Phoenix Suns Receive: F Thaddeus Young
San Antonio Spurs Receive: C Dario Saric, F Jalen Smith, PHX 2024 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)
Back on August 10, Phoenix Suns beat writer Evan Sidery suggested that Phoenix could be interested in adding Thaddeus Young to their roster after he was dealt to the Spurs. Now, The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that the Suns are interested in pursuing Young.
Given the Spurs want to move a player, likely one they acquired in the sign-and-trade deal involving DeRozan, it seems likely that the Suns could get a deal done for Thad Young, but who knows what the Spurs would want in exchange for him.
The whole point of trading Young would be to free up a roster spot, yet they would be adding an extra player by making this deal.
Overall though, the only way the Suns can acquire Thaddeus Young without giving up guys like Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson is by trading away last year’s first-round pick Jalen Smith and Dario Saric, who is currently recovering from offseason ACL surgery.
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San Antonio would not only be adding another center to their roster who can contribute when healthy in Saric, but they would be adding a very versatile and raw big man prospect in Smith from the Suns.
The 21-year-old power-forward/center has a chance to be a valuable rotational player and on a team like the Spurs with other young, athletic talents he could really carve out a role for himself in time.
The Spurs are not going to be making the playoffs this upcoming season and are going to take a step back to try and rebuild with their young players, which is why adding another young big man makes sense.
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Jalen Smith and the future first-round pick they get are the two valuable assets in this trade for San Antonio and Dario Saric could be a possible trade asset for them to deal at a later time.
