Where do Suns go after having relatively quiet trade deadline?
Josh Jackson saw his name in trade talks going into the NBA trade deadline. No worries.
“I wasn’t concerned,” Jackson said after Thursday’s practice. “Had I been traded or had I not been traded, I feel like it’s a blessing to play in this league. I have fun doing what I love to do. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to do that no matter where it is.”
The NBA trade deadline came and went without the Phoenix Suns making another move after acquiring Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington, who they later waived Thursday, from the Miami Heat for 10-year veteran Ryan Anderson.
While it seemed as if every other team
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East contenders make moves, Davis waits for his. was making deals right before the deadline at 1 p.m. Phoenix time, the Suns (1145) stayed pat — and kept Jackson.
“Every team is trying to do what’s best for them,” said Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft who is averaging 10.0 points in his second NBA season. “Seeing my name in trade talks, somebody else wants me. As long as some team in this league wants me, I’m going to have a job. I felt that was a good sign.”
League sources told that Jackson wasn’t on the trading block de-
spite numerous reports which said he’d be an ideal player in perhaps a threeteam deal that would have delivered New Orleans All-Star center Anthony Davis to Los Angeles and point guard Lonzo Ball to the Suns.
That didn’t materialize.
Davis is still in New Orleans. Ball remains with the Lakers. And Jackson is still in Phoenix after matching his season high with 27 points against the Jazz to mark his third consecutive game with at least 25 points.
Now that the trade deadline is over, what does the lack of movement mean for Phoenix?
One would think the Suns are going to make major offseason moves.
If the Suns get the top overall pick, there will be several teams, including some playoff squads, willing to give up a proven point guard and possibly a stretch four who can score inside to get the opportunity to draft Duke freshman phenom Zion Williamson.
Would the Suns give up the pick and likely a player from their young core to address those needs or use the draft to do that?
The Suns also still have players to evaluate the rest of the season like rookie point guards De’Anthony Melton, Elie Okobo, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jackson and Johnson to see if they’ll have a future in Phoenix.
Will they look to bring in a new general manager to sort through all this and make it work or take the interim tag off James Jones to see if he can put together a roster that can contend for a playoff spot next season?
That’s in the future.
Right now, Phoenix is looking to end a season-high 12-game skid. The Suns might get Devin Booker back for Friday’s game against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
Suns coach Igor Kokoskov listed him as questionable as Booker missed Wednesday’s 116-88 loss at Utah with right hamstring tightness from Monday’s loss to Houston.
“He was with the team, he was practicing,” Kokoskov said. “Practice was light. It wasn’t a contact practice, but he felt good. As we know, he is anxious to come back and help his guys and help our team, especially tomorrow. Playing the world champs.”
Kokoskov said TJ Warren (right ankle soreness) and Melton (right ankle sprain) are making progress, but are both will be out against the Warriors, and they might not return until after next week’s All-Star brea
Looking at their recent additions, Johnson will be available for Friday’s game.
“I’m really excited,” Johnson said. “It’s a new opportunity, a new challenge I get to face and hopefully I can bring some things over that I’ve learned in my first five years over here.”