the stars align and a third team can take on Beal’s contract.
The added flexibility with multiple first-round picks could also open up avenues for other trade scenarios that give Phoenix the ammunition it needs to make a splash before the deadline.
Stein and Fischer laid out that Phoenix’s approach may not only revolve around Butler, but also potential moves that could reframe their roster in a way that keeps them in the mix for the Western Conference’s top spots this season.
The coming weeks should reveal just how far Phoenix can stretch their assets in their pursuit of a championship contender.
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