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Zion Williamson dribbles the ball. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
It’s clear that the Phoenix Suns need to shake something up over the offseason.
They’re simply not good enough to contend in the competitive Western Conference as currently constructed, as evidenced by the fact that they were swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Trading for a former No. 1 overall pick with some extremely high upside could be one way to do that.
Phoenix Suns Predicted to Land Zion Williamson in Offseason Trade
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 02: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 02, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
In a recent article, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report pitched the Suns as a potential suitor and landing spot for New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson in an offseason trade.
There has been some speculation that the Pelicans could look to move on from Williamson over the summer, and perhaps the Suns could capitalize.
“If the Suns are going to give Booker the offensive boost he needs, they’ll have to come out ahead on a risk-reward wager, like wagering on their ability to keep Williamson healthy and return the two-time All-Star to his previous production levels,” Buckley wrote.
“It’d be a gamble, obviously, but it feels like it has better odds than Dillon Brooks delivering another career campaign or Jalen Green suddenly solving his consistent inconsistency. Booker could hugely benefit from a reliable play-finisher, and Williamson has historically been a 20-plus-point scorer and around a 60-percent shooter. His downhill attacks would pull defenders with him, giving Booker the kind of breathing room he missed this season.”
Williamson currently has two years and over $86 million remaining on his current contract. It remains to be seen what the Suns would potentially offer New Orleans to land Williamson in a trade, but pairing him with Booker in Phoenix would certainly be intriguing.
Zion Williamson Wants to Continue Career With Pelicans in New Orleans
One person who probably wouldn’t be happy about Williamson being traded to Phoenix would be Williamson himself.
Williamson has heard the trade chatter, but he’s made it clear that he would like to continue his career in New Orleans.
“New Orleans is home for me. It’s where I want to be,” Williamson said last month. “But at the end of the day, if we’re going to be realistic about it, the NBA is a business. I could be traded in the offseason, or I could be traded before [next season’s] trade deadline. … Not that I want that to happen. But that’s just the realism of it.”
If Williamson is ultimately made available via trade, he’ll likely have no shortage of suitors given the fact that he’s still just 25 years old and coming off one of the healthiest seasons of his career. If that happens, perhaps the Suns will throw their hat in the ring and try to land a legitimate costar for Booker.
Michael Kaskey-Blomain Michael Kaskey-Blomain is an experienced sports media member covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy. He has been in the industry for well over a decade with previous stops including the Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS Sports. Michael also serves as a Philadelphia 76ers reporter and insider for ESPN 97.3 and an NBA and NFL contributor for The Sporting News. More about Michael Kaskey-Blomain