The Phoenix Suns could help facilitate a Damian Lillard or James Harden trade, according to NBA insider Gerald Bourguet. Lillard has requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers and Harden has requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns could trade Deandre Ayton as part of a three-team Lillard or Harden deal.
“According to multiple sources who spoke to PHNX Sports‘ Flex from Jersey, trade talks from the most active teams — Philadelphia, Miami and Portland, as well as the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls — are heating up…and many of them view the Suns as a team that could push a potential blockbuster deal across the finish line,” Bourguet wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “While the Suns lack the assets and/or contracts to trade for Lillard or Harden themselves, one source referred to the Suns as a ‘mystery team’ in regards to their potential involvement. Another called them a ‘dark horse’ to help facilitate a deal as an additional party.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, James Harden, Phoenix Suns Updates
“Talks are heating up around the league with teams like Portland, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto all very active right now. The Suns could be the mystery team needed to get some of these deals done per my conversations. With camp weeks away, things could get interesting!”
Lillard wants the Blazers to trade him to the Miami Heat, while Harden wants the Sixers to send him to the Los Angeles Clippers. Neither Lillard nor Harden can control where they go since they don’t have no-trade clauses in their contracts.
The Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals in six games. They fired Monty Williams as head coach and hired Frank Vogel, who won the 2020 NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix also traded Chris Paul and Landry Shamet to the Washington Wizards for Bradley Beal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, James Harden, Phoenix Suns Updates
Neither Lillard nor Harden will land with the Suns. However, it’s possible Phoenix could trade Ayton for Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic.
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