Phoenix are looking at options to acquire Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard this offseason, according to one Eastern Conference executive that spoke to Sean Deveney.
The Suns may way guard Chris Paul , so another veteran guard that is capable of playing more minutes than Paul may be just what the franchise needs.
One anonymous exec believes the team wants to make room on the cap table to see if there’s a way to add the seven-time All-Star to their lineup.
“There is a lot that can happen there,” the executive told Heavy Sports’ Deveney. “The Suns need depth all over that roster. They want to free up their payroll. They want to see if there is a way to bring in Dame. They want to see what they can do with a Deandre Ayton deal. There is a lot on the table. And the [Los Angeles] Lakers need to know where they are going with [D’Angelo] Russell. They’re not just letting him walk. They traded a pick for him. And who knows if they could get Chris to sign a vet minimum deal or what?”
The almost 33-year-old has made it very clear he won’t stay in Portland if the team plans to rebuild with players that need two or three years to develop.
Meaning, he wants the team to trade their number three overall pick in the upcoming draft for a win-now player.
“We’re a long way away from Lillard being traded,” The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress writes. “The Blazers hope to work some deals to add another star to pair with Lillard. But if that falls through, the Blazers and Lillard could agree that it’s time for him to move on to a contender while the franchise rebuilds.
“In that scenario, Lillard would likely have some say in where he goes, and it’s a virtual lock that he could embrace landing in Phoenix to play with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. That trio would undoubtedly contend in the Western Conference.”
It would be amazing to see Devin Booker, KD and Lillard tearing it up but the Suns don’t have many assets to offer the Blazers in return for their best and most loyal player.
Phoenix traded away most of their assets in the blockbuster Durant trade, which sent Durant and T.J. Warren to the Suns for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, plus a 2028 draft swap.