With just over two weeks remaining until the 2023 NBA trade deadline, rumors are beginning to heat up. There are plenty of teams that will use the next few days to evaluate if they should be buyers or sellers and make their moves based on that.
There are already a few teams in the league that know which side of that line they will be on. The Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks are two teams expected to make moves to improve or consolidate their roster. The San Antonio Spurs are on the opposite end of the spectrum as they are going to be sellers.
Could they come together on a deal that each of them would benefit from? Bobby Marks of ESPN recently put together a big three-team trade that involves the Suns, Knicks and Spurs that helps each team move some of their players rumored to be on the market.
The Spurs would receive Dario Saric, Evan Fournier, a 2023 top-14 protected first-round pick via the Washington Wizards and a 2024 top-14 protected pick via the Suns that will turn into second-round picks in 2024 and 2025 if it doesn’t convey. Phoenix will receive Jakob Poeltl and Cam Reddish. The Knicks end up with Jae Crowder and Josh Okogie.
The Spurs take on some salary in this deal but the two first-round picks are well worth that price. Saric is on an expiring deal and Fournier can be shopped as one this offseason as the last season on his deal is a team option.
Phoenix has been trying to move Crowder since training camp and finally finds a deal that gets him the change of scenery he sought. They upgrade the frontcourt with Poeltl, which could open the door for a Deandre Ayton trade. Reddish fits the mold as a two-way wing with size that the Suns have loved.
The Knicks are the least likely team to take part with these parameters. Trading away any assets to move off of Fournier’s contract just doesn’t make sense for the team at this time; the pick via Washington is one they currently own. Crowder and Okogie would improve their depth on the wing, which is an area they could use some help.
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