Phoenix Suns NBA 2015 Trade News: Team Makes Big Moves Before Trading Deadline, Are They Better Off?
The Phoenix Suns were forced into a bad position by the trade demands of Goran Dragic. He had all the leverage and the ability to kill deal. Heading towards the NBA trade deadline, he outlined the three teams he wanted to be dealt too, and that meant the Suns were never going to get fair market value return for their star point guard. After reaching a deal to deal him to the Miami Heat, the Suns went on a trade bender that wound up seeing five of their players leaving town, and now their fans look at what cam back in those deal and wonder if the team is better off.
The Suns dealt Dragic, Miles Plumlee, Tyler Ennis, Isiah Thomas, and Zoran Dragic in a flurry of deal on Friday. They also dealt away a first round draft pick that is top five protected this year, top three protected in 2016 and 2017 and unprotected for the 2018 NBA draft.
In return for those players and draft pick the Suns acquired PG Brandon Knight who will likely take over the team, Danny Granger, John Salmons, Cleveland 2016 first round pick and two first round picks from the Miami Heat in 2017 and 2021.
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Yahoo Sports gives the deal a C- grade in the here and now. It is impossible to know now what those draft picks will turn into but the main criticism seems to lie with giving up on Thomas so early in his stint with the team. With that being said the roster is still pretty good for the balance of 2015 and 2016 and with all those picks the team has chips to use if further trades become necessary.
The Suns were in a tough spot but it seems like they got close enough to fair value for a player who no longer wanted to play for them.
