Kevin Love or Jrue Holiday? Breaking down Phoenix Suns’ trade options,
Asking price for Love or J. Holiday could be high
Kevin Love. Jrue Holiday. Those have been the hot names linked to trade rumors related to the Phoenix Suns.
Can’t see either going down, though. Then again, after hearing Ricky Rubio bring up “trade talk” without being asked about a trade following Friday’s loss at Oklahoma City, maybe the Suns will make a move.
“It’s that time of the year,” Rubio said. “Trade talk. You’re thinking, your agent calls you and say you got to put up more points or whatever it is. If we believe in this team and that we’re going to do something special, we’ve got to be unselfish like we have been.”
Looking at Love, he’s highly skilled, can rebound, but has three years and little more than $90 million remaining on his contract after this season. He is 31 and has dealt with injuries in recent years.
Holiday is a better fit in terms of dollars, younger at age at 29 and more talented, but Phoenix may have to part with more than it is willing to make that deal happen.
Instead of tackling this alone, I reached out to HoopsHype, a partner with USA TODAY Network which knows the NBA's ins and outs, to help break down these options.
The trade deadline is Feb. 7, but first things first.
Phoenix's main trade piece: Tyler Johnson
The combo guard is due $19.2 million this season in the final year of his contract. Having an expiring contract makes Johnson an attractive piece.
– HoopsHype.
Love is due $28.9 million this season, so Johnson wouldn’t be enough. The Suns could throw in forward Frank Kaminsky and one of their rookies – Cam Johnson or Ty Jerome – or a lottery protected pick, but it's doubtful a deal would go down now.
As Feb. 7 draws closer, things could change.
– HoopsHype.
Now let’s look at Holiday.
He can play on and off the ball, put up big numbers and is a very good defender. Monty Williams also coached him in his final two seasons in New Orleans.
Holiday is due $26.1 million this season and a total of $51.6 in his final two years.
That's less money and years than Love, but he's considered a valuable piece in New Orleans who could work very well with their collection of young talent led by Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans would need more to part with Holiday.
– HoopsHype.
What would make the deal more enticing for New Orleans? -- HoopsHype.
The Suns have talked about development, development, development.
So that makes one wonder further why they might trade some of that young talent like Mikal Bridges, Jerome or Johnson for a “one or two-year rental,” as HoopsHype put it.
“That could really come back to haunt them at some point if they fulfill their potential somewhere else,” HoopsHype said.
The Suns could trade for say Blake Griffin or LaMarcus Aldridge, though. Both have been all-stars and would give Phoenix a real strong presence at the four to play beside Ayton.
However, this all depends on what Phoenix wants to do. -- HoopsHype.