Sources: Suns’ Jackson, Warren not on block as trade deadline nears.
Suns trade Anderson for Heat’s Johnson, Ellington
SALT LAKE CITY – The Phoenix Suns hoped Ryan Anderson would provide leadership, experience and 3-point shooting when they acquired him from the Rockets in August.
Months later and less than 24 hours before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the Suns have traded him to Miami for Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington.
A league source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Republic before the Suns made it official Wednesday evening.
“I respect Ryan as a person,” Suns coach Igor Kokoskov said. “Thank you for his professionalism at work. I wish him nothing but the best.”
The deal was first reported by ESPN. “Johnson is someone we are happy to have,” Kokoskov continued. “He brings some toughness, some energy. Some healthy DNA that we need as a group. Excited to have him and can’t wait to see him tomorrow.”
Whether the Suns make another deal or two by 1 p.m. Phoenix time Thursday is a mystery, but league sources told The Republic that Josh Jackson isn’t on the trade market and Phoenix hasn’t contacted New Orleans or the Los Angeles Lakers about a potential deal involving Lonzo Ball.
Jackson had 25 points in each of his past two games and is averaging better than 18 points per game over the past five. He’s starting tonight’s game at Utah.
Phoenix had looked like the ideal team to facilitate a three-team deal between the Pelicans and the Lakers, which would have sent Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
The Lakers reportedly offered up Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and two first-round draft picks for Davis, but have since backed out of talks with New Orleans.
Lonzo Ball’s dad, LaVar Ball, added heat to the trade talk by telling ESPN he wanted his son in Phoenix if he couldn’t be in Los Angeles.
The trade deadline hasn’t reached the final hour, but in order to pull off that type of deal, the Suns would have to give up a key asset like say Jackson or TJ Warren to make that happen.
Leagues sources told The Republic last month the Suns weren’t going to put Warren on the trading block. Warren has missed the last six games right ankle soreness, isn’t playing tonight, but is with the team in Utah.
So this trade with Miami might be the last deal Phoenix gets involved in before the deadline, but the franchise has been rumored in other trade talks.
Last month, ESPN reported Dallas was in talks with the Suns and the Orlando Magic about Dennis Smith Jr., but league sources told The Republic that Suns were not having conversations with the Mavericks about the point guard.
Smith Jr. ended up in New York as part of that seven-player trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas.
Then there’s the Davis situation, which might have to wait until the offseason.
For now, the Suns have traded away a player whom they added to improve their roster and take a step closer toward becoming a playoff team. Phoenix acquired Anderson with rookie guard De’Anthony Melton in exchange for point guard Brandon Knight and forward Marquese Chriss in the offseason.
The 10-year veteran started the Suns’ first six games, but Anderson averaged just 7.33 points and shot a horrid 5of-22 from 3.
Warren replaced him in the starting lineup as he averaged 15.1 points and showed major improvement from 3point range and hit 11-of-23 shots from 3 in that stretch.
Three games later, Anderson returned to start two games against Memphis and Brooklyn when Warren was dealing with back spasms. But after Warren returned, Anderson appeared in just four games and hasn’t seen action since Dec. 4 against Sacramento.
While he didn’t score much and was a liability defensively, Anderson contributed to the team in other ways as he served as a mentor to Dragan Bender.
“He brought a voice,” Suns forward Richaun Holmes said. “Showed a lot of guys how to be pros. In any situation, he always kept his head up. Always had encouraging words for guys, especially like myself. It was always great having him around. Having him there and being that voice. He taught a lot.”
While Anderson averaged a careerlow 3.7 points a game and hasn’t played in quite some time, his contract is of value, which is part of why he was dealt to Miami.
He’s set to make $20.4 million this season and is under contract for $21.2 million next season while Johnson, who signed a four-year, $50-million contract with Miami in 2016, is set to earn $19.2 million if he picks up his player option for the final year of his contract.
Johnson, 26, gives the Suns another athletic wing. He’s averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game over 44 games.