Suns Trade News: Glaring Problems Wiped Off For Phoenix, Courtesy Of Kevin Durant’s Ex-Team

The Phoenix Suns, who sacrificed most of their depth to rope in Bradley Beal in the offseason, are now making splashes to bolster their playoff rotation ahead of the trade deadline. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Suns have agreed to a three-way trade with the Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Suns will acquire Royce O’Neale from the Brooklyn Nets for three second-round picks and cash considerations and David Roddy from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a pick swap.

The Suns decided to raid the wing department in hopes of strengthening their roster for a deep postseason run. While they are a formidable unit in themselves, the persistent injuries to their All-Star players have resulted in a string of inconsistent performances this season. This is where their newest additions come into the picture.

How do the Suns’ new additions fit into the roster?

O’Neale fits into the Suns’ rotation seamlessly, bringing with him the much-needed spacing and hard-nosed perimeter defense off the bench to support the team’s big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. With his size, he’s capable of handling top defensive assignments, allowing Kevin Durant to focus on offense, while his shooting prowess adds another dimension that opponents must contend with. Given the Suns’ previous struggles with bench scoring, O’Neale’s presence promises to inject new life into their second unit.

Additionally, he is also familiar with playing alongside Durant in the Nets’ lineup. Therefore, thanks in part to Durant’s former team, the team now has a player capable of playing any front-court position. During his time in Brooklyn, O’Neale averaged 7.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while logging 24.5 minutes on average. Although his overall shooting percentage sits at 39%, he boasts an impressive 37% success rate from beyond the arc, attempting 5.4 three-pointers per game.

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The Suns made another significant addition before the trade deadline by acquiring Roddy, who played a crucial role for the team during Ja Morant’s absence. As one of the few healthy players on the Grizzlies, Roddy provided a reliable presence, a quality that the injury-plagued Suns would appreciate. He’s averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season and will give Phoenix depth off the bench for the stretch run.

Despite dealing with a string of injuries, the Suns have managed to stay in the playoff picture, occupying a comfortable 5th spot in the West. Do you think their recent additions can fill the holes in the roster? Let us know in the comments!

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