Phoenix Suns Receive: G Derrick Rose, G/F Evan Fournier, F Obi Toppin, F Cam Reddish, 2025 First-Round Pick
New York Knicks Receive: C Deandre Ayton, F/C Dario Saric
With this deal, the Phoenix Suns avoid taking on Julius Randle’s potentially burdensome contract at the cost of a first-round pick. They also receive a pair of interesting young prospects in case they are forced to rebuild.
Obi Toppin started flashing high upside towards the end of 2021-22. He’s been a surprisingly capable defender at the NBA level, but the open-court ball-handling and finishing ability he demonstrated to close the year hinted at offensive upside.
On the other hand, Cam Reddish didn’t get the same opportunities to showcase his abilities in New York. It felt like he left the Atlanta Hawks at the deadline only to get traded straight into Thibodeau’s doghouse. Still, he’s got potential as a 3-and-D wing with secondary shot creation abilities.
Gambling on them both gives the Suns an opportunity to assess their surroundings. If they’re surprisingly competitive in light of this deal, they may package some of these assets to land a new star. If they slip in Ayton’s presence, they may need to rebuild.
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If that’s the case, nobody should be shocked. It’s a logical consequence of selecting a player first overall, and then declining to retain him even when he’s played well.
