One NBA writer has named Nicolas Batum, Joe Ingles and Jae’Sean Tate as the Phoenix Suns’ top trade targets. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes the Suns should try to trade for Batum, Ingles or Tate.
“Because the Suns had such a limited budget after the Beal deal, they had to take a lot of risks: that Eric Gordon wouldn’t swiftly decline; that Yuta Watanabe and Keita Bates-Diop wouldn’t be over their heads in full-time roles on winning teams; that Bol Bol wouldn’t physically break down,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “There’s a chance Phoenix is rewarded for all of this risk-taking, but there are myriad ways in which things could go wrong.
“That’s why the Suns’ search for role players could carry over into the regular season. They still couldn’t aim very high, but maybe an established veteran like Batum or Ingles would be a modest upgrade. Tate, meanwhile, might be one trade away from earning glue-guy status by making a host of hustle plays for a winning team.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nicolas Batum, Joe Ingles, Jae’Sean Tate, Phoenix Suns Updates
Batum appeared in 78 games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He averaged 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 42.0% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 70.8% from the free-throw line. Batum plans on retiring from the NBA at the end of next season.
Ingles appeared in 46 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. The lefty averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 43.5% overall, 40.9% from 3 and 85.7% from the foul line. Ingles signed with the Orlando Magic this offseason.
Finally, Tate appeared in 31 games for the Houston Rockets last season. He averaged 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 28.3% from beyond the arc and 72.5% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nicolas Batum, Joe Ingles, Jae’Sean Tate, Phoenix Suns Updates
The Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. They traded Chris Paul and Landry Shamet to the Washington Wizards this offseason for Bradley Beal.
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