How This Trade Impacts Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns suffered a sizable loss with Dario Saric tearing his ACL. He didn’t have eye-popping stats, but he was an integral part of the team’s rotation in the frontcourt.

Saric had the versatility to play either power forward or center. When teams went small, he was capable of handling the middle, providing some floor spacing offensively. That ability to knock down some 3-pointers is why he can also play power forward alongside a traditional center in bigger lineups.

While Kyle Kuzma likely wouldn’t see any time as a small-ball center, he would drastically improve the outlook at the power forward position. He would fit in well there with the positionless basketball we are seeing so often now in the NBA.

Kuzma would provide Phoenix with a bonafide scoring option in the frontcourt. While his numbers dropped the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers as the roster improved, Kuzma showed that he can still produce when given the opportunity.

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He is a solid rebounder, improving playmaker, and has worked hard on improving his defense as well. The former Utah product would bring some similarities to the table that Kelly Oubre Jr. did during his one season with the Suns in 2019-20.

The price to acquire him isn’t outrageous either. The Suns are in win-now mode. Kuzma helps them get closer to a championship more than an injured Saric or inexperienced Jalen Smith does.

The 2024 first-round pick is a nice sweetener, giving the Washington Wizards another nice asset