Suns reportedly willing to trade first-round picks in attempt to compete

The Phoenix Suns are willing to trade first-round picks and take on salary long-term for "good players and winning acquisitions," The Athletic's Shams Charania wrote in a Friday tweet.

With the trade deadline coming up in just under a month, Phoenix may feel as though they have every reason to pool what they can and make one final championship run with their current core. The Suns are currently 24-24, good enough for seventh in the Western Conference. They do still have a good portion of their own first-round picks.

While they do have the draft picks, the team will have to fortify its balance sheets should it choose to take on larger contracts.

They are already just under $17 million over the luxury tax threshold and just under $49 million above the NBA's salary cap, according to Spotrac. Phoenix will have to foot a $35 million luxury tax bill should they keep their current roster. Four players, including forward Mikal Bridges, are making $21 million or more in the 2022-23 season.

InsideTheSuns.com's Remy Mastey said the team could go after Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, or Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam. 

Collins is locked down for four more years with the Hawks. He is owed $23.5 this season and as much as $26.58 million in the 2024-25 season and again in 2025-26 should he accept his player option. Kuzma's flat $13 million per year may be an intriguing short-term option for the Suns, but he will have to accept a player option in the 2023-24 season.

Taking on larger salaries and giving up future draft picks will be too much for the Suns to bear should they not trade either Bridges or forward Jae Crowder. 

Bridges, a 2022 All-Defensive Player, will be an important role player to keep on the roster should the team continue to try for a championship run. While Crowder may be tradable, his $10.1 million salary will only get the team so far in trade talks. Should the Suns not show they are a championship contender in the next few weeks, they may need to cut their losses and find cheaper options by the deadline.