How Grayson Allen could figure into Phoenix Suns making move before trade deadline

PORTLAND —You know the saying.

Got to give something to get, but the Phoenix Suns have limited assets to offer in a trade.

They dealt away a significant amount of their draft future in obtaining Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, are $21.5 million over the luxury tax and are projected to pay a $50.7 million tax penalty.

They can’t move their 2024 first-round pick until the draft, which will now be over two nights in June according to multiple reports.

The Suns (20-18) are limited, but with the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8 and considering how aggressive Mat Ishbia has been in his first calendar year as team owner, making a move can’t be ruled out.

Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported during Phoenix’s 127-109 road win over the Lakers televised on TNT the Suns are looking for an athletic wing player and not a point guard despite being 24th in the NBA in turnovers per game. Devin Booker, a proven scorer, has been asked to serve as the primary playmaker.

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Enter Grayson Allen.

He’s the first, and perhaps, the only player the Suns could move and get a wing in return who can, for starters, improve perimeter defense. Phoenix is 16th in defensive rating and has struggled to contain the ball on dribble penetration.

The Suns could also consider the buyout market, as they did last season in acquiring Terrence Ross after Orlando bought him out, for a wing player or even another big, but they’ll need to create a roster spot. Phoenix has a full 15-man standard roster.

The Suns are top heavy in salary with Booker, Durant and Beal due a combined $130.4 million this season.  The Big 3 are way off the trade grid and Beal has a no-trade clause.

Suns big Jusuf Nurkic is in the second year of a four-year, $70 million deal in which he’s due $16.8 million this season. He’s already expressed his desire to stay in Phoenix.

“I’m trying to be Phoenix Suns for the rest of my life,” Nurkic said Wednesday. “… I’m not planning to leave. I want to be here for as long as I can.”

The Suns acquired Nassir Little and Nurkic from Portland and Allen from Milwaukee in that three-team deal right before training camp that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks and Deandre Ayton to the Blazers.

Allen is in the final year of a two-year, $18.7 million deal and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024. That appeals to a trade partner, but his play this season also makes Allen desirable. He’s having a career year in becoming the fifth starter with Booker, Durant, Beal and Nurkic.

Allen is averaging a career-high 13.2 points and is just shy of the 50/40/90 club in shooting 49.5% from the field, 46.2% from 3 and 90% from the line.

Suns coach Frank Vogel has preached generating more 3-point attempts. The Suns are 26^th in the NBA in hoisting 3s per game.

Allen is not only second behind Durant on the team in 3-point shooting percentage, but he is tied with Booker for second in 3-pointers attempted at 5.5 a game. Allen is also second to Eric Gordon in 3-pointers made at 2.5. Gordon is at 2.6.

To play with three perimeter playmakers in Booker, Durant and Beal, and with Nurkic, who can find teammates as well with his passing ability, catch-and-shoot is a prerequisite.

Allen is shooting 43.5% on catch-and-shoot 3s on 4.5 attempts. Only Durant is shooting better on those at 49.5% for Suns who have double-figure 3-point attempts.

Allen is 52% on corner 3s this season. Durant is first on those as well at 60%, but Allen is attempting the most per game at 1.5. Durant is at 0.6.

Combining the 3s variables, ability to get into the paint off the bounce and competitive spirit on defense even after giving up drives to the rim or 3s, Allen is one of Phoenix’s best players — and an attractive piece in a trade.

Again. Got to give to get.

Suns starting to build chemistry

The Suns are eighth in the West, but showed their potential with Booker, Durant and Beal in Thursday’s impressive 127-109 win over the Lakers after getting blitzed by the Clippers, 138-111, on Monday.

The Big 3 cranked out 86 points against the Lakers in just their seventh game together.

This is considered a huge step towards not only Booker, Durant and Beal developing chemistry, but the overall team having a better feel on schemes, rotations and who plays well with who.

After all, the Suns have had 15 different starting lineups and 13 players miss at least one game due to illness or injury. Hard to figure out who you are without fully knowing what you have, especially with a new-look roster and new coaching staff under Vogel.

Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, two-way player Saban Lee, Durant and Booker are the only returnees from last season’s team that lost to eventual NBA champion Denver in the West semifinals in six games.

Damion Lee has been out all year with a knee injury; Phoenix hopes to have him back by the end of the regular season.

The Suns have 14 games from now to Feb. 8 when it plays Utah at home. They conclude a three-game road trip Sunday at Portland (10-28), which is 3-7 in its last 10 games.

The Blazers are coming off a 116-93 loss Friday at Minnesota in the second of a back-to-back after a 139-77 embarrassment at Oklahoma City to tie for the fifth-worst margin of defeat in NBA history.

Seven of Phoenix’s next 13 opponents have winning records starting with the Bucks (26-12), Pacers (23-15) and Kings (23-15).

The Suns play the Pacers, the highest-scoring team in the NBA, twice during this stretch.

If Phoenix can remain healthy, it stands a good chance to not only finding a groove and making a push in the West, but also better determine if a roster move is necessary or not.

If it is, Allen’s name will likely be mentioned early in any trade discussions with another team.

One final time. Got to give to get.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grayson Allen could figure into Phoenix Suns making move before trade deadline